The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-17
The Euening Story
A Medical Treatise.
Elmont, Kan.
(RY ]. B. C. Young.l

|
the hallway with tray for her pa
tient in room 16. It was about 4
o'clock, and, of course. Mac Thompson
was standing somewhere near, with
his hands in his pockets and his hat
| on the back of his head, waiting for
her. Beside him stood Bill Fields, who
| Immediately brought his heels togeth-
er and bowed profoundly when he saw
| her coming.
Hello Miss Arthur" said Mac,
with most ingratiating smile. Bill
| swept the floor in another graceful
salutation.
How do you do?" said the little
nurse primly, and marched on with
her tray.
ALLOW me-" said Mac, as he pushed
open the door.
Thank you, Mr.. Thompson" And
she whisked past him into the room.
Didn't she do that nicely?" growled
Mac. "And here have wasted a per-
fectly good fifteen minutes to see her,
and she knows it, too"
/ Don't be discouraged, Charlie; try
again. Coming to classmeeting? No?
Well, I'm off, Bill disappeared down
the hall, and Mac sauntered up and
down and waited for his tormentor to
reappear.
| Out she whisked and was proceed
ing to pass him with another sweet
and preoccupied smile when he caught
her apron.
mo. you don't, fair lady"
Let me go this instant Mac Let
go my apron. just wish you medical
lstudents wouldn't come bothering me
when I'm busy
Hey? Plural? Which ones have
been bothering you? Give me their
names. I'll see to them directly. I'm
thes only medical student licensed to
bother you" Mac took out his note
pook and pen with flourish and
looked at her in a business-like way.
Il ~ She had to laugh. Mac you ridicu-
u lous thing, you'll never be sensible.
But seriously now, you are interrupt
ing me in my work. wish you would
go away" She screwed her face IN
into frown.
I've got my orders. Farewell. cruel
young woman" And then he turned
right about and walked stiffly down
the hall.
Miss Arthur was so startled at his
move that she watched him in silence
She had not recovered from her sur
pplse when ne reached the door. Then
kissed his hand to her She wheeled
ansered with herself for WATCHING
MIN, and swept off with a fierce little
frown which had turned into a smile
by the time she had reached her desti-
nation. This happened to be the win
dow. She stood in the shadow of the
curtain and watched him depart. He
looked up, but the little nurse was
dietui tHis tlfne that she was not
) caught mapping.
What a boyi" she said scornfulIv.
with smile at the corner of her
/ mouth.
For the next week, the boy merely
waved ms hand at her from a distance,
ana when no one was about he threw
KISS. A week of that brought the
little nurse into white heat of rage
and when he suddenly popped into
speaking distance with her one day
1 G Lost
mind.
! Go right away. I don't like you!"
she snapped at him, and she moved
. away with red face, conscious that
ne was grinnlng a little. "Abom-
Ionged to shake him, as she watched
him cross the street from the hospita
that night. Strange how she watched
for him every night.
Hello, honey" he said next night,
when she came out of room 16 with
= her arms full.
She had just been thinking of him,
and she looked up with a smile that
r was too brilliant to be anything but
t genuine. Macs face lost it's banter
I ing look and he stopped and kissed
: the upturned face.
you darlingi'' he said huskiIy.
But the little nurse was petrified
with horror. Had he thought she was
f glad to see him? Did he dare to -
e she had wanted to see him?
On, now QdTe you! H. Her
4 thoughts trailed off into nothingness,
e and she made her escape into her
room and had a good weep for very
rage .'Haw dare he? Horrid thing!
He took advantage. I'll never. never
never But she did not say what
she would never do. After a brief
e blank silence, she put her head up
high and went on with her work.
s = For two days, she refused to look at
e Mac, who kept glancing sideways at
her with a rather subdued air. His
: step was not so jaunty when he left
a the hospital. The little nurse noticed
that when she peered out at him from
behind the curtain the third day.
:, There was some satisfaction in that.
But it was getting tiresome, this not
. speaking to Mac. And after all, per-
: lhap-well. perhaps she had been too
5 severe She hated to give in, but be-
ing angry was very wearing. Pride
Q was rather tiresome, especially when
q she wanted to be friends with Mac
Miss Arthur" Mac was standing
v before her in the doorway when she
There was grim determination in his
r face, and the little nurse got panicky.
1 oh. for anything to stave this reckon
s ing off.
"Oh, no. oh. no, mol" she STAN
n mered, and would have fled. He turned
: quickly, and caught his finger in the
r doorjamb-
"Jovel" he rnuttered forcefully, as
e he rescued his hand and examined it.
e It panied him considerably, and his
e face was drawn up in a half whistle
!. It would have been relief to let out