The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-26
E0ening Story
Patching a Viewpoint.


Mr.. Acton spoke quickly and anx-
iously. at is unusual, but Doctor
Gray said you were game enough to
accept it. hope you will. My boy is
in bad shape-never has recovered
from that experience overseas; and
what I want you to do is to be COM
pany for him-take his mind off him
self; and I know you can" He looked
at her thoughtfully.
A CLEAN of mischief sparkled in
Doris's eyes. what makes you think
"WelL you are very pretty and
Bob"
'Shan I let him make love to me
just a little?" she queried.
Good heavens! No. that" He
stammcred and stopped.
She laughed. "ForgiEe me for teas
ing you. Yes. will go and see what
I can. do. It's a good cause, and if
can cheer him up I will"
Good he said, relieved. 81 viii
send my car for you this afternoon
AS she was leaving the office she
met Doctor Gray, the hospital sur
geon. He put his big but skillful
hands on her shoulders and looked at
her with quizzical eyes.
Now, lass. you are going on an
unusual assignment and don't you get
into mischief" he warned. I've been
in love with you for years and don't
want to lose you.
She smiled up to the LINED face OF
the veteran surgeon Il see. IA De
good. Honest"
She made her preparations in a
mood of curiosity. What and whom
was she going to find? How would
he welcome her and how successiui
would she be in helping him patch up
his view of life?
Three hours later Mr.. Acton was
giving her his last instruction outside
the door beyoud which her patient was
to be found.
ing and I do not know how he VIII
Welcome YOU, and please do not let
him guess our little plot" the older
man urged with some embarrassment:
She nodded. I'll handle him II
he doesn't bite me-and guess ne
WON'T" e,,,5
She opened a door softly and found
herself in a room whose northern sue
was screened and open to a WONDERFUL
view of the mountains-a view that
made her pause. Then her EYES
dropped to a long figure-unusualiy
long she deeided-stretched out IN a
lounging chair and asleep She bent
over and studied the sleeping man
face. quite handsome in its way,
she decided to herself; then she saw
the marks upon it of nervous tension
and pitied him.
ing from her bag a bit of knitting.
She planned to startle him a little
with his discovery; but she was the
one to be startled; for, turning later 10
look at him, she saw pair OF brown
eyes. weary in spite of the amusement
in them, quietly studying her.
He spoke first. Are you real or
e-believe?"
"You will find am very real, young
man, when begin to boss you around,
and I'm going to begin now" she an
! nounced.
demand the reason for her unlimited
appearance. so she gave him no time
! for thought on that matter; and later
on he seemed to assume that she was
part of the schemes that had been
tried in the effort to win MIN PACK TO
his old self.
AS the days went by the process of
| treatment she was using gave her
some question. She leased him and
| tantalized him from his dark moods OF
| dependency, inveigIed him into doing
things he refused to do at first, an
gered him and once came very near to
| giving up; but her spunk was aroused.
and she, as she phrased it, stuck"
The Black, dangerous moods passed
slowly. She knew she was winning.
Mr.. Acton praised her and thanked
| her. But it was all firing work and
worrying Woodworking because, as
she petted and played with her tall
| patient and he became more and more
| himself, she found her mood changing.
| What a frightful messI'' was the
way she summed it up. doris, you
idiot, falling in love with a. blue-blood
and I guess he's falling in love with
you. I must get out"
She told him her decision the next
| morning. They were in the open
room. He was busy arranging some
| fishing tackle preparatory to trip to
| the Maine woods which his~new inter-
est in life had led him to plan.
Now, Lengthy One" she said with
her highest tone to hide the longing
for him in her heart, 81 am going
back today to the hospital, and 1 wish
you
He jumped up, his face darkening.
you are? You are-noti" He caught
her arms in strong hands that hurt.
Her "ouch!" brought no response, SO
she promptly set her small teeth in
his hand. He jumped back, then
caught her hands, bound her to him
in an iron grasp.
You dark-eyed bit Of mischief, you
have bossed me for a month; now 1
am going to boss you for five minutes,
anyway"
yes" she acknowledged meekly.
"You are not going to leave me.
You are. going to marry me. and
And you don't know that I was
hired to come here and-and be
good to you'll" she thrust in.
Don't I? I do. I had seen you.
I sent dad after you" A sudden
fear filled his eyes with horror But
I forget-perhaps you don't care for
met
The great fear in the brown eyes
that he might lose her was enough to
tell her how much she meant to him.
The arm about her began to relax
| Her eyes were too tender, she knew,
as she looked up.
'Pll go with you to Maine or any,
where over the wide, wide world!"
Copyright. 1921. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
George Matthew Adams
ii DniLu Talk