The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-19
A MEDICAL TREATISE
BY ]. 3. c. YOUNG.

the hallway with a tray for her pa
tient in room 16. 1t was about four .
O'Clock, and, of course, Mac Thomp-
son 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 to- :
gether and bowed profoundly when he !
saw her coming.
Hello, Miss Arthur" said Mac,
with most irritating smile.
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.
Bill disappeared down the hall, and
Mac sauntered up and down and wait
ed 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.
LET me go this instant, Mac. Let
go my apron. / just wish you medical
students 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
the only medical student licensed to
bother you" Mac took out his note
book and pen with flourish and
looked at her in business-like way.
She had to laugh. Mac, you ride
ulous thing. you'll never be sensible.
But, seriously now, you are interrupt
ing me in my work. l wish you would
go away" She screwed her face up
| into frown.
1--WE got my orders. Farewell, cruel
young woman" And then he turned
right about and walked stiffiy down
the hall.
"What boy!" she said scornfully,
with a smile at the corner of her
| mouth.
How she longed to shake him, as
she watched him cross the street from
hospital 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
was too brilliant to be anything but
| genuine. Macs face lost its bantering
look and he stopped and kissed the up
| turned face.
| 'YOu darling!" he said huskily.
| But the little nurse was petrified
with horror. Had he thought she was
| glad to see him? Did he dare to
think she had wanted TO see him?
ooh, how dare you? Il" Her
thoughts trailed off into nothingness,
and she made her escape into her
room and had a good weep for very
| rage. How dare he? Horrid thing
He took advantage! I'll never, never,
never" But she did not say what
she would never do.
Miss Arthur" Mac was standing be-
fore her in the doorway when she
came out of a room next evening
There was grim determination In his
face, and the little nurse was panicky
Oh, for anything to stave this reckon.
ing off
ooh no! Oh, no. mol" she stammered
and would have fed. He turned quick,
ly, and caught his finger in the door.
jamb.
"Jove" he muttered forcefully, as
he rescued his hand and examined 1t
"Oh, Mae, I've hurt you! How
did I do 1t? Do let me see it, please
dow
Now Mac, naturally a willy young
man, saw his advantage at once, ant
drew his face up into still more ex
cruciating scowl.
"Jove!" he said again, pretending
that the pain made him Obvious oil
her presence.
Dear Mac, do let me see 1t. II
bandage 1t. I'm so sorry, Mac, dear
The little nurse was so truly dis
tressed that she did not care what sht
said.
Not out here, come on into thi.
empty room. Jove, but it pains! Arr
you very sorry?'
'Oh, yes. so sorry"
"Shame" thought Mac to himself
"but it's got to be dOnep He raised
a panied face to her sorrow stricken
; one. "Would you be sorry If m.
= hand had to be amputatedT
: "Oh. Mac!" And she buried he
| head on his arm in tears.
: would you marry a man with onl.
t one hand?"
: The little nurse nodded her head
, choking with sobs, and Mac cheerful.
grinned over her head and winked hi
eye at the window.
r "Oh, but you would rather have
2 good article than damaged one"
II love you anyway, Mac"
'"Then It's all right, grille, for
e didn't hurt my hand at ALL" said Ma
+ cheerfully, printing another kiss OF
D the astonished face of the little nurse
= She was so rnliavad thot che LiSco,