The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-15
EVENING STORY
The Greater Need.
(Bv Vincent G. Perry.)

little village school that mad grown
so familiar to her and become part
of her life, and the thought of leaving
it and the pupils who had won
place in her heart, panied her 1t
was not because of inefficieucy that
she had not been re-engaged for an
other term, for the pupils had advanc-
ed with remarkable strides under her
tutorage, but because she was Wo-
man and DR.. Arnold didn't approve OF
a woman teacher for so large a school,
and on the school board DR.. Arnolds
word was law.
The doctor remembered when he
was a boy and what a time they had
with schoolmasters. That was when
the spare the rod and spoil the child"
rule was rigidly enforced. A woman
teacher wouldn't have had any con-
troll over the school in those days and
he couldn't see how things could pos
sibly be different now. He was the
only doctor in the village and was
kept so busy he hadn't an opportunity
to visit the school and see how Helen's
! plan of love and sympathy for each
pupil worked out. True, his little
/ motherless daughter, Annette spoke
in glowing terms of Miss Paterson. but
then she was only a very small child
and couldn't have any real conception
of how the school was disciplined.
He had met the teacher once or twice
and remembered her but vaguely, a
/ slip of a girl that looked as if she
| would faint if her pupils became I'M
| ruly.
| Before she caught the train home
Helen had a call to make One of her
favorite pupils had been i'll for some
/ time and rumor had it that the child
had diphtheria. For the safety of the
/ other pupils she had not visited him
| before but there was no harm in call
ing now, she thought. The little lad,
j Ned Hockins, a bright little wisp, was
1 dying, and she was just in time
After it was all over and the doctor
was leaving he offered to drive Helen
to the station. She felt a little bit
| terness toward him. knowing he was
responsible for the change in her
school, but she noticed that he looked
worried and upset. Perhaps the i'm
pregnable Doctor Arnold was human
after all, she thought Something
was troubling him-his conscience
over his treatment of her, perhaps.
She would give him a chance to right
himself at any rate, so she accepted
| his offer.
Il am afraid my own little girl is
coming down with the same thing -
he remarked in a worried tone after
| they had talked over the sad scene
they had just left. 'She is in bed
now. If she has diphtheria it will go
hard with her. Just at the holiday
season 1 am afraid 1 won't be able to
/ get a nurse from the city and none
of the villagers will touch a conta-
gious case. Little Ned would have re-
covered if he had had proper nurs-
ing"
I'VE have time to stop off and see
her now" Helen said. 81 wouldn't
fieave. knowing Annette was in dan
| GER
Little Annette was in grave danger,
Helen saw that at once II am going
to stay right here she told the doc
tor. Il would never forgive myself
if l went home and left Annette with
out some capable hand to care for
her. L know she will be better with
me than with anyone else; she. knows
me so well and we are such great
friends"
The doctor was too grateful to make
even a pretense of refusal. 1t was a
big sacrifice for Helen to give up her
Christmas holiday but she hardly
thought of that. Despite her careful
nursing and the doctors skill little
Annette'S case became critical.
ITO save her 1 should be with her
all my time, but with so much sick
ness in the village and not another
doctor within twenty miles, I cam
conscientiously devote all my time t.
Annette, even tho she is my own the
doctor said to Helen after a particu-
larly trying night.
Helen was beginning to see the rea
side of the doctors character. He
was still in his early thirties but his
responsibilities in the village had aged
him before his time. His true sell
was reflected in his love for his child
and his devotion to duty.
Il think / can help you" she said
MY brother is graduate doctor ano
has jIst finished his hospital training
He will be able to handle your prac-
tice while you put all your time on this
case. I will wire him to come right
down tonight and I know he will dc
it,
You're an angel!" was all the doc
tor could say as he grasped her hand
As Helen promised. her brother ar
rived and Doctor Arnold was pleased
/ with his appearance and knowledge
child for days until the crisis was
passed. Helen waited on his every
/ wish and between them they won the
! hard fight
After Annette passed the danger
zone and was we'll on the way to con-
, valescence, the doctor broke down
Helen had seen it coming for days
} / Even his iron will and wonderful con-
stitution could not stand siege like
he had had. He had been oVerworked
before Annette's illness and had not
slept three hours a day while she was
in danger. Helen knew all he needed
was rest to brain and body and she
saw that he got t When he was well
enough to stand II. she read to him.
Her soothing voice worked wonders
| In very short time he, was able to sit
up but was not anxious to recover
/ entirely.
Il don't know what I could have
/ done without you or what I am going
to do when you are gone" he told
Helen when she suggested that both
her patients were well enough to do
without her. "If there is anything
can do to repay you 1 hope you
won't delay asking me?"
IF you will use your influence to
secure my school back again for me
/ There is a new teacher there and ]
hear the children are not getting along
very well with him. We got along so
; well together and ! love them. every
one. Please doctor-they need me
and I need them she was almost
sobbing
You are needed somewhere else, too,
very much A little motherless girl and
IL