The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-23
EVENING STORY
81 Don't Want to Get Well"
BY KITTY PARSONS.

sciousess, Dick Pennock woke up in
base hospital, somewhere in France.
He ached miserably and his head was
on fire, but he had a dim remem-
<brance of, one thing, and put out his
hand gropingly. There was nothing
there. He wondered if there ever had
been-his thoughts were SO confused.
lie was a long way from home, and he
thought Vida had forgotten him, too.
Was he right? Who else could it have
been if it had not been she-nothing
but his imagination, probably.
Pennocks wounded arm was slightly
better, but that night his fever went
up and for a long time he was de-
hrious. And thru all the days and
nights that followed. he called for
Vida continually.
Il will be Vida Doctor Daudet,"
announced the little nurse with the
red hair and the laughing eyes. THE
poor boy will die-he is so lonely for
some one from home, and 1 can pre-
tend. l know all about this girl-She
does not love him. But he need not
know it yet, and afterwards when he
is strong, we can tell him. 1t will do
no harm, Monsieur, if 1 say 1 am Vida,
till the delirium leaves him. He can
not keep this up much longer-he is
SO weak"
II trust you, Miss Patty-you are
wise beyond your years. I will put
this case in your charge entirely. We
have moved him to the small alcove
room where he cannot disturb the
other patients. He is indeed i'll, and
we must do our best to pull him thru.
Give him your best care
The next time that Dick called
pleadingly to Vida and reached out his
hand for something. he felt small
hand slip into his and his cry was
answered.
Vida is here. Dick; try and sleep
a little now"
Il love you" he mumbled, and
when she brought him his medicine,
he swallowed it obediently, and
slipped back into oblivion again
For hours there was little change,
and the girl sat patiently beside the
bed. When she let go of his hand, he
beanie more restless, so she gave up
trying to, and held her tired body as
rigid as she could. for fear of disturb
ing her patient.
After a long time he opened his
eyes and looked at her in a puzzled
way.
won't you kiss me, Vida" he
asked her.
The face was so white and drawn
and the plea so pitifu1, that the girl
knelt beside the bed, and kissed him
gently on the forehead-as a mother
might kiss her young son.
You are beautiful, Vida, and so
kind he told her. His tired lids
dropped again and he fell asleep.
For a long time she stayed there,
then at last, the hand that held hers
relaxed, and she slipped exhausted to
the floor. The doctor found her there
and carried her to couch, where she
slept dreamlessly for three hours.
IT am so sorry to wake you, said
the head nurse, as she bent over her,
but your patient keeps calling for
some one and We can't seem to help
him at all. Will you Gomez"
Patty was on her feet instantly, and
hurried to him. She saw at once that
he was now perfectly rational. for he
Immediately asked her where Vida
was.
she had to go away she told him
gently. wishing she could tell him the
truth.
..She was so changed" he went on.
she was SO gentle and she kissed me
i don't see why she went away II
she kissed me-" He looked at the
nurse ouestioningly and to his sur
prise her face flushed crimson. He
was sore1y puzzled.
Hes much better" the doctor told
her late that afternoon, and sent her
off to get some well-earned sleep. But
il was not restful sleep, for her
mind was full of pity for Dick and dis
like for the woman named Vida. and
she dreaded the time when they must
tell him the truth.
When she went back to her duties,
late that night, she found Dick flushed
with fever looking about the room
anxiously. At sight of her he lay back
on his pillow with a sigh of content
ment
II knew you'd come" he exulted.
THAT red-headed nurse lied to me
1 knew you hadn't gone.
The doctor winked at the nurse over
the patients head.
st admit it is a hard case. Miss
Carol" he encouraged her. But I
know you are doing your best. I'll
leave you to sit with him and try to
keep him quiet. I don't want to use
any more drugs if I can help it,
The patient took Patty's hand. Tell
me she lied, Vida.' he begged.
Patty dropped his hand and her face
flushed with anger. So this was 70 be
her reward-he would probably hate
her. Tears of WEAKNESS filled her
eyes, but in moment she had forgot
ten her own trouble in her real desire
to help him.
Yes, she lied she agreed, and
slipped her hand back in his.
II love YOU" he breathed with
new ring in his voice.
There was a long silence and then
he went to sleep.
Patricia Carol sat in the same posi-
ton till she fell asleep. When she
woke up. she saw her patient staring
at her intently.
Were you Vida?" he asked her di-
yrectly, and she told him the truth.
II was Vida, and the red-headed
nurse all in one. You were not over
complimentary In your delirium"
He laughed happily. "I'll tell you
the real truth and you can hate me
or not. I was no more delirious than
YOU are-just at that moment. l
Just wanted to have you sit with me
and hold my hand. Please forgive me.
l don't really care for Vida, anyway
I thought 1 did, but l was wrong. l
care very much about very different
eirl-witn red hair"
Patty was scarlet again. She never
could get over the blushing habit, try
as she would.
I'll send another nurse to you now
that you're so much better" she de-
clared professionally.