Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-07-21
THE BADY's BLuNDER
By cArHARlNE cRANMER.

BY CATHAHINE CHANMeH. Z
As~~s~s~~~~s~essesp~~ss~~~s~"~s""ss
John Elliott lay fiat on his back in
. 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. 1t was bad
enough to be shut up in hospital at
any time, but to be thrust from ones
Pullman berth into an ambulance in
q city thousand miles from home at
the very beginning of day on which
a 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
rage had direct connection with the
match which all of Dolly's friends had
considered 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 a
nurse looking in, he was greeted by
2 little child's caressing voice.
Poor Mr.. Man." cooed the voice, as
its owner. a dainty blonde maiden OF
three in q white frock and q flower
trimmed hat, tripped into the room
and approached his bedside. does 90
head hurt 90? Don't 90 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
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 tiny
green basket filed with purple and
yellow pansies. "Muvver sent you
this, and l mos fordot it. Dood-by"
After the child had gone. John real
lied that the basket of pansies re-
NAMED in his hand. He removed
card that peeped from the basket and
on the side that first caught his eye
was written: "Pansies for thoughts,
you know; 50 be assured you are not
forgotten" Turning the card me-
chanically. he whistled in sudden sur
prise as he read the name: Mrs. Al
bert Brown Watkins" Which was
the present name of Dolly Owen, the
girl he had loved.
A cold sweat broke over him and
with It came q queer feeling that all
his physical mechanism had suspend
ed operation. His bewildered mind
was at first as incapacitated as his
body, but slowly he began to realize
that there was quite as much pain a.
pleasure in being remembered by
Dolly.
He was snappish toward the nurse
when she came in at noon to take his
temperature and to give him some
broth.
Late that afternoon, John lay In q
delightful state of semi-slumber, when
from the corridor came the sound Of
q voice that seemed to At into his
dream. A lady was IL conversation
with Johns nurse.
quite by accident found that my
nursemaid made q stupid blunder this
morning and took my little girl to
room 260 with some flowers had sent
to dear old Mr.. Throckmorton, who IL
the paralytic in room 800. you know.
So I came over to see that lonely old
soul, and. as l saw you coming out
Of go as passed, I'd like to say that
I hope my little girl caused your pa
tient no annoyance this morning."
WELL" came the nurses voice. he
did have quite q turn just after she
left, but it may not have been caused
by her visit"
"Oh, I'm so sorry" The lady's voice
was softly penitent. do you think 1t
would be an additional annoyance II !
went in now and apologized?"
"Oh, no. madam, I'm sure it would
not"
As John slowly opened his eyes, he
could Just make out In the twilight the
outline of q slender woman's figure in
white entering his room.
Before either of them had time to
think, Dolly was kneeling at the bed
side with her blushing face hidden in
his outstretched hands. A moment
later. came sane thinking into Johns
head, and he sank back upon his pill
low with a groan.
It's like hitting q man when he'l
down, Dolly, to give me these glimpses
of the Joy that might have been mine.
He sighed heavily. why should
ever have thought you'd want t
cheer up my sickroom?"
But l do want to, John: won't yor
let me?" She looked appealingiy a,
him.
with your husbands full permits
sion, of course" retorted John, sud
denly becoming sarcastic again.
my husband? Why, John, didn'
you know my husband was killed {