The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-28

pieces 80 suddenly as she did. She
burst into hysterical laughter and sobs
and chung to me wildly
"You don't understand" she gasped
1T length, when had quoted her a
little. He is penitent. Do you I'M
derstand now. Mr. Drake? He wants
me to go back to him. And l am 60
ing-after he has served his SEN
tence."
went to the bedside alone. John
son was staring up at me with hol-
low eyes.
"She has told you?" he asked.
EYES," l answered, and it was all
I could do to refrain from insulting
the creature as he lay there.
Doctor" he said, I've been a
pretty bad sort Of customer in my
time, but it's all over now. The po-
lice have been notified, and they are
coming for me, guess"
Il wish to heaven you had stayed
away, or gone to some other hospital"
! answered.
Sure enough, next morning about
six o'clock, a police officer came into
the ward and posted himself beside
the mans bed.
The days went by, and Nurse Nit
ram and Carruthers avoided each 9TH
er so carefully that don't think they
met for about FIVE days.
was in the ward beside one Of our
patients who was Ill enough to have
the screen drawn round him, so that
nobody could see me. He occupied
Bed 10, in the corresponding alcove
opposite that in which Johnson lay,
and the door Of the night nurses room
was only a few feet away, at the end
Of the room. Nurse Miriam was just
coming on duty and had gone in to
get some charts when l saw Carruth-
ers step quietly after her Next min
ute l heard them talking together in
, side, and Nurse Miriam was sobbing
as though her heart would break.
Decency demanded that I should
make my presence known, but I
couldn't bring myself to let them see
me. l could hear every word of the
whispered conversation, though
could see nothing. Carruthers was as
! hysterical as she was.
"You can come with me-" he was
urging. "Why should you ruin your
life for that miserable man."
Nurse Miriam said something about
duty.
you have higher duty" said the
Senior Surgeon. you have a duty to
yourself, Elizabeth. Do you love
him?"
She must have shaken her head,
for no answer reached my ears.
But love you and l need you,"
Carruthers exclaimed fiercely. Look
at it from the practical point of view.
You are running two lives to save
one"
1T isn't running a life to be faithful
and-and true" she sobbed.
II tell you, Elizabeth, you are act
ing Quixotically," he answered. Come
with me. Oh, my dear, must have
you, and you want me too, know.
In Texas you can get divorce"
II can't, my DEAR" heard her whis-
per. 1T would be the sweetest thing
in the world for me-for me and for
you. But one cannot buy happiness at
such price. There is the principle
and not that alone, my dear. He
has his chance at last, and he needs
me more than you do. You are strong
and can go through life without yield
ing to his terrible temptations. But
he"
Carruthers tried for half an hour,
as 1t seemed to me-though it must
have been less-to convince her. At
last he yielded. Then she took his
face between her hands and kissed
him on the lips.
"But I shall always love you, my
DEAR" she said. Wherever you are,
remember, my love shall always fol-
low you"
was glad when they came out,
leaving me to make my escape.
It would have been amusing under
other circumstances to see the strict
ly professional manner which both
adopted on the following morning.
The Senior Surgeon was making his
last round Of the hospital. He was to
60 OF duty at noon.
They were standing beside the bed
In which Johnson lay, and the fellow
was looking up at them humbly. as
he always looked. am sure his con-
version was sincere.
"Well, Johnson" said Carruthers.
I'VE are going to let you sit up awhile
this morning, and the day after to-
morrow you ought to be we'll enough
to" There he checked himself in
his unlucky speech. Help me raise
him. Nurse he said to Miss Miriam.
They put their hands beneath the
fellows shoulders and slid him up
ward upon the pillows. had no ex-
cuse for remaining in the vicinity any
longer-and, as q matter Of fact, I
didn't want to.
had left the ward and was half
way down the passage when l heard
Carruthers coming after me. He
called me from the door. Drake" he
said, come here"
His voice was as agitated as 1t had
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