The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-10
DO II" She smiled adorably

ihen you can-thats all there IN
70 II. You can do anything you like
II you only want to hard enough.
Think that over, Miss Sargent"
He held her hand in his warm CLASH
Tor a moment. smiled down into her
eyes, picked up his hat and racquet
! and disappeared with the nurse into
the hall.
Elsie gazed after him, conscious of
an acute pang Of jealousy that Myra
Hatfield could play tennis with Doctor
Phelps while she, the woman cham
pion Of her club, had to lie in bed. A
sudden terror smote her that she
might die after ALL She had SO ear
nestly prayed for death in those first
horrible days.
"Oh, l don't want to die!" she cried
suddenly. And Miss Whelan ran back
to hold her hands and assure her that
the doctor had promised Mrs. Sargent
that Elsie would be running around
the garden in a fortnight.
And you know doctors don't make
rash promises, Miss Elsie" admon-
ished Miss Whelan kindly.
Il am so glad" said Elsie quietly
Then. What is that?" she asked as
the purring Of a motor fell on the
summer air.
That's the doctors car. He's 60
ing down to the club now" said the
nurse as she lifted Elsie to sitting
posture so that she could see the
vista of straight road that ran past
the house. You can just see it skim
ming along now"
Elsie looked eagerly at the small,
shining car, was amazed at her sense
of relief that the doctor was riding
alone, and actually blushed because
her heart beat faster at the thought
OF his coming visit the next day When
the little car had disappeared Elsie
laid her head on her ruffled pillow and
went to sleep with a smile touching
her pink lips. The acute Miss Whe-
land winked at her own reflection in
the mirror.
Mrs. Sargent came in and kissed
her child's peaceful face and cried a
little on the nurses broad shoulder
Then she sat down at the bedside
while Miss Whelan went out and sent
this telegram to Doctor Lane, in New
York city:
Working finely Don't come home
yeti"
The next day Elsie was sitting in
the window when the doctor arrived.
They talked tennis for half an hour
and Elsie declared that she felt worlds
better and wanted to talk longer, but
the doctor was as wise as he was en-
thusiastic. and, again sporting his ten
mis- fiannels, he went on to the club.
Inside of week Elsie Sargent was
downstairs and within the promised
fortnight she was rather slowly try
ing out new racquet in the tennis
court in the Sargent grounds. It was
a whole month before Doctor Phelps
would permit her to ride down to the
clubhouse with him in the shining lit
tie car, and he felt quite as triumphant
as Elsie at the tennis match when
Miss Sargent still held her place as
champion.
Mrs. Sargent wept few tears when
she tried to thank Doctor Lane for her
child's life.
"Tut-tut-thank Phelps, II he will
let you," he interrupted. 81 had hopes,
for he is the best fellow in the world.
but hadn't the slightest idea that
everything would come cut SO well
and that-well Flora Sargent" said
the doctor, with a sudden tenderness
in his tones as he laid his hands on
the little widows shoulders, III you
are truly grateful, promise me one
thing"
Anything you like, Dick"
"Thcn, II Elsie marries Bert Phelps
will you marry me?"
"Yes-she won't need me then"
VERY we'll, Flora; consider your
self as good as engaged to mel" he
said. putting his arm around her.
Look"
Through the window they saw Elsie
and the young doctor walking in the |
garden below. Suddenly they paused
and Elsie looked up into Phelps COM
pelling eyes.
"See?" asked Doctor Lane tenderly.
"Yes," said Mrs. Sargent contented-
". "The cure Is perfect"
Copyright 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)