Middletown transcript., 1917-02-17

to request to have Sidney in the oper-
ating room. He wanted her with him,
and he wanted her to see him at work
the age-old instinct of the male to nave
his woman see him at his best.
The deepening and broadening OF
Sidney's character had been very no
ticeable in the last few months. ohe
had gained in decision without becom-
ing hard had learned to see things as
they are, not through the rose mist ol
early girlhood; and, far from Delns
daunted, had developed philosophy
that had for it's basis God in his heaven
and all well with the world.
But her new theory of acceptance
did not comprehend everything. one
was in state of wild revolt, for ln-
stance, as to Johnny Rosenfeld, ana
more remotely but not less deeply con-
cerned over Grace Irving.
But her revolt was to be for hersen
too. On the day after her appointment
to the operating room, she had her
half-holiday, and when, after restless
night, she went to her new station, II
was to learn that Wilson had Deeh
called out of the city in consultation
and would not operate that day.
O'Hara would take advantage OF the
free afternoon to run in some ODDS anu
ends of cases.
The operating room made gauze that
morning, and small packets OF tam
pons: absorbent cotton covered Win
sterilized gauze, and fastened togeth-
| er-twelve, by careful count, in each
| bundle.
Miss Grange, who had been kind to
| Sidney in her probation months, taught
her the method.
used instead of sponges," she ex-
plained. eff you noticed yesterday,
they were counted before and after
each operation. One of these missing
is worse than q bank clerk out q dol
lar at the end of the day. There's no
closing up until it's found!"
Sidney eyed the small packet before
her anXiously.
"What O hideous responsibility !!
she said.
From that time on she handled the
small gauze sponges almost reverentlv
The operating room-all glass, white
enamel, and shining nickel plate-flrs'
frightened, then thrilled her. 1t was
as it, having loved a great actor, SHE
now trod the enchanted boards OF
which he achieved his triumphs. Sh'
was glad that it was her afternoon OF
and that she would not see some lessee
star-O'Hara, to wit-uSurplng nj
place. But Max had not sent her an!
word. That hurt.
The operating room was hive
industry, and tongues kept pace VIII
fingers. What news of the world cam
in through the great doors was trans
lated at once into hospital terms
What the city forgot the hospital re
membered. 1t took up life where tn
town left it at it's gates, and carrle
it on or saw it ended, as the case Nigh
be. So these young women knew tn
ending of many stories, the beginnin
of some; but of none did they knoN
both the first and last, the beginnin
and the end.
BY many small kindnesses Sidne
had made herself popular. And ther
: was more to it than that. She neve
shirked. The other girls had the r.
:, spect for her of one honest worke
:. for another. Fhe episode that ha
caused her suspension seemed entirel
= forgotten. They showed her CAREFUL
= what she was to do; and, because sl
:. must know the "why" of everything
they explained as best they could.
It was while she was standing by tt
great sterilizer that she heard, thrOue
an open door, part of a conversatic
that sent her through the day wit
her world in revolt.
The takers were putting the a
esthetizing room in readiness for I'll
afternoon. Sidney, waiting for Il
time to open the sterllizer, was busy fl
the first time in her hurried mornin
with her own thoughts. Because 81
was very human, there was
little e1ultation in her mind. VIII
would these girls say when th'
learned of how things stood betwe'
\ her and their hero. Not shamefl
this: the honest pride Of woman
being chosen from many.
The voices were very clear.
"Shes eating her heart out"
''Do you think he has really brok
! with herr"
"Probably not. She knows its col
:, ing; that's ALL"
Sometimes 1 have wondered"
= $50 have others. She oughtn't
{ be here, of course. But among so ma
there is bound to be one now and tn
Z who-who isn't quite"
She hesitated, at loss for wOl
"nid you-did you ever think oy
that trouble with Miss Page about t
medicines? That would have be
easy, and like her."
"She hates Miss Page, of course, t
I hardly think If that's true, it W
nearly murder"
There were two voices, young o.
full of soft southern infections, and
er, older voice, a trifle hard, as from di:
fusion.