The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-06-05
MISS LESLIE
=
BY MILDRED WHITE.


The old woman who admitted him
ungraciously granted his request
Your leg is broken" she announced
coldly, as she prepared couch for
his use. "Where did We do it an how
could ye get here?'
Tom Arnold explained about his fall
down a slippery trail, but the latter
paN Of her question remained unan-
swered.
Doctors coming" she said laconi-
cally.
When the doctor had come and the
broken leg was resting more com
fortably, the kindly old mountain doc
tor looked down into his patients face.
'That was a queer spot for you to
be travelling about in alone" he said.
Had to look the place over" Tom
explained. "Im a civil engineer. We
are going to start some pretty big
work here after the thaws come. I'm
trying to make myself proficient, hop
! ing for promotion"
II have heard of the contract" the
doctor said, "apd have met the chief
engineer. He is staying down at a
hotel in the village" Tom nodded.
That's why l was scouting round,
going back to him with information.
But now" he frowned suddenly.
"How long will l be laid up in this
hole?" he asked.
The Doctors eyes met those of the
young man frankly. you should have
| had medical attention earlier" he said.
However, with good nursing"
"Nursingr' Tom exclaimed, "who can
take care of me here? a glass of
water seems too great favor to ask.
Couldn't you get me down to the
| hotel"
The doctor shook his head Dan
| eerous work." he replied. 1--WE will
! have to get a nurse from the city," he
went on. II will telephone tonight
and see what1 can do. She could ar
| rive sometime tomorrow. l will meet
/ her at the station and drive her my
self"
Herewith, Tom Arnold was obliged
to be content.
After the troubled painful night, the
| long and wearisOme morning, his eyes
| spied gratefully at last the doctors
approaching cutter. He could discern
girlish figure on the seat at the doc
/ tors side and with a sigh of relief he
turned his head, to watch the cottage
| door as it opened.
The doctor was smiling triumphant
ly, and Tom stared and drew a long
| breath and stared again.
The girl who followed quickly into
the room was very pretty.
81 caught your nurse" the doctor
exclaimed, Just as she was stepping
! from the train"
81 am glad you have come" Tom
said.
I'm glad, too" the girl replied.
Doctor has been telling me about you,
and | want to do for you all that l
| can"
Before the doctor had started upon
his return trip, Miss Leslie had charm
ed the surly old woman into cheerful
ness and had borrowed from her an
enyeoping apron.
81 came 50 quickly" she explained,
that l could not bring a proper cos
tune"
But as a nurse, she proved to be all
and more than could be reasonably
desired
III II were not for fear of losing
this big job" he contided one morning,
I'D be joyfully resigned to my fate
But I've worked so for this thing
planned for it-dreamed of just this
one chance through years of study.
And now to have 1t fall to some other
fellow because, well because my foot
happened to slip on an Icy trail
The nurse nodded. "Such little hap
penlngs come" she replied "al
through life. But we must not let
them--for one moment weaken our
courage. Who knows?" she smiled,
this very incident may be but a short
, cut TO your goal"
81 can't see it," said Tom, but his
smile answered hers.
And then one evening, looking into
| the sweet face opposite his own, he
| said, Il love you. oh! how l love
you! I-can, never get along with
out you, dear. Even IL l must fail
In this commission, there will be 9th
crs. Would you be willing to be a
poor mans wife helping him on in his
| struggle toward the goalT
quite willing" the little nurse an
swered simply.
Then after a blissful silence, Tom
raised his radiant face. why" ne
said, ~ don't know your name. MISS
leslie won't do any more"
Leslie them" suggested the girl.
Seriously, she faced him. IT'S my real
name, Tom" she said. I'm Leslie
cambridge, daughter of your chief the
one who can give your promotion, II
he wishes, and, he's going to do 1t.
81 was on my way to visit him Mt the
hotel that day when your old doctor
drove up and told me to step into his
cutter. He seemed so sure OF me that
supposed he was fathers agent. AND
on the way he told me about you--your
great need-and /, was 1t Impulse Tom
or was Il fate leading? | decided to
come to you and to do what could
oBut oh my dear, murmured Tom
"you are now so far above me-"
"I1l come nearer then" cheerfully
answered Miss Leslie, and sank down
beside the couch, her curly head close