Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-02-15

ANET$SS
She STOPPED and Kissed His Cheek
Lightly.
some time neither Of them had spoken
and that KS eyes were fixed on her
The little clock on the shelf took VI
the burden Of the churches, and struck
the hour in quick staccato notes.
Sidney rose and went over to K, he1
black dress IN soft folds about her.
"He is born, K"
she is born, dear"
She stopped and kissed his cheek
lightly.
Christmas day dawned thick and
white. Sidney left the little house al
six, with the street light still burning
through mist Of falling snow.
The hospital wards and corridors
were still lighted when she went on
duty at seven o'clock. She had been
assigned to the mems surgical ward
and went there at once. She had not
seen Car1Otta Harrison since her moth.
er's death; but she found her on duty
In the surgical ward. The older girl
greeted her pleasantly.
I'VE were all sorry to hear of your
tr0Uble," she said. II hope we shall
rot an nicely'
Sidney surveyed the ward, full to
overlooking. At the far end two cots
had been placed.
L. -
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 a businesslike way to her
records.
1.-THE practitioners name is Ward
well" she said. Perhaps you'd better
help her with the breakfasts. If there's
any way to make mistake, she makes
it,
It was after eight when Sidney found
Johnny Resented.
"You here in the ward, johnny she
said.
Suffering had refined the boys fea-
lures. His dark, heavily fringed eyes
looked at her from a pale face. But
he smiled up at her cheerfully.
Il was In private room; but it cost
thirty plunks a week, so 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
Stroked his hand.
TIN 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
a week for me. The difference between
me and the other fellows around here
Is that I get napkin on my tray and
they don't"
Before his determined cheerfulness
Sidney choked.
"Have they told you what the trou-
Bile isf'
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"
Sidney's eyes shone. OF course, Max
could do 1t. What thing it was to be
able to take this Hfe-in-death of
Johnny Rosenfeld's and make 1t life
again
Sidney fed him his morning beef tea,
and, because her eyes filed up with
tears now and then at his helplessness,
she was not SO skillful as she might
have been. When one spoonful had
gone down his neck, he smiled up at
her whimScally.
Run for your life. The dams
burstl" he said.
AS much as was possible, the hos
p1tal rested on that Christmas day. In
the afternoon, services were held In
the chapel downstairs. Doctor Max,
lounging against the wall, across the
chapel, found his eyes straying toward
Sidney constantly. How she stood out
from the others! What zest for liv-
Ing and for happiness she had!
The Christmas morning had brought
Sidney half dozen gifts. Z. sent her
silver thermometer case with her
monogram, Christine a toilet mirror.
But the gift of gifts, over which Sid
ney's eyes had glowed, was a great
box Of roses marked in Doctor Max's
copper-plate writing, "From a neigh
bor.''
Tucked in the soft folds Of her kerr
chief was one Of the roses that after
noon.
Services over the nurses fled out,
Max was waiting for Sidney In the cor
rlJor.
Merry Christmas r he said, and held
out his hand
Merry Christmas !'' she said. "You
see !"-she glanced down to the rose
she wore. "The others make the most
bit Of color In the ward"