Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-13
The Daily Story
Copyrighted. 1914. by Associated Literary Bureau.

4 -
automobile.
Don't you know" she snapu.s
"that | had to go to the Hunters; a.
ner party alone last nightT
He brushed his hand YEARLY acrr..
his forehead. and something In his -
irritated her.
II cannot leave here yet" he ss,d
| He watched the chauffeur turn u.
car around in the narrow street: th..
he went slowly back.
He made his usual round. stopping \,
chat with some of his patients.
The next morning at dawn the VA
man in No. 20 reused again, and n.
surgeon sat beside her.
This time she could lift her hand. ana
she extended it toward him.
Have been hurt, Jack?" she asksd
Eyes, Nell" he answered.
"Did the horse throw me?"
In a fash the man understood tha
she had recognized without remembee
ing and that in her mind she VA,
back on the ranch where he had fin,
met her.
.s'Am ! badly burtT' she continued
"You are just shaken up"
"Im 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 nursey
al sent for her,"
"She is so good to me in the night
when ! have horrible dreams and
think that I have lived years and
years without you. Jack. Then call
her. and she comforts me-"
do you dream that, NellT
Eyes. But it cannot ever be, dear
Don't you remember what I told you
the night we became engaged?
When he spoke his voice was full Of
suppressed pain
You told me. dear. that you loved
me so that If we ever drifted apart
the words had long pauses between
them-"you would drift back to metz
die"
EYES," she said and slept.
The surgeon had performed three op
erations at the hospital Of the Sisters
of Mercy, and it was in the evening
before he got back to the patient IN
No. 20.
In the corridor Miss Ashton met him
with the chart. He scanned it 81.
lently.
when was the last Temperature
takenT he asked
"At 6. 1t is slowly rising"
"Does she know she is worseT
ct don't think so. She is calm and
very quiet"
At 9 he sat alone with her while the
nurse rested
ST 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 betterT
"No."
The brave eyes never faltered. but q
mist of tears came over them.
1T 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.
Later the house doctor met him on
the stairs.
internal hemorrhage, isn't lit" De
asked.
ST fear So"
Toward morning the nurse caiec
him. When he entered No. 20 the pa
tent was raised slightly in bed.
Were you asleep?" she asked.
"No. I don't sleep any more" be an
swered wistfully.
The nurse went out and closed lne
door.
"Why didn't you write to me! sne
asked.
"Why, Nell, I wrote and wrote, ana
at last I went back to find you"
They could hear the ring OF pa
TENTS bell and soft footsteps burryins
along the corridor.
1T was father" she said. Jose
wanted to marry me. The rancn was
to Jose. Then after you
left father died. and 1 went to %!
aunt in Denver"
A look of contentment was settins
over her face. smoothing out the nnes
of pain between the eyes. which uo's
of extreme agony.
Another hour passed silently. inen
she asked:
Ibid you know me when you cpe'
ated?"
The surgeon shuddered.
81 did not see your face till u ~s'
nearly over, Nell, and them
Don't call any one" she SAID wnes
be lifted her to ease the pain. i tninA
| am going to sleep. and this SUE
smiled softiy-"is what ] drifteo DasA
for"
The sunbeam that crept through tps
closed blinds stalked slowly along lpe
wall until Ii touched the head OF ns'
pod.
Then the surgeon folded her maui.
Ind. ike a man grown old. groped VIZ
If the room.