Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-08-10
CiRCUMSTANTIAL
BY CHRISTIE JACKSON.

DR.. Harden answered the hospital
phone impatiently-he was ready to
go out. Emergency call" was all the
voice said, but that meant his evening
was spoiled, for to Doctor Harden, as
to most physicians, duty has to be
first, love second.
He took time only to call Evelyn
Melden on the phone and tell her he
could not spend the evening with her,
and ask if he could call the next day.
Then he made ready to 60 to the
emergency ward
The patient, man about thirty,
hurt in an auto accident, lay on the
operating able.
He smiled whimsically as Doctor
Harden bent over him.
Guess l shall make you quite a
visit this trip" then his face sobered.
"When am fit to be seen l 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 moment everything Doctor
Harden looked at was red, then he
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.
Put no 70 do
With swift, skllful 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
ways called "womens 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 own 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 lecture to
class of students. He was glad to be
too busy to think.
1t was early in the afternoon when
message came to him that Miss
Meden wished to see him. He went
to the Office at once. 1t was no use
putting 1t off, he must see her.
She was seated in a low wicker
chair and appeared very charming
with the troubled look that sympathy
gave her. She rose as he entered.
How is he? Will he live?" she asked
hurriedly, her eyes searching his face.
"Yes," 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 happen?"
He told her as we'll as he could,
with her standing before him with
clasped hands, the color coming and
going In her face.
"You see, am so anxious about
him. He Is engaged to Alice Winthrop
and am the only one who knows 1t.
It would brighten her blue to get a
telegram that he was hurt-she Is
away visiting her aunt. I wrote her
this morning, telling her l was not
we'll and asking her II she would
please come home today. I don't think
it 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.
NO. dear. think it was fine Of you
to think of that way to get her home.
Marquay will be as good as new In
few weeks and she can come to see
him every day; will see to that"
He had called her dear uncOnciouS-
| ly he still held her hands.
II thought 1t was you, Evelyn, he
| was interested in"
She turned her face away.
II was horribly Jealous"
He was happy enough to make any
| confession.
"Were your" she glanced up again.
Eyes, and l 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 Melqen"
| Doctor Harden dropped Evelyn's
hands and turned to the nurse who