The Owosso times., 1921-05-06
Testing the Doctors
Love
BY KATE EDMONDS

Central hospital, and then entered
without further ceremony. The doctor
was seated at his table, writing; he
had not heard her knock. AS she
approached he turned round in his
cnair, got up, and took her In his
arms and kissed her.
I'm wanted?" he asked
Yes, dear. Apnemergency case. A
child has been knocked down by an
automobile. His leg is broken and
there are internal injuries"
Are they getting him ready?'
asked the doctor, slipping into his
linen Overalls.
Hes being anaesthetized now,"
Nurse Glynn answered, and kissed
him again. "Oh my dear. how glad I
shall be when Easter comes. Then
we shall be together always-no more
OF these hasty meetings.>
She went out noiselessly, and Doctor
Bentley, having completed his prepar-
ations, followed her into the operating
room. The little patient lay upon the
glass table. ready for his scalpel
This was to be the supreme measure
by which she might understand his
love for her, whether strong and abid-
Ing, or pltiful thing born of loneli-
ness on the one side and propinquity
upon the other. She was not sure OF
him; she could not be sure until he
met the mother of the child on his
way out.
He did not know that this was his
own child upon which he was Operat-
Ing so deftly. His skillful fingers
picked up the shattered filaments of
muscle and flesh, uniting them for his
assistants sutures.
They had been engaged three
months. She knew what was COM
mon report, that he had been married
before, unhappily; that his wife had
gone West and obtained divorce
upon the technical ground of deser-
tion; that she had returned, to marry
Anthony Blair, the millionaire, who
could afford to give her luxuries.
But that there had been a child she
did not know till that evening when
Mrs. Blair appeared with white face
at the hospital gates and pleaded for
the crippled baby that had been
knocked down.
The operation was ended. Nurse
Glynn removed the mask. The little
patient moaned and stirred.
"He'll do finely now," she heard the
doctor say. Take him up to the ward,
nurse. And-good-night."
The woman was waiting there-Mrs.
Anthony Blair. Nurse Glynn hesitat-
ed involuntarily. She heard the doc
tor at her heels; in another minute
he would know.
The night nurse took the stretcher
from her. She turned away and lin
gered a moment near. Then she saw
the doctor start and heard the wom-
ans agonized cry.
'Oh. doctor, is he dead! He Is not
dead? He will live them You must
save him J" Then came the little ex-
clamation Of recognition and then ST.
lence.
"Oh, It's you." the nurse heard Mrs.
Blair exclaim, In an embarrassed
voice.
"Yes, Alice" she heard the doctor
answer graveiy. II am happy to tell
you that he will recover and that the
limb will not be shortened. I am so
sorry for you," he added impulsively.
"It must have been a terrific blow.
Alice! Whose child is he? Who Is
his father?" he demanded fiercelY.
II don't know" sobbed Mrs. Blair.
"Why do you ask me? Why are you
looking at me like that? Haven't you
injured me enough that you should
terrify me?" she sObbed. 81 don't
know who is its father, nor its mother
either"
'Tts-mother gasped the doctor.
'Tsn't he your child then"
"Certainly mott" she exclaimed,
drawing herself up Indignantly. "Do
you suppose my child would go to
common hospital IL he were injured?
Didn't they tell you that John ran the
automobile over street brat? Yes"
she continued In petulant voice.
"and a crowd gathered and threat
ened me, and II I hadn't had enough
presence Of mind to jump out and
carry him into the hospital they
would have thrown stones at me. And
1 don't care to go out If he should be
going to die, or I shall be arrested
and thrown into a common CELL"
"Have no fear Of that, Mrs. Blair"
answered the doctor gravely. II shall
have you sent home In my own auto
mobile. And the child will be well
in few weeks. AS for the dam
age"
"Mr. Blair Is able to pay for any
damages" replied the woman coldly.
size had not understood.
The doctor bowed and turned away.
He walked straight past Nurse Glynn;
she followed him; he turned and saw
her.
"You know, then?" he asked, seeing
the look on her face.
"Yes. dear" she whispered. "And
Il have been so afraid''
He pressed her to his heart.