Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-06-09
Testing the Doctors
Love
By KATE EDMONDS

Nurse Glynn tapped quickly ut the
door of Doctor Bentey's room in the
Central hospital, and then entered
without further ceremony. The doctor
was seated at his table writing he
had not heard her knock. AS she
approached he turned round in his
chair, got up, and took her in his
arms and kissed her.
I'm wanted?' he asked.
Yes, dear. An emergency case. A
child has been knocked down by an
automobile. His leg is broken and
there are internal injuries"
Are they getting him ready?"
asked the doctor slipping into his
linen oyerallS.
He's being anaesthetized now
Nurse Glynn answered, and kissed
him again. "Oh my dear, how glad |
shall be when Easter comes. Then
we shall be together always--no more
of these hasty meetings.
She went out noiSelessly, and Doctor
Bentley, having completed his prepar-
atoms, followed her into the operating
room The little patient lay upon the
glass table, ready for his scalpel.
This was to be the supreme measure
by which she might understand his
love for her, whether strong and abid-
ing, or pitiful thing born of loneli-
ness on the one side and propinquity
upon the other. She was NOT sure of
A anF l..
met the mother of the child on his
way out.
He did not know that this was his
own child upon which he was operat-
ing so deftly. His skillful fingers
picked up the shattered filaments of
muscle and flesh, uniting them for his
assistants sutures.
They had been engaged three
mouths. She knew what was a com
mon report that he had been married
before, unhappily that his wife had
gone West and obtained divorce
upon the technical ground of deser-
ton; that she had returned, to marry
Anthony Blair, the millionaire, who
could afford to give her luxuries.
But that there had been child she
did not know till that evening when
Mrs. Blair appeared with a white face
at the hospital gates and pleaded for
the crippled baby that had been
Knocked down.
The operation was ended. Nurse
Glynn removed the mask The little
patient moaned and stirred
Hell do finely now" she heard the
doctor say. Take him up to the ward,
nurse. And-good-
The woman was waiting there-Mrs.
Anthony Blair Nurse Glynn hesitat-
ed involuntarily. She heard the doc
tor at her heels; in another minute
he would know.
The night nurse took the stretcher
from her. She turned away and lin
gered moment near. Then she saw
the doctor start and heard the wom-
ans agonzed cry.
"Oh doctor. is he dead? He is not
dead? He win live them You must
save him I" Then came the little ex-
clamation of recognition and then ST.
lence.
ooh, it's YOU" the nurse heard Mrs.
Blair exclaim, in an embarrassed
voice.
Eyes, Alice" she heard the doctor
answer grayely, 81 am happy to tell
you that he will recover and that the
limb will not be shortened. / am so
sorry for you" he added impulsively
at must have been a terrific blow.
Alice Whose child is he? Who Is
his father?" he demanded fiercely.
81 don't know" sobbed Mrs. Blair.
"Why do you ask me? Why are you
looking at me like that? Haven't you
Injured me enough that you should
terrify meP she sobbed. 81 don't
know who is its father, nor its mother
either"
"Its-mother gasped the doctor.
isn't he your child then?'
Certainly notw she exclaimed,
drawing herself up Indignantly. do
you suppose my child would go to
common hospital if he were injured?
Didn't they tell you that John ran the
automobile over a street brat? Yes"
she continued in a petulant voice,
"and a crowd gathered and threat
ened me- and If hadn't had enough
presence of mind to jump out and
carry him into the hospital they
would have thrown stones at me. And
I don't care to 90 out if he should be
going to die, or ] shall be arrested
and thrown into q common cell"
"Haye no fear Of that, Mrs. Blair,"
answered the doctor grayely. II shall
have you sent home in my own auto
mobile. And the child viii be well
In few weeks AS for the dam
age"
mfr. Blair is able to pay for any
damages" replied the woman coldly
She had not understood.
The doctor bowed and turned away,
He walked straight past Nurse Glynn;
she followed him; he turned and saw
her.
you know, them be asked, seeing
the look on her face.
eyes. GEAR" she whispered. And
= have been so afraid =
He pressed her to his heart
"You thought It was my child II