Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-18
BY JANE MCLEAN


The nurse came out of the sick
room and closed the door softly be-
hind her. There was something def
mite about the way she did it, some
thing almost ominous in the soft
click of the latch. On the landing
stood the doctor and he looked at
her inquiringly.
'Well?" And his emotionless face
barely changed expression as he
spoke.
The nurse shook her head and
fixed her eyes on the doctors strong
straight mouth as though hoping to
gain confidence. But when she spoke
her voice trembled and she caught
her throat in her fingers as though
to steady it.
She's dying" she forced out.
Have you given her everything I
Yes, doctor"
Doesn't she respond at an?"
The nurse shook her head. Cant
we do something?" she gasped. "I
can't wait and let her die"
HIM" The doctor looked out of
the window across the sloping gar
den where a summer had given with
lavish hand. As he hesitated. a
man stumbled out of a room nearby
and clutched at the doctors arm.
rs there any hope?" He whis-
pered. The handsome boyish face
was gray with agony, moist curls
clung to his forehead, and his eyes
were wild. The nurse looked at him
a minute and turned away.
See here, man." rasped the doc
tor. Don't go to pieces like this.
Pull yourself together"
II can't, 1 tell you. I've been in
there suffering. and the suspense is
killing me. Can't you do anything"
We've done everything we cam"
the doctor said grimly. She doesn't
seem to rally. She's just letting
herselef go, and in spite of every
thing we are doing she is sinking.
But there's just one thing more / am
going to try. Go back in that room
and wait there till 1 tell you. Miss
Wilson, come here"
The nurse obeyed quickly.
Come in here with me and be
ready to do whatever l tell you to
do. Our one chance lies in rousing
may save her"
A soft color came in the nurses
face. She was little more than a
girl. and the pathos of this case had
touched her.
The doctor opened the door into
the sick room, and followed by the
nurse went over to the bed. Irene
Carson lay apparently lifeless in the
big four poster. Her head had fallen
a little to one side, and she seemed
to be in a deep sleep. Beside her
was a tiny silken lined cradle. The
room was deathly still.
Take rhe baby" whispered the
doctor.
Breathlessly the nurse did as he
said. In n moment she had disap-
peared into the next room with the
tiny bundle, and had hurried back.
The doctor had sat down close to
the bed, and was leaning over the
unconscious woman.
Mrs Carson" the words came
steady and cold. Your baby is
dead"
The nurse stifed the cry that rose
to her lips and stepped back a lit
tie. The face on the pillow did not
move. No sign of life showed in
the smooth forehead.
Mrs. Carson" the doctor spoke
louder. Your baby is dead and your
husband needs you"
A little furrow appeared in the
forehead
Once more the doctor repeated
the gruesome message. and this time
the woman stirred restlessly Then
she opened her eyes and looked at
the tense face bending over her.
Again the doctor drove the cruel
words home, and this time the wom-
an understood.
Bring the husband" the doctor
said in his gruff voice, turning quick
ly to the nurse.
The next minute Frank Carson
was bending over the bed Every
feature was tense with suppressed
agony. He looked like a man who
had gone through losing fight and
who still fights on. The woman