South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-07
WHY MADGE Is TROUBLED by
THOUGHTS OF THE WOUNDED
OFFICER


Lillian's parting words followed
me disturbingiy as 1 walked down
the hall toward the wounded off,
GERS room. IL was not the first
time since the young man, at the
risk OF his own life. had brought
me IA safety 20 the hospital, that
I had been annoyed by references
10 his growing dependence upon me
The observations were justified,
moreover, b. the attitude OF the
sick man. From the time when he
had first come out OF his delirium.
.soothed by my hand upon his head,
he had repeatedly asked for me.
And when / was helping 70 care
for him he chung TO my hand as a
sick child would TO It's mothers. II
j moved away from the bedside his
eyes followed me until ] returned.
and his nurse had found out that
her rather obstinate patient would
take food or medicine most docile-
~ from me.
I half-suspected that she had cap
italized the discovery and was max
ing a convenience Of me-that In
many cases she could have managed
without sending for me 10 help her.
But send for me she did, until 1
was becoming obsessed by the fear
that the young officers dependence
upon me was a subject for humOr-
Gus comment among the nurses.
The thought annoyed me greatly,
but IL didn't trouble me half so
much, as the discovery that I my
self. was looking forward each day
with actual eagerness to my visits
OF ministration TO the wounded man.
Swathed I'm Mystery.
All my life 1 have shamefacedly
recognized. tried assiduously TO hide
and 10 suppress an element in my
personality utterly incongruous TO
the rest OF my makeup. This is a
passion for the romantic, the ad-
venturOus, the bizarre. II Is the Sc
Cret room IN my nature to which
Dicky brought the unlocking key in
the golden days OF his whirlwind
cOurtship Of me.
But. alas! life is no longer a ro-
mantle adventure 20 Diclky and me.
-. is made like a hundrum jog
trot up and down the hills and
dales OF a prosaic road, varied with
only occasional spots OF beauty, va
RED also - more's the pity - by
stretches Of exceedingly rough GO
ing.
Not since the days OF my first ac-
quaintance with Dicky. when every
sight OF his face was a romantic ad-
venture. have 1 been so fascinated
10y any personality as 1 have been
by the mystery shrouded entity
whom / know only as the wound
cd officer down the hall"
he is a man towering above his
fellows, this soldier chap, who
saved my life in such splendid fash
ion, at the same time capturing,
single-handed. most dangerous en-
envy spy. The story OF that day at
the inn rivalled the most exciting
<Smantic take. which l had ever
read, put 10 shade the exploits Of
the favorite Action heroes OF my
schoolgirl days.
The remembrance OF that portion
OF the exciting drama in which Il
was my privilege to act a minor
role. was ever present with me,
while Lillian's recital OF the wound
ID officers arrival at the inn, with
his suiien captive crouching at his
side. and my unconscious at his
the touneau OF the machine he had
driven from the inn, had thrilled
me tremendously. Part OF my IN
usual interest IN the visits I made
TO his sick room lay In the hope 1
had that some day I would hear
from his own lips the missing links
OF the exciting story. links which
no one but himself could supply.
But so far there had come no
word OF enlightenment from him.
lie had talked. slowly. haltingly, Of
many triiing things but after he
had once satisfied himself OF my
safety he hadn't referred again to
his perliOus trip from the inn. He
hadn't even mentioned his own
name, and his mental condition had
been so precarious that no one had
dared 10 ask him concerning il.
Romance. mystery, valOr, swathed
him 10 was no wonder that he
occupied a far larger portion OF my
daily thoughts that I cared 20 ad-
NIT even To myself
Was "a Fancy?
His nurse greeted me with re-
lief Just outside his door She evil
IDENTITY had been watching for me.
He is very restless" she said.
and has been asking for you re-
peatedIy. But he seems better and
brighter chan he has yet been
think II you sit by him awhile and
let him tell you the story Of his
life 10 will do him a world OF good. 3"
Her words were light, careless.
her eyes smiling Was IL fancy or
did 1 read behind her manner a
significance which brought the blood
tO my cheeks?
lis YOUR HUSBAND LINING?"
am afraid 1 pushed past the
>.lrse rather abruptly as entered
the room OF the wounded officer
who had been asking FOR me. Twice
within the last two or three minutes
J had heard a bit Of attempted hu-
NOR concerning the dependence Of
the young officer upon my visits.
could not resent Lillians little
speech. but IL was a different mat
Ter with the nurse. a GOODNESS
which was entirely foreign fO my