The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1921-05-20
A BELATED GIFT
BY JENNIE LITTLE.

pital that 26th day of December as If
determined to transform its grim walls
and quiet corridors, with their sugges-
tons of dread and pain, into cham
bers of hope, and victory. The young
est doctor on the staff teasngly
dubbed the Infant by his older col
leagues, rounded corner and bumped
squarely into pile of fresh linen, car
ried by the youngest nurse.
"A thousand pardons," he cried
iovialy. christmas has gone to my
head, as usual. The top o. the morn
ing after to you. Miss Rutledge. Gee
love the whole world today, even the
cranky old dowager in room g.
Because why? The only girl said
Yes, last night and in three months
more, no lonesome bachelor quarters,
hut little Home, Sweet Home for
mine. Gee! Isn't It grand and
glorious feeling? Did you get both
your stockings full. as you OBSERVER"
He stopped suddenly for the little
nurse was winking 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. 50 my stockings hung all limp and
lank, for have no other friends in the
city. | am truly glad for you, Doctor
OConnor," and she hurried away
Later. detailed for special duty In
room ., 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 success "Medicine
time she announced cheerly; 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 you?" and with
his free hand tried to tear the band
age off
Mr.. Rand, don't risk your sight !"
she begged in horror ooh, why did I
ever come here? How did you get
hurt like this?"
The one good hand had found hers
now and held 1t a helpless prisoner.
Kit, why did you run away? Every
day since I have been searching. but
| couldn't uncover the ghost of a trail
This morning little kid was out try
ing his Christmas sled and shot right
in front of loaded truck. He wasn't
hurt but | got broken arm and leg.
and something happened to my eyes.
1.-The only thing I minded was to he
DELAYED IN finding YOU, and after all 1t
led me straight where you were. Won
derful. Now tell me something or I
shall raise 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
rageons for my father to saddle Won
with the care of me, at my age. and
everybody knew it was just n scheme
to get YOU for my husband instead Of
guardian And she said that vour
mother, though she was so good to me.
had long ago set her heart on having
Nora as her daughtcr-in-law and
would make her very unhappy If I was
the cause of trouble between Won. So
just because loved your mother
and vor-so much. and because I was
! ashamed, I ran away"
"oh, woman. woman" groancd the
man. Il always knew she had hid
sharp claws undor that soft fur, but I
didn't think she would stoop to catty
lies. And you believed them. Have
you been happy away from lis, fool.
ish little grip
MOT single minute" she con-
fesSed "and sometimes have almost
! given up and asked You to take me
back again. Two washed floors and
| helped at terrible operations and the
only thing that carried me through
was the thought of doing 1t for your
| good"
Kit said the man, 'in my coat
pocket Is ring which I have carried
ever since ! came from Chicago. think
ing To put If on your finger that night.
! VIII you find 1t for me. please. and let
me put II there now? And as soon as
| am mended, will you marry me. and
take me home? Mother Is longing for
YOU. The first week you came there.
! she told me that nothing could make
hcr happier than TO have You for n
daughter"
but Nora" said Kit, perplexedly
The patient laughed.
at was only case of tho dog IN
! the manger. dear Besides. she mar.
ried rich old Ezra Lakeman month
/ ago Are YOU bringing me the ring?
| MUST get up temperature before I
] am obeyed? And listen. A normal
/ man, being engaged. is entitled 10 a
! kiss hut man who Is down. with
only one leg one arm and no eyes
gets two. without being charged with
| profteering."
| When Doctor O'Connor entered tho
room, the nurse was industrious,r
studying chart, but in her eyes were
a thousand dancing lights. and In ber
/ cheeks the tints of the trailing ar.
butus, while happiness seemed TO radi.
ate from the patient. splints, bandages
/ and all