The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-10-24

4 Another laugh, this time louder and
longer from Jack.
II should say mott" he retorted.
There's no such thing as love. Mar
riage is q matter OF business. When a
fellow hasn't enough sense to save his
money, he needs woman to help him;
and if he gets the right kind he's all
right, and if he doesn't he's all wrong.
l tell you I'm not interested in girls
and I'H die a bachelor, as sure as the
sun rises and SETS"
Lachesis frowned. Such defiance!
She was puzzled, but she was very re-
Sourceful. For days at a time she
would stand and hold those two
threads, one in each hand. But when
she attempted to bring them together
her arms would stiffen.
Six months before it was time for
him to celebrate his twenty-eighth an
niversary something put into Jacks
head the idea Of touring the States.
/ AS he had accumulated a comfortable
pile Of the metal so much desired on
| this GLOBE and as he had taken in
partner who was capable of conduct
| ing the business alone, there was no
reason why he should not carry the
| idea into effect.
It was on the outskirts of Chicago
| that the accident occurred. The train
hit broken rail or something and the
parlor car left the track. Only one
person was severely injured, and that
was Jack Watson, whose arm was
broken.
He was taken to Chicago hospital,
where the arm was set. His condition,
physically and financially, warranted
nurse being assigned to special duty on
the case.
This was the first opportunity he
| had had to study woman at close
range, and it proved decidedly interest
ing. The nurse was in constant at
tendance during the day and ready to
answer his call at any time during the
night. She was continually putting
thermometers into his mouth and TAX
ing them out again, feeling his pulse,
feeding him Ice cream and other deli
cacies, and smiling. And she had a
pretty face, always shining with good
| cheer, and lot of other nice ways
| about her.
/ THAT'S funny Jack told himself
| frequently. 81 never knew woman
1 could be so useful in this busy world"
And he got to Wishing that his arm
wouldn't be in any hurry about getting
mended, and his mind began thinking
strange thoughts; that is, strange for
him.
OF course, you know the nurse was
Esther Richards. But he did not. A
lot Of changes take place in a person
between the ages of eight and twenty
| five; and there was no more reason
why he should associate this Miss
Richards with the one of his school
/ DAYS in Ohio than that she should
/ recognize her childhood sweetheart in
this Mr.. Watson who was her patient.
/ Had Jack been less reticent about
! himself their former mountaineering
would have leaked out in the small
talk" that usually develops between
nurse and a convalescing patient; but
| as he was one who took things for
granted and never displayed curiosity,
especially concerning the affairs OF
women, he had not even asked the
customary "Where is your home"
i Naturally her professional reserve, ac-
quired during nearly three years OF
| training, precluded the possibility or
her taking the initiative in such per-
/ sonal matters; so the fact that they
/ had not been schoolmates and puppy
love" sweethearts remained unre-
| vealed.
He fought against the peculiar feel
| ing that was creeping over him, but 1t
/ was a losing fight He gave up the
/ struggle and confessed, first to himself
and later to her, that he was in love
with her. He told her all about it on
/ the day he was to leave the hospital.
"Do you believe in loveY she In
quired, as she stood beside the bed
and retained that professional de-
meanor sufficiently to keep him from
Selling her hand. "These days, peo-
pie are beginning to have the idea that,
marriage is only business contract"
Jack laughed and forgot all about
Melbourne and real estate, business
club dinners and hermits' lives.
/ 'Love!" he echoed. Surely, I be-
/ lieve in love. Every one was made for
some one, and was made for you. I've
felt that ever since first saw you
standing by this bed and counting my
heart-beats. Haven't you felt the same
way|
She forgot about "being profess
sionaT' and her hand found its way
into his.
Perhaps she confessed. "That's
what we always read in books; and
there may be something tc it. Really,
/ feel as If had known you always"
/ Lachesis smiled smile of triumph.
/ She drew the two threads together and
held them side by side in one hand.
| With the other hand she reached into
the happiness box and dabbed some Of
| the contents on the threads. Then she
carefully and methodically knotted
| them together.
/ You can't defy Lachesis and get
away with it.
Keep Smiling:
/ frowning yiSaga reno1S tho Y,orcoy.