Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-04-14
A BELATED GIFT
BY JENNIE LITTLE.


GO 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicatel
The sun enyeloped the great hos
pital that 26th day Of December as il
determined to transform its grim walls
and quiet corridors, with their sugges-
lions Of dread and pain, into cham
beers Of hope, and victory. The young
est doctor on the staff, teasingly
dubbed the Infant by his older col
leagues, rounded corner and bumped
souarely into pile Of fresh linen, car
rled by the youngest nurse.
"a thousand pardons," he cried
jovialIy. christmas has gone to my
head, as usual. The top O. the morn
ing after to you, Miss Rutledge. Geel
/ love the whole world today, even the
cranky old dowager in room 8.
Because why? The only girl said
YES last night, and in three months
more, no lonesome bachelor quarters,
but a little Home, Sweet Home for
mine. Gee! Isn't 1t a grand and
glorious feeling7 Did you get both
your stockings full, as you OBSERVER"
He stopped suddenly, for the little
nurse was wlnking with all her might
to keep back the tears.
"All we nurses" she said soberly,
''agreed to give all we could spare to
the Red Cross and Salvation Army In
stead OF buying presents for each 9TH
er, so my stockings hung all limp and
lank, for have no other friends in the
city. l am truly glad for you, Doctor
'O'Connor," and she hurried away.
Later detailed for special duty in
room g. Nurse Rutledge walked softly
to the bedside and laid a plying hand
above the bandaged eyes, for she
couldn't seem to harden her heart
against suffering, as they told her she
should to make a success. Medicine
time" she announced cheerily; then
caught her breath as If icy water had
struck her, and went all trembly, like
a little poplar leaf in a storm.
Kit" cried the patient, half I'M
ploringly, half incredulously. Little
Kit Answer! Is it your and with
his free hand tried to tear the band
age off.
'Mr. Rand, don't risk your sight ~
she begged in horror. "Oh, why did
ever come here2 How did you get
hurt like thisT'
The one good hand had found hers
now and held 1t a helpless prisoner.
Exit, why did you run away? Every
day since have been searching, but
couldn't uncover the ghost Of a trail.
This morning a little kid was out try
ing his Christmas sled and shot right
in front Of a loaded truck. He wasn't
hurt but I got broken arm and leg,
and something happened to my eyes.
"The only thing l minded was to be
delayed In finding you, and after all II
led me straight where you were. Won
derful Now tell me something or 1
shall raise a riot and bring down ever
lasting disgrace upon the rules of. this
hospital. What was the trouble?"
She gulped hard for the words tried
TO stick in her throat unspoken.
''Your Cousin Nora told me, that day
you went to Chicago that it was out
rageous for my father to saddle you
with the care of me, at my age. and
everybody knew It was Just a. scheme
to get you for my husband instead Of
guardian. And she said that your
mother, though she was so good ONE,
had long ago set her heart on having
Nora as her daughter-in-law and I
would make her very unhappy If / was
the cause Of trouble between you. So
just because / loved your mother
and you-sO much, and because ! was
ashamed, ran away"
ooh, woman, woman" groaned the
man. II always knew she had hid
sharp claws under that soft fur but
didn't think she would stoop to catty
lies. And you believed them! Have
you been happy away from US, fool
ish little girl?"
mot single minute" she con-
ifessed, "and sometimes l have almost
given up and asked you to take me
back again. I've washed floors and
helped at terrible operations and the
only thing that carried me through
was the thought of doing it for your
good"
Exit" said the man. "in my coat
pocket is ring which I have carried
sever since came from Chicago, think
ing TO put 1t on your finger that night.
Win you find It for me, please, and LET
me put 1t there now? And as soon as
I am mended, will you marry me, and
take me home? Mother is longing for
you. The first week y6u came there,
she told me that nothing could make
her happier than to have you for
daughter"
"But Nora" said Kit, perplexedly.
The patient laughed.
''It was only a case Of the dog in
the manger, dear. Besides, she mar
ried rich old Ezra Lakeman a month
ago. Are you bringing me the ring?
Must get up temperature before I
2 am Obeyed? And listen. A normal
man, being engaged, Is entitled to a
kiss, but a man who is down, with
only one leg, one arm and no eyes,
gets two without being charoad With