The Irish standard., 1916-12-30
She was quite uncons cious of it.

very, said IL.
To save his life, he could not put
any warmth into his voice. He would
be fair. 1t was not in human nature to
expect more of him.
"Those long talks you have, shut in
your room-what in the world do you
talk about? politics?"
occasionally"
She was Il little Jealous of those eve
nlngs, when she SAT- alone, or when
Harriet. sitting with her, made sketches
under the lamp to the accompaniment
OF steady hum of masculine voices
from across the hall. Not that she
was ignored, of course. Max came in
always, before he went, and, leaning
over the back of a chair would inform
her of the absolute blankness of life
in the hospital without her.
And X. would stand in the doorway,
quietly smoking, or 90 back to his room
and lock away in his trunk the great
German books on surgery with which
he and Max had been working out a
case.
So X. sat by the ,lining-room table
and listened to her talk of Max that
last evening together. When the bells
announced midnight. Sidney reused
with start. She realized that for
some time neither of them had Spnkcn,
and that KS eyes We're fixed on her.
The little clock on the shelf took W
the burden of the churches, and struck
the hour in quick stuccato notes.
Sidney rose and went over to X, her
black dress in soft folds about her.
Gle is horn, X"
"Iie is born, DEAR
She stopped and kissed his cheek
lightly.
Christmas day dawncd thick and
white. Sidney left the little house at
six, with the street light still burning
through Il mist Of falling snow.
The hospital wards and corridors
we're still lighted when She went ON
duty Mt srvc.l o'clock. She had been
assigned to the mems surgical ward
and went there ut once. She had not
seen Carlotta Harrison since her moth
er's death: hut she found Ter on duty
greeted her pleasantly.
'Wc were all sorry to hear of YOUR
troubie," she said. Il hope we shall
get on nicely"
Sidney surveyed The ward, fu,! to
oEerIl"wing. AT the far end two cots
bad been placed.
"Tlie ward is heavy, isn't t?
very. I've been almost mad al
dressing hour. There are three of US
YOU myself and probntioner."
The frs, light Of the Christmas
morning waS coming through the win.
dows. Carlotia put out the lights and
turned in Il businesslike way to her
records.
"Tllc luobatiOner'S name is Ward.
WE'LL, she said. perhaps you'd better
help her with the breakfasts. IL there's
amy Way to make mistake, she makes
| it,"
1t was after eight when Sidney found
Johnny Eoscnfcld.
"You here in the ward, Johnny p she
said.
Suffering had refined the boys fea.
lures. His dark heavily fringed eyes
looked at her from a pale face. But
nc smiled up at her cllecrfully.
I WAS in Il private room; but it cost
thirty plunkS week, so l moved. Why
pay rent?'
| Sidney had not seen him since his
accident. And now the work of the
ward pressed hard. She had only a
moment. She stood beside him and
stroked his hand.
I'm sorry, Johnny"
He pretended to think that her SYM
pathy was for his fall from the estate
OF a private patient to the free ward.
ooh, I'm all right, Miss Sidney" he
said. "Nlr. Howe is paying six dollars
81 week for me The difference between
me and til" other fellows around here
is that get napkin ON my tray and
they don't"
| before his determined cheerfuIncss
| Sidney cholled.
"lIavc they told you what the trou.
bic is?"
Backs broke. But don't let that
worry you. DR.. Max Wilson is going to
operate on me. Ill be doing the tango
yet"
Sidncy'S eyes shone. OF course, Max
could do it, What Il thing it was to be
able to take this life-in-deatl of
Johnny RoScnfclds and make it life
| again!
| Sidney fed him his morning beef tea,
and, because her eyes filled up with
tears now and then at his helplessncss,
| she WAS not so skiIIful as she might
have been. When one spoonful had
| gone down his neck, he smiled up at
her whimsically
"Run for your life. The dams
burst !" he said.
AS much as was possible, the hos
pii;l rested on that Christmas day. In
the afternoon, services were held in
the chapel downstairs. Doctor Max,
lounging against the wall, across the
chapel, found his eyes straying toward
Sidney constantly. How she stood out
from the others! What a zest for liv-
Ing and for happiness she had!
The Christmas morning had brought
Sidney half a dozen gifts. X. sent her
silver thermometer case with her
monogram, Christine toilet mirror.
But the gift Of gifts, over which Sid
ney's eyes had glowed, was great
box of roses marked in Doctor Max's
cOpper-plate writing, "FrOm q neigh