The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-06-08

When Nina Benson received word
that her boy had been injured playing
hockey, she cancelled her first big con-
cert engagement and then hurried to
the boarding school where he lay i'll.
At the station she was met by Doc
tor Norwood, who had been kindness
and consideration itself, and had help
ed her by his own c~heerfulness to
fight the battle that went on day and
night to save her boy.
In the middle of the fourth night,
the boy called for his mother, and the
nurse was forced to call her. Through
the long hours that followed, they sat
beside him, and when Miss Cross came
back after a short rest, Nina had fall
en- asleep, her hand in the boys.
Hush" whispered the doctor.
Don't wake her."
mo, indeedl" snapped the nurse.
But I've stood as much of this as 1
intend to-from my future husband
and 1 won't have you sitting up all
night with other women, either !"
"a sick room is hardly the place for
a Jealous quarrel, Gladys" the doctor
warned her, and l shall not ask you
to apologize to Mrs. Benson now. But
1 think you had better consider well
before entering upon a marriage with
q man you can trust so little"
Nina was only thirty-two, but she
had had a hard life of work and shift
ing for herself ever since her husband
died, ten years before. She had plen-
fu 10 p1svaIr a-l ...fN l,A Al zA..s- "a
the last week had told on her. When
she came to, she was holding the doc
tors hand, and lying on a couch in
her W room. She recovered her
self quickly and got up
"Im sorry, 1 was so weak. Is Carl
better?"
Doing famously. Well soon have
him about gain. If you don't take bet
ter care of yourself, Wen have a new
patient on our hands, though"
"Oh, I'm all right now. And if the
boys really better I'll have to go home
this week-I have an engagement to
sing-and If all is we'll, i must keep 1t
this time"
You're not fit to work yet-it's pre-
posterousl :"
mo, 1t isn't, doctor. I have to earn
my living and I'm quite happy. You've
all been very kind to me, too"
"Who wouldn't be?" burst from the
doctor, then he recOllected himself and
added professionally; 'Drink this
milk now, and rest as much as you can
for the next day or two, so that you
will be more fit for your journey.
You'll need all your strength"
Nina thanked him and, when he had
gone, she thought a good deal about
him.
Everything continued to 60 well, and
in a few days Nina left the school for
New York. Doctor Norton drove with
her to the train.
About a mile from the station, as
they were rounding a corner, a woman
driving at a reckless rate of speed,
came towards them on the wrong side
of the road. To avoid a collision the
doctor swung out to the right and his
car turned turtle in a ditch which was
hidden by a mass of underbrush. Nina
was thrown clear, but the man was
caught under the car. Nina rushed
to him and tried to pull him out.
"You must help me- she called to
the woman, who had stopped her own
car. "Please hurry-he may die II he
is left here!"
Together they moved and dragged
the doctor to the other car and drove
to the hospital.
"a bad break" the doctors told her.
1--WE can't tell much yet, but it may be
serious. Is there anyone to come 10
him?"
Nina went at once to the phone and
called Miss Cross and begged her to
come at once. Doctor Norwood was
very Ill and might be left a cripple.
The nurses reply was short to the
point.
81 am no longer engaged to Doctor
Norwood. I've looked after sick peo-
pie so long that 1 don't think I'm going
to marry a cripple now. Good-by."
Nina was dumbfounded and dreaded
carrying the bad Jews to the doctor.
But when they sent for her she steeled
herself and went up to him.
"rm sorry l made you miss your
train" he sighed, looking at her CRATE
fully, did you telephone Gladys7"
Eyes, but she couldn't leave just now
Pm so sorry"
"You needn't bel understood per-
fectly. We both made a mistake and
the break has been coming for a long
time" He closed his eyes with a
sharp gasp of pain.
"Can l do anything?" asked Nina
softly, gently stroking the contracted
hand.
"Yes-a great deal"
"Tell me, please"
/ "Never leave me again. Oh, what
/ am / sayingl l forgot that l may be
a cripple. Please go before l forget
: myself again."