The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-10-23
The BABY's BLUNDER
BY cATHARINE cRANMER.

John Elliott layafiat on his back in
a 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 vas bad
enough to be shut up in hospital at
any time, but to be thrust from ones
Pullman berth into an ambulance In
city thousand miles from home at
the very beginning of a day on which
big business deal should have been
consummated 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 size mad
come at the time of her marriage to
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 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 a
nurse looking in, he was greeted by
little child's caressing voice.
Poor Mr.. Man. cooed the voice, as
its owner, a 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 100 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 a
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 / 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 a
card that peeped from the basket and
on the side that first caught his eye
was written: 'Pansies for thoughts
you know; so be assured you are not
forgotten" Turning the card me
| chanically, he whist1ed 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 a 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 as
| 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 9
delightful state of semi-slumber. wheI
from the corridor came the sound Of
O. voice that seemed to fit into his
| dream. A lady was in conversation
with Johns nurse
"Quite by accident I found that my
nursemaid made stupid blunder this
morning and took my little girl tt
room 260 with some flowers had sen
to dear old Mr. Throckmorton, who Il
i the paraIytic in room $50, you know
So came over to see that lonely OLD
! soul, and, as / saw you coming on
OF go as I passed, I'd like to say ina
hope my little girl caused your pa
tient no annoyance this morning"
well" came the nurses voice, Cd Il
did have quite turn just after sh'
left, but it may not have been causes
by her visit
ooh, I'm so sorry" The 1ady's voic
was softly penitent. do you think
would be an additional annoyance if
went In now and apologized?"
As John slowly opened his eyes, b
could just make put in the twilight tn
outline OF slender wonan's figure il
white entering his room
Before either of them had time Z
think, Dolly was kneeling at the bed
side with her blushing face hidden il
his outstretched hands. A momen
later, came sane thinking into John
head, and he sank back upon his pi
J lnE with . aroan-