The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-10-30

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 1t 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 n comfortable
pile Of the metal 40 much desired on
this globe. and as he had taken In q
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 a broken rail or something and the
parlOr car left the track. Only one
person was severely injured, and that
was Jack Watson, whose arm waa
broken.
He was taken to Chicago hospital,
where the arm was set. His condition,
physically and financially, warranted a
nurse being assigned to special duty on
the case.
This was the first opportunity he
had had to study woman at close
range. and 1t 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. II never knew woman
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 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 acquaintanceship
would have leaked out In the "small
talk" that usually develops between
, nurse and a c0nvalescing patient; but
!. as he was one who took things f0r
granted and never displayed curiosity
!. especially concerning the affairs OF
women, he had not even asked the
customary "Where Is your homer
|. Naturally her professional reserve, &C
!, Quired during nearly three years Of
Z training. precluded the possibility Of
: her taking the initiative In such per
= sonal matters; so the fact that the!
Z had not been schoolmates and puppy
, love" sweethearts remained unre
. vealed.
8 He fought against the peculiar feel
; ing that was creeping over him, but Il
0 was losing fight. He gave up tn
n struggle and confessed, first to himself
It and later to her, that he was In low
with her. He told her all about 1t OF
II the day he was to leave the hospital.
o "Do you believe in lover" she In
IS quired, as she stood beside the be-
It and retained that professional de
!, meanOr sufficiently to keep him fror
q seizing her hand. "These days. pee
pie are beginning to have the idea tina
h marriage is only a business contract.
D. Jack laughed and forgot all abOu
II Melbourne and real estate, bushes
club dinners and hermits' lives.
- "Love" he echoed. "Surely, I bt
= lieve in love. Every one was made 70
- some one, and was made for you. Nv
:, felt that ever since first saw 20
:, - standing by this bed and counting m
r heart-beats. Haven't you felt the sam
wayT"
=, She forgot about 'being profe'
:. sional" and her hand found it's wa
= into his.
~ Perhaps" she confessed. ''That
:. what we always read In books; an
=, there may be something tc 1t. Reall
!" I feel as If had known you always
" Lachesis smiled smile of triumph
She drew the two threads together an
~ held them side by side In one han
~ With the other hand she reached mi
~ the happiness box and dabbed some I
. the contents on the threads. Then 81
" carefully and methodically knottt
them together.
e!- You can't defy Lachesis and g
III away with It.
D British Honduras.