The Washington herald., 1921-05-10
CIV.-ANxIoUs WAITING.

tlNs-ANAlOts "hAAhN"s
Just before she was taken to the
operating amphitheater. Constance
Stanley sent for Nancy.
I've solved it" she announced.
80 stupid of me not to have
thought of it before! Curtis shall
stay at his club when he gets back
TO town. Then you can live at the
house without causing any talk"
Yes, dear; all right" agreed
Nancy. in the tone with which one
soothes a child.
She went downstairs and re-
mained in the waiting room for
what seemed to her an interminable
length of time.
white-uniformed internes and
nurses in crisp gray-blue dresses,
with spotIess kerchiefs folded across
their breasts, came and went down
the echoless corridor. Visitors
many with anxious faces-bearing
flowers and magazines-waited
there until some trim nurse came
to get them and conduct them into
the mysterious, hushed realms. per-
meated by the clean odor OF anti
septics-
An efficient young man. with the
vocal information and the gestures
of an automatom. dispensed infor,
nation over the telephone and
greeted incoming patients.
Nancy found herself wondering if
life meant anything more to him
than the process OF checking in the
siling and checking out the we'll
and sometimes the dead.
goOd-lookinE young inferno fl
nally brought the information for
which she waited.
The operation is over. We are
confident that it has been a sue
cess. Mrs. Stanley is still under
the influence of an anesthetic"
Nancy held out her hand.
Thank yOU," she said. a trihe
UnsteadiIy.
With the nervous strain relaxed
she felt an absurd desire to weep
Her lips quivered, and hot tears
smarted her eyelids. She had a mo-
mentary impulse to put her head
down on the white -starched shouI-
der and give way to tears.
He seemed to understand.
1T has been a trying wait. hasn't
it," he said sympathetically. Let
me get you a drink of water. You'll
feel much better"
She shook her head.
''No-thanks just the same.
don't want to be a nuisance. You
hospital people must have a
Wretched time with weeping wo-
men,"
He smiled noncommittantly.
DR. Langwell told me to ask you
to wait and he will take you home
Il didn't ask YOU to wait, though
Candy" said Langwells voice be-
hind them.
Nancy and the young inferno
turned to meet the doctors twink
ling eyes.
Tits been a pleasure to wait
doctor" stammered the young man
plainly embarrassed in the presence
of the great surgeon.
I've no doubt" returned Lang
well, smilingly. Has Mrs. Bur-
rsrd been vamping you? She's one
of our best little artists at the
game"
Sancy's smile was wobbly. She
wasn't feeling up to repartee. She
marveled at the Lightning rapidity'
with which LangweIl could discard
his professional manner.
You're sure Connie will be all
right" she asked anxiously.
Il have not said So" he replied.
Nor would ] be so foolish as to
make such a statement at this time.
] can only say that have done
the most for her that 7 can, and to
the best Of my professional know
ledge her recovery will be COM
plete."
Taking her arm. and nodding cas-
ually to the young inferno, he
BEoted her out TO a waiting, car.
Now. cry" he demanded. closing
the door. and drawing her head
over on his shoulder.
Copyright. 1871, by whssl.r Syndicate, Inc. J