The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-08
Adele Carri.on's New
Revelations
of a Wife
What Troubled Madge az
She Waited Beside the
Wounded Officer.

~ The word was hardly more than a
breath. but 1t startled me s IL It
mad been the ping of a bullet close tn
my ear.
For 1t came from the Iips of the
wounded officer whom I was heInine 70
nurse. and there was sanity in II instead
OF the disJointed murmurs which he had
oeen uttering before.
nao oeen SO engrossed in thoughts
OF D1cKy that I had lost sight for the
moment OF the important task which
mao oeen delegated to me. that of calm
s ny my presence the delirious imasin-
inss OF the wounded man before me.
looked down quickly into his face.
although my ewes were zor,.vS
blurred by the rush of tears which h.d
come 10 them at my thoughts OF NV
husband. and which had in some "a al,
ION kept from shedding. The wounded
inc eyes were open. and he was
looklng intently at me. The wild light
OF which the nurse had told me0had
gone out OF them. In its stead there
was look of unutterable relief. hut
even as my eyes cleared and 1 saw him
clearly. shadow crept into his.
touLare-real?" he said slowly,
doubtfully. "You-are-alive?'
Very much alive" I answered cbeer,-
iy. for instinct told me this was the best
way to reassure him. As / spoke took
my hand from his forehead.
He frowned as I did so, and looked
like an unhappy child.
Don't-take-it-awa he aaid ,,,r
fully. Like it."
"Ill Not Go AWAY"
Reluctantly resumed the smoothing
OF his hair back from his forebead the
service which the nurse had reor,.,taS
OF me while he was delirious. was
furious at myself because couIdn't con-
troi the nush which overspread my face
at his request.
he did not see my embarrassment
however. Tor he had closed his eyes as
quiet. so quiet. indeed. that I was he,
ginning to be alarmed. But Just as T
was ABOUT to appeal to the nurse. who
also was watching him. he opened his
eyes again.
why did your eyes have tears in
tnem Just now?' he asked. and this
time his words came less painfuIIv
closer together. Are you hurt badly
after all? I've been afraid they were
lying to me-"
His voice rose In excitement. saw
that the only way to quiet him was the
me.noo one would use with a frightened
child l bent a little closer to him
Look at me-" 1 said, Just a hint of
sharpness in my tone. land listen care
fully while I tell you the absolute
truth. I am not hurt. I am very well.
and you must have been mistaken about
the tears in my eyes. You don't see
any there now. do you?''
I smiled at him as I asked the Ia st
question. and a slow. weak grin curved
the corners OF his mouth.
Nary a one" he returned with a piti-
full attempt at lightness. and then the
nurse interviewed.
Take this now. please" she said
land then close your eyes and try to
go to sleep"
She held a formidable-looking dose OF
medicine out to him. He looked up at
her rebelliously.
IT don't want to go to Sleep
81 know" soothingly. But you
| must" the note of authority FREEDOM
inant.
"Will she stay right here and not let
go my hand?''
The nurse looked at me. a calm. pro-
fessional glance, yet 1 could not but
imagine that her eyelashes yelled a quiz
| zical look I felt myself flushing again.