The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-02

smiled. Kathleen was always pretty
when she smiled.
Then things began to happen very
fact. The ambulance bell sounded in
the courtyard below and nurses and
orderlies seemed to be everywhere at
once. Extra beds were ordered pre-
pared in the accident ward and all was
confusion.
Doctor Breen had hurried away and
Kathleen went back to her patients in
K ward wondering what it was all
about.
What is it?" she asked an inferno
as the elevator passed her floor slowly
erS.
Explosion in the Blue Diamond
mills" came the answer.
In an hour Miss Lownes came in.
You are to go to room rs on the
mems floor" she said Jelly. Some of
the doctors went to the scene of the
accident and a wall fell. Doctor
Breen was hurt"
Doctor Breen hurtLN kathleen
CROPPED her way bIindly to the stairs.
So he was not joking and he had
known he was facing peril. She had
promised, and she would go.
He was unconscious and did not
know her. however. Besides a broken
leg and a few ribs, he had sustained
an injury to his head. kathleen
doctors and two nurses working 81
lentIy and quickly. But there was
other work to do-terrible work; and
they were needed elsewhere. So
Kathleen was left alone with her pa
tient after a while.
He slept all the first day. The
night brought a fever and the next
day delirium. He began to talk.
"Pretty! Just the prettiest thing you
ever saw, but she scares like a little
gray mouse. She's sweet-sweet!" he
went on. Gray eyes, long lashes and
quiet for a while; then suddenly,
Kathleen, little Kathleen. don't be
afraid. I'm only thirty!"
The little nurse started and famed
red. Could he be talking about her?
He was getting very restless and ex-
cited. 81 want her. Get me Kathleen.
Kathleen" he called.
Finally she said quietly, laying cool
hand on his, Here's Kathleen beside
YOU
kiss me. dear. Kiss me, Kathleen"
He caught her two hands and pulled
her down. She struggled, but he was
strong. Poo. frightened little nurse !!
But perhaps it would quiet him and
he would go to sleep. After all, it was
only to humor a sick man and she was
too tired to care much what happened.
So her lips touched his cheek lightly.
Miss Startling
1t was Miss Lownes's voice. kath-
leen looked up quickly but fearlessly.
There was another woman with the
head nurse, richly dressed woman of
middle age, whose resemblance to the
man on the bed identified her as his
mother.
'Kathleen! cried the sick man.
You may go, Miss Startling, and re-
port in my office at g." Miss Lownes' S
voice was like a fine steel file.
AT Kathleen, dressed for the street
and numb almost beyond feeling with
loss of sleep and suppressed excite
ment, was told that she was wanted
in rs. Miss Lownes was there with
DIR. Breel's mother and another nurse.
There is little to say, Miss Startling.
You are dismissed. That's all, 1 be-
lieve."
And then something in the timid
little mouse of a nurse broke loose
of repression were down.
You are cOndemning me unheard
Miss Lownes, ana it isn't fair. You
are taking advantage of a sick mans
cause you've never liked me. But
before go" the little head with
it's crown of chestnut hair went up
very high and the gray eyes flashed
Il want to tell you something. I'm a
Starting and my mother was a BriX-
loI- NEITHER bI1Aton nor starring
ever did anything dishonorable NV
grandfather is John Rigby Brixton,
who built the hospital and endowed it.
wonder what he'll think. And my
father, DR.. Amos Startling, is the best
known American surgeon in the
French army now" proudly,
Miss LoWnes was aghast, Mrs.
Breen too astounded to speak. Then a
voice spoke quietly from the bed
I've heard everything and can only
divine what's wrong, but 1 want moth
er to know that Kathleen is going to
marry me. Aren't you, Kathleen?"
Yes" answered the little nurse,
turning toward him happily. There
was no fear now. I'll do anything if
you only get l."-(Copyright, 1917,
by the Mcclure Newspaper Syndi-
cate