Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-11-25
ClRCUMSTANTIAL
gv CHRISTIE JACKSON.

DR.. Harden dlsNeASu 49,
phone impatlently-he was READY 10
go out. Emergency CALI was all Tue
voice said. but that meant his evening
was spoiled, for to Doctor Harden aS
to most physicians. duty has TO De
first, love second.
He took time only to call Evelyn
Nelden on the phone n tell heI ne
could not spend the evening with her'
and ask if he could call the next uay'
Then he made ready to 90 TO the
emergency ward.
The patient, a man about thirty
hurt in an auto accident, lay on the
( Grating ~ble.
He smiled whimsically as Doctor
Harden bent over him.
Guess l shall make you quite a
visit this trip" then his face sobered.
"When l am fit to be seen wish you
would send for Miss Evelyn Melden.
Tell her Arthur wants to see her"
Then the nurse came busying her
self about the patient and he said no
more.
For a moment everything Doctor
Harden looked at was red, then ne
pulled himself together. 1t would
never do to let his own personal feel
ing get the upper hand. He did not
know what the mans other name
was-he did not care; he hated him
with the unreasoning hate of Jealousy.
But he forced himself to do his best.
With swift, skilful hands he worked
and soon had the patient ready to be
put to bed.
Doctor Harden went back to his
room tortured by the thought of what
this man meant to Evelyn. He knew
that In the morning he must send for
her to come to the hospital; through
the long hours of the night he learned
what nerves were-what he had al
way called "women's nerves"
If he tried to read he saw the name
Arthur" on the printed page: if he
closed his eyes the name danced be
fore him, and the words, tell her Ar
thur wants to see her." rang in his
ears. So he passed the night, too I'M
happy to think of sleep.
Early in the morning he went to the
mans room. The patient was rational
and although suffering greatly he
would be able to see callers later in
the day. His name was Arthur Mar
quay.
To his great relief Evelyn did not
answer the phone and he left the
message for her.
As he went his rounds among the
suffering patients his WI troubles
were put out of his mind and he was
the alert, skilled physician, giving
kindly words of greeting and encour-
agement to his patients, and orders
to the nurses-then a lecture to a
class Of students. He was glad to be
too busy to think.
1t was early in the afternoon when
a message came to him that Miss
Melden wished to see him. He went
to the office at once. It was no use
putting it off, he must see her.
She was seated in a low wicker
chair and appeared very charming
with the troubled look hat sympathy
gave her. She rose as he entered.
How is he? VIII he live?" she asked
hurriedly, her eyes searching his face.
Eyes" he answered brightly, trying
TO get a grip of himself so that he
would not betray his feelings.
DO tell me all about it. How did
it happenT"
He told her as well as he could,
with her standing before him with
clasped hands, the color coming and
going in her face.
"You see. l am so anxious about
him. He is engaged to Alice Winthrop
and 1 am the only one who knows it.
It would brighten her blue to get a
telegram that he was hurt-she is
away visiting her aunt l wrote her
this morning, telling her 1 was not
well and asking her if she would
please come home today. I don't think
1T was wrong to say that. do your
Evelyn looked up at him. Their
eyes met. He stepped forward and
took both her hands in his.
mo, dear, l think it was fine of you
to think Of that way to get her home.
Marquay will be as good as new in a
few weeks and she can come to see
BIN every day I will see to that"
He had called her dear Unconscious
ly; he still held her hands.
II thought it was you, Evelyn, he
was interested IN"
She turned her face away.
Il IA horribly jealous"
He was happy enough to make any
confession.
"Were you?" she glanced up again.
"Yes, and 1 want the right to be
Jealous; may l have it?"
Pardon me, Doctor Harden, but
Mr.. Marquay wishes to know if he
may see Miss Melden?"
Doctor Harden droDrod n.t