The Washington herald., 1914-12-26

and bring her back to you looking like
fighting cock"
Hen" suggested Helen. smiling
family.
The doctor laughed and Dolly found
herself feeling more cheerful.
My mother will bring You to the
hospital every day." he coptinued, "and
you can pick flowers with your own
little fingers to bring to-sister." He
turned from the sudden light in Dolly's
eyes and saw tears in the elder sisters,
What" he cried, laughingly. Have
you never picked iowers?"
We've lived in a ballroom all our
lives" apologized Helen. 1T will be
a taste OF heaven for her to live where
there are flowers growing"
''It won't be heaven till you get
there Dolly said quickly. After a mo-
ment she stood up like a little soldier
and said she was going to be brave
and cheerful until Helen's nasty little
appendix" was a thing of the past.
Dr. Carter walked more or less blindly
as he made his way back 10 the office.
1t was not often, even in hissprofession.
that he played a part in a scene that
made his throat ache 80 painfully. He
could not forget the brave struggle to
smile that Helen Royston had made, nor
the love that enveloped the two sisters
like halo.
He telephoned to the hospital and to
the surgeon TO whom he wanted to trust
the case.
DO everything you can," he added
when the arrangements had been made.
This girl has a small sister depending
on her. You know the rest" When he
had hung up the receiver Dr.. Carter
found time to order flowers to be sent to
the room that was to be Helen Royston's
at the hospital
1t was he himself who drove her down
that evening, and they stopped at the
home of his mother to leave Dolly under
Mrs. Carter's care.
IF you are a good girl" he told her,
trying to make light Of the situation OF
parting. 81 will come for you Sunday
and whirl you down to see your ap-
pendiXless sister
After the parting Helen felt her nerves
relax, and she wept softly.
1T will be over before you know about
it," DIR. Carter told her with his gentle,
soothing tone playing upon her tired
nerves and resting them wonderfully.
TT is not the operatlon-that unnerves
me-" she said quickly. Il was going with
Dolly to the seaside tomorrow, and
now" She did not finish her SEN
tence, but DR.. Carter realized afresh the
brave spirit contained. in Helen Royston's
frail body.
During the following two weeks Helen
knew that a holiday spent in a hospi-
tai under certain conditions was an ex-
perience that comes to one only once
in a lifetime. She saw sweetsmeiling
flowers on all sides of her, fruits OF all
kinds and wonderful nurses that were
angels in disguise. She also saw Dolly
every day, and 1t was a Dolly whose
cheeks were responding to the excel
lent care she was getting. and Helen
grew better. She saw and loved the moth
or Of DR. Carter, who came daily with
Dolly, and, last, but not least, the
young doctor himself seemed to be TAX
ing a place in her life that she had never
expected any man TO take. 1t was love
that had come to her, but Helen scarce
ly realized that anything so wonderful
could happen to her, so modest was her
nature. Ribbon counters. hallrooms, bad
ly lighted, and weary hours of waiting
for a holiday that never came vanished
from her consciousness. All that SEEM
ed now to be Of vital Importance was
the coming and going Of DR.. Carter. In
his eyes the light OF the world fingered
for her.
II don't know how 1 am ever going to
repay you for all you have done for me-"
she said softly on the day when she was
to his home to finish of the
road to health. In the days to come
when I am measuring ribbons will be
pondering continually on your kindness
and trying to find some means whereby
can repay you even in q slight de-
gree"
Helen" he interrupted swiftly. |
there is only one way in the whole |
world that you can repay me, and that |
s by loving me. I want you for my |
wife, and 1 want Dolly for my sister. !
and my mother wants you both" he |
aughed softly and imprisoned her while !
he looked happily into her wonderful. |
ove-lit eyes. There are no two ways /
about 1t, dear-yop will have to be
nine"
From the prison his arms had made I
Helen made no attempt to escape She
aughed softly back at him and flung
lerself into closer captivity.
That evaning she took DeIly into her
lrIns and told her all about 1t. The slim
little sister looked mischievousIy back at !
Ter.
1T is pity you missed your holidays,
1t not? she Questioned. II amsso1
lappy, dearie," she added warmly.