South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-31
Don't Want TO Get Well"
BY Kitty Parsons

After three days lapse from
consciousness Dick Penuock woke
up in base hospital somewhere
IN France. He acbed miserably and
bis head was ON fre. but ne had a
dim rememlrance Of one tmng. and
put out bis hand sropinsly There
was nothing there lie wondered
n there ever had been-his
Thoughts were so confused He was
q LONG way from home. and he
thought Vida had forgotten him.
TOO. Was he rI-hte Who else could
it have been n ~ had not been she
-nothin= but his Imagination,
probably
Pennock-s wounded arm was
slightly better. but that night his
fever went up and for a long time
he was deirious And through all
the DAYS and nights that followed
he called for Vida continually
81 wiI boo Vida DR. Daudet."
announced Ie little nurse with the
red hair and the laughing ewes
''The poor boy viii die-he is so
lonely for someone from home and
can pretend know all about
this girl-she does not love him. But
he need not know it yet and after
wards when ne is strong. we can
tell him II viii do no harm. Mon
sieur II ] ssF ! am vida. tin the
delirium leave him He cannot
keep this up much longer ne is so
weak
Il trust YOU. Miss Patty-you are
wise beyond your years I will put
this case in your charge entirely.
We have moved him 10 the small al
cove room where ne cannot disturb
the other patients He is indeed IN
him through. Give him your best
care"
The next time that Dick called
pleadingly 90 Vida and reached
out his hand for something. he felt
"A 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 mis- medicine.
he swallowed 10 obedientiv. and
slipped hack into Oblivion again.
For hours there was little change
and the girl sat patiently beside the
bed. When she let go OF his hand
ne became more restless. so she
gave up irving 20. and held her tired
body as rigid as she could. for fear
of disturbing her patient
After long time ne opened his
eyes and looked at her in puz-
zled way
Won't you kiss me, Vida" he
asked her
The face was so white and drawn
and the plea so pitiful. that the girl
knelt beside the bed and kissed him
gently on the forehcad-as moth
er might kiss her young son.
You are so beautiful. Vida. and
so kind he told her His tired lips
dropped again and he fell asleep
For a Ions time she stayed there.
then al last. the hand that held
hausted 10 the floor The doctor
found her there and carried her TO
o couch, where she slept dreamless-
r. for three hours
Il am so sorry 20 wake YOU" said
the head nurse as ne bent over her.
but your patient I,eeps calling for
someone and we can't seem 20 help
him az ALL VIII YOU come"
Patty was ON her feet instantly.
and hurried 20 him. She saw at
once that he was now perfectly
rational for ne Immediately asked
her where Vida was
"She had 90 go away" she told
him gently. wishing she could tell
him the truth
she was So changed" he went
or. "She was so gentle and she
kissed me- don't see why she went
away if she kissed me-" He looked
At the nurse quesuoninsly. and 10 his
surprise her face flushed crimson.
He was sorelv puzzled.
Hes much better" the doctor
told her late that AFTERNOON. and
sent her off 90 get some well earned
sleep But il was not restful
sleep FOR her mind was fun of pity
for Dick and dislike for the woman
named Vida and she dreaded the
time when they must tell him the
truth
When she won't back 70 her duties
late that night. she found Dick
flushed with fever. looking about the
room anNiousiv At sight of her he
lay back on his pillow with a sigh
That red haired nurse lied 90 me
I knew You hadn't gone"
The doctor winked az the nurse
of conteutment.
81 knew you'd come" ne exulted