The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-14
The BABY's BLUNDER
BY cArHARINE cRANmER.

I BY cATHARiNE cRANmER. !
he>~>~>e~~~~~~~~e~~ >~~@~@>~ee~es~sk
John Elliott lay fat on his back in
q hospital bed and stared at the bare
and sanitary walls of his boxlike
room. His drawn face showed evil
dences of mental suffering as well as
OF physical tortures inflicted by the
grippe, which had overtaken him in
late springtime after he had success
fully evaded it all winter. It was bad
enough TO be shut up in hospital at
any time, but to be thrust from ones
Pullman berth into an ambulance in
city a thousand miles from home at
the very beginning of day on which
big business deal should have been
contaminated was worse than bad.
1t did not add to Johns peace of
mind that the girl he had once loved
lived in this city, whittier she had
come at the time of her marriage to
a wealthy manufacturer. He had al
ways felt that her fathers rehabilita-
ton in business just after her mar
riage had a direct connection with the
match which all of Dolly's friends had
considered a wholly unsuitable one,
owing to the difference in age and
tastes between her and the middle
aged man she married.
He became vaguely conscious that
some object had appeared in his door
way, but before his aching eyes had
discerned that it was other than q
nurse looking in, he was greeted by
a little child's caressing voice.
Poor Mr.. Man." cooed the voice, as
its owner, dainty blonde maiden of
three in a white frock and flower
trimmed hat, tripped into the room
and approached his bedside, does 90
head hurt 90? Don't 200 want me to
ture it?"
With all the motherly tenderness
] she would have bestowed on her ia
| vorite doll, the child patted Johns ach
ing temples, smoothed his eyelids, and
talked an alluring prattle in the most
sympathetic of baby voices. But the
fairy's godmother, In the guise Of q
uniformed nurse girl, appeared at the
door and summoned the little creature
from the realm Of healing.
Mercy doodness!' she exclaimed
STOPPING down and bringing up a tiny
green basket filled with purple ant
yellow pansies. "Muvver sent yot
this, and mos fordot it. Dood-by.
After the child had gone, John real
lied that the basket of pansies re
manned in his hand. He removed {
card that peeped from the basket ant
on the side that first caught his eyt
was written: "Pansies for thoughts
you know; so be assured you are no
forgotten" Turning the card me
chanically, he whistled in sudden sur
prise as he read the name: Mrs. AL
bert Brown Watkins" Which wa
the present name OF Dolly Owen, thu
girl he had loved.
A cold sweat broke over him an,
with 1t came queer feeling that al
! his physical mechanism had suspend
! ed operation. His bewildered min,
was at first as incapacitated as hi
, body, but slowly he began to realiz
that there was quite as much pain a
I pleasure in being remembered b
/ Dolly.
/ He was snappish toward the nurs
J. when she came In at noon to take hi
temperature and to give him som
, broth.
al Late that afternoon, John lay In
delightful state OF semi-slumber, whe
voice that seemed to fit into hi
+ dream. A lady was in conversatio
s with Johns nurse.
l. quite by accident l found that m
/, nursemaid made stupid blunder thi
g morning and took my little girl {
room $50 with some flowers had ser
/. to dear old Mr.. Throckmorton, who
}, the paralytic in room $50, you know
9 So came over to see that lonely oil
soul, and, as l saw you coming OF
b OF $50 as passed, I'd like to say this
4 hope my little girl caused your d
o tient no annoyance this morning.
k WELL" came the nurses voice, ''h
4 did have quite a turn just after sh
9 left, but 1t may not have been cause
Q by her visit"
/ "Oh, I'm so sorry" The lady's voiS
T, was softly penitent. do you think
. would be an additional annoyance If
u went in now and apologized?''
AS John slowly opened his eyes, h
u could just make out in the twilight ii
y outline of slender woman's figure
I white entering his room.
y Before either of them had time
think, Dolly was kneeling at the be
= side with her blushing face hidden
his outstretched hands. A momel
y later, came sane thinking into John
head, and he sank back upon his p
= low with a groan.
= TITS like hitting a man when he
down. Dolly, to give me these glimps,
- of the Joy that might have been mine
He sighed heavily. why should
a ever have thought you'd want
= cheer up my sickroom?"
but do want to. John; won't "
n let me?" She looked appealingly
II him.
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