The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-02-04
LIGHTNING
BY CORONA REMINGTON.
1920. by Mcclure Newspspe syndicate.l }

cure me?"
Corinne Benton turned her young
fnce TO the wall and indulged in an
other delicious bout OF weeping. Doc.
tor Westover sat patiently at her bed
side until the storm was over. Then
he tried to reason with her.
I'm older than you are, my child,
and my experience has proved that
most young people run onto the shoals
In their first love affair. and ordinarily
they get over It with Surprising ra.
pidity.
AS to trying to cure you, you have
nothing the matter but a little attack
of nerves, and few months of good
hard work will straighten them out so
tomorrow we're going to see about
taking business course. I've talked
1t all over with your parents and they
approve most heartily"
Corinne tried to petrify the doctor
with one horrible look, but if he was
IN the least affected he showed no
signs and minute later gave his pm.
tient hearty handslnke and left the
room wliistling. Indeed. so unim-
pressed did lie appear that the girl
began to fear that her features had
failed TO register the unspeakable dis.
gust she had felt for anyone so hope
lessly fiippant and heartIess. She must
be developing facial paralysis or some
thing. she decided.
IAN ready!' said the doctor to
COrnne few days later. Were go.
Ing down to start that business course
this morning. ! have young protege
that graduates in medicine this June.
He'll he needing an efficient girl
around the Office, SO I'll engage YOU
right now for him. Let's get busy"
"Ioure a perfect brute, and Just
hate yOu!" Cornne found the energy
to stamp her foot with emphasis.
81 guess l cun bear up under that,
too. said the doctor with unrufiled
good nature.
II was hard fight, but Westover
finally won. and as the days went by
Corlnne was dlsgusted to notice the
return Of color to her cheeks. At any
rate SHE thought she would never get
over the love tragedy. even II going
out IN the open did make her look
healthy again-diseased bodies are
durable. but never a crushed soul! AS
she improved, Doctor Westover saw
less and less Of his pretty. impetuous
little patient.
you're looking fine ~ he would tell
her heartily.
"But I'll never get over IT," she
would always reply. "I'll never love
another man."
Tho doctor would smile TO himself
as he passed on, hut Corinne knew
nothing of this-Old folks have right
to keep a few secrets to themselves.
With June came the jealous young
Doctor Mann aud the girl was duly in
stalled. He was q big six-foot man
who dressed we'll, spoke rapidly and
had n lightning smile which he flashed
with frequency and impartiality on all
living things. He loved life, he loved
people and he was possessed of q keen
sympathy.
Naturally. the patients did not flock
to his doors Immediately, and both the
young people had plenty of time on
their hnnds. Corinne read great
doal and dabhled at fancywOrk. but
the doctor had read himself almost
into frenzy for six long years and
fancywork was not in his line, so
things. were decidedly slow for him.
~ say. Miss Benton" he exclaimed
one morning, appearing from the inner
office. ITS dull as blnzes today.
Couldn't we go into my consulting
room and have game Of checkers?"
He looked almost sheeplsh and very
boyish as he stood before Corinne.
81 guess So" she answered, rising.
"Bpt I'll never forget him." she de-
clared Loyalty to herself as she glanced
at the lightning smile.
They played checkers a grent deal
that summer. those two. To be sure.
his practice grew steadily. hut there
we're stlll many hours untitled, aud the
young mans mania for checkers be-
came more acute the more he played.
It even reached the point where they
would get so absorbed that they
wOnld fail to keep an ear open for
patients In the outer room. and one
day they kept Mrs. Connington Flash.
erby waiting nearly an hour. as she
testify Informed them when they final
ly appeared.
"My dear madam" the doctor said
suavely. I'm sorry that you had to
wait, but we were attending to an i'm.
portant matter"
That same evening-lt was Decem-
her then-Doctor Westover ran right
into his little ex-paticnt as he started
hOmeward. Hello there! he greeted
"Haven't seen you In coOn's age
How are YOU getting nlong with
Mann?"
"Oh. all right; hut I'll never forge.
him." she ended In her usual way.
"Forget whom?" asked the doctor.
"You know" replied the girl in In
jured tones.
"Oh. that other chap" suid West
over, appearing TO remember. "That's
n fact-Ill hive TO rive Mann n hint