The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-08-07


were open and on her poor face look
II ineffable content rested
He took the tiuttering fingers in his
'mnd and said. Nell"
Then she fell asleep.
The pink dawn yielded to yellow sun
light. and still she slept. The surgeon
went down to breakfast. and when he
returned she had not awakened.
At 10 o'clock the Office boy went to
the head nurses desk and asked:
where's the main guy?"
"Do you mean Dr. Severn?'
yep"
what do you want him forT"
His wife wants him"
Miss Ashton called him, and he went
out to where Mrs. Severn sat i'm her
automobile.
Don't you know" she snapped
"that | had to go to the Hunters din
ner party alone last night?"
He brushed his hand YEARLY across
his forehead. and something i'm his look
irritated her.
81 cannot leave here yet" he said.
He watched the chauffeur turn the
car around in the narrow street, then
he went slowly back.
He made his usual round, stopping to
chat with some Of his patients.
The next morning at dawn the wo-
man in No. 20 reused again. and the
surgeon sat beside her.
This time she could lift her hand and
she extended 1t toward him.
Have been hurt, Jack?" she asked.
Eyes, Nell" he answered.
"Did the horse throw me-"
In flash the man understood that
she had recognized without remember
ing and that in her mind she was
back on the ranch where he had first
met her.
"Am badly hurt?" she continued.
"You are just shaken up
I'm tired" she said and slept with
her face toward the light.
The fourth morning he sat in his old
place beside her, and she asked:
"Where did you get my nurseT
81 sent for her."
"She Is 80 good to me In the night,
when have horrible dreams and
think that l have lived years and
years without you. Jack. Then l call
her, and she comforts me-"
do you dream that, Nell"
Eyes. But 1t cannot ever be, dear.
Don't you remember what l told you
the night we became engagedw
When he spoke his voice was full OF
suppressed pain.
you told me. dear, that you loved
me so that IL we ever drifted apart
the words had long pauses between
them-"yOu would drift back to me-to
die"
YES she said and slept.
The surgeon had performed three OPP
erations at the hospital Of the Sisters
Of Mercy, and 1t was 8 In the evening
before he got back to the patient In
No. 30.
In the corridor Miss Ashton met him
with the chart. He scanned 1t ST.
lently.
when was the last temperature
taken?" he asked.
AJ u. IL Is SLOWLY TiSiuS.
Does she know she is worse?"
81 don't think so. She is calm and
very quiet"
At 8 he sat alone with her while the
nurse rested.
81 want to look at YOU" he said, III
you can endure the light"
He moved the shade from the cleo
trio bulb. and she raised her eyes to
his-wonderful eyes. with ring OF
deep violet around the outer rims OF
the gray iris.
Are you better"
"No."
The brave eyes never faltered, but a
mist Of tears came over them.
81 know now, John" she said, "the
dream is the fact"
He held her to him.
81 love you. Nell"
The swinging light made queer, NOV
ing shadows around the room.
J., Later the house doctor met him on
the stairs.
internal hemorrhage. isn't it," he
asked.
81 fear So"
Toward morning the nurse called
him. When he entered No. 20 the pa
tent was raised slightly In bed.
Were you asleep she asked.
mo. I don't sleep any more" he an
swered wistfully.
The nurse went out and closed the
door.
"Why didn't you write to me?' she
asked
"Why. Nell. ! wrote and wrote, and
ut last went back to find you
They could hear the ring OF pa
tents bell and soft footsteps hurrying
along the corridor.
at was father" she said. close
wanted to marry me. The ranch was
mortgaged to Jose. Then after you
left father died. and ! went to my
aunt in Denver"
A look of cOntentment was settling
over her face. smoothing out the lines
Of pain between the eyes, which bore
expression Of extreme agony.
Another hour passed silently. Then
she asked:
did you know me when you oper-
ated?"
The surgeon shuddered.
81 did not see your face till 1t was
nearly over, Nell, and them