Middletown transcript., 1917-01-27

But he did not look at her. There
was so much that was hopeless in his
eyes that he did not want-he to see.
"1n one way, 1t will be little bet
ter for you than If Christine and Pal
mer were not in the house. You like
Christine, don't you?"
"Very much."
"She likes you. = She depends on
you, too, especially since that night
when you took care Of Palmer's arm
before we got Doctor Max. 1 often
think, K, what good doctor you
would have been. You knew so well
what to do for mother"
She broke off. She still could not
trust her voice about her mother.
''Palmer's arm is going to be quite
straight. DR.. Ed is so proud of Max
over it. 1t was bad fracture"
He had been waiting for that. Once
at least, whenever they were together,
she brought Max into the conversation.
She was quite unconscious Of it.
You and Max are great friends. l
knew you would like him. He Is in
| tcresting, don't you tLink2"
Very" said X.
TO save his life, he could not put
any warmth into his voice. He would
be fair. It 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
tai; about? Politics?"
| occasionally"
She was q little jealous Of those eve
ningS, when she sat alone, or when
Harriet, sitting with her, made sketches
under the lamp to the accompaniment
| Of q steady hum Of masculine voices
from across the hail.. Not that she
was ignored, Of course. Max came in
always. before he went, and, leaning
over the back of chair, would inform
her Of the absolute blankness Of life
in the hospital without her.
And II. would stand in the doorway,
quietly smoking, or go back to his room
| and lock away in his trunk the great
German books on surgery with which
lie and Max had been working out a
case.
SO X. sat by the dining-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 spoken,
and that KS eyes were fixed on her.
The little clock on the shelf took up
tho burden Of the churches. and struck
the hour in quick staccato notes.
Sidney rose and went over to X, her
black dress in soft folds about her.
''He is born. X"
"iIe is born, dear"
She stopped and kissed his cheek
lightly.
Christmas day dawned thick and
white. Sidney left the little house at
six, with the street light still burning
through a mist of falling snow.
The hospital wards and corridors
were still lighted when she went on
duty at seven o'clock. She had been
arsgned to the mems surgical ward,
and went there at once. She had not
seen Carlotta Harrison since her moth
er's death; but she found her On duty
in the surgical ward. The older girl
greeted her pleasantly.
eve were all sorry to hear of your
trouble" she said. Il hope we shall
get On nicely"
Sidney surveyed the ward, full to
overtlowinS. At the far end two cots
had been placed.
"Thc ward is heavy. isn't it?'
VERY. I've been almost mad at
dressing hour. There are three Of us
you, myself and a probationer."
The first light of the Christmas
morning was coming through the win
dOws. Carlotta put out the lights and
turned In Il businessille way to her
records.
The probationer's name is Ward
we'll" she said. perhaps you'd better
help her with the breakfasts. II there's
any way to make mistake, she makes
it,"
1t was after eight when Sidney found
Johnny Rosenfeld.
"You here in the ward, Johnny!' she
said.
Suffering had refined the boys fca-
lures. His dark, heavily friag1d eyes
looked at her from a pale face. But
he smiled up at her checrfully.
| Il was In private room; but il cost
thirty plunks q 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
stro;:ad his hand.
y m sorry, Johnny"
| He pretended to think that her SYM
pathy was for his fall from the estate
OF private patient to the free ward.
''Oh, I'm all right Miss Sidney" he
said. ''Mr. Howe is paying six dollars
4 week for ME. The difference between
me and the other fellows around here
is that 1 get q napkin on my tray and
they don't"
Before his determined cheerfulness
Sidney chOked.
"IIave 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. I'll be doing the tango
yet
.idney's eyes shone. OF course, Max
could do 1t. What n thing il was to be
able to take this life-in-death of
Jo':"ny Rosenfeld's and make it life
| gr;.i