Okolona messenger., 1921-05-12
CERCUMSTANTIAL
BY CHRISTIE JACKSON.

phone impatiently-he was ready Il
go out. Emergency CALI was all thl
voice said, but that meant his evening
was spoiled, for to Doctor Harden, a
to most physicians, duty has to bi
first, love second.
He took time only to call EvelyI
Melden on the phone and tell her HI
could not spend the evening with her
and ask If he could call the next day
Then he made ready to go to thj
emergency ward.
The patient, a man about thirty
hurt in an auto accident, lay on tn
operating table.
He smiled whimsically as Docto
Harden bent over him.
Guess 1 shall make you quite !
visit this trip" then his face sobered
"When am fit to be seen I wish yoI
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 M
more.
For a moment everything Doctor
Harden looked at was red, then he
pulled himself together. It would
never do to let his own personal feel
ing get the upper hand. He did moi
know what the mans other name
was-he did not care; he hated him
with the unreasoning hate of jealousy.
But he forced himself to do his best
With swift skilful 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 "women's 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 Gn-
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 a lecture to a
class Of students. He was glad to be
too busy to think.
1t was early in the afternoon when
a message came to him that Miss
Melden wished to see him. He went
to the Office at once. 1t was no use
putting it of, 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 heH VIII he live?" she asked
nurriedly, her eyes searching his face.
EYES," he answered brightly, trying
% get grip Of himself so that he
would not betray his feelings.
tai oil oh IA \ |
t happen2"
He told her as well as he could,
With her standing before him with
'lasped hands, the color coming and
,Oing in her face.
"You see. am so anxious about
lin. He is engaged to Alice Winthrop
md am the only one who knows it.
t would frighten her blue to get a
elegram that he was hurt-she is
way visiting her aunt. 1 wrote her
his morning, telling her l was not
Tell and asking her If she would
lease come home today. 1 don't think
was wrong to say that. do your
Evelyn looked up at him. Their
yes met. He stepped forward and
)ok both her hands In his.
mo, dear, think it was fine Of you
} think Of that way to get her home.
[arquay will be as good as new in a
w weeks and she can come to see
Ina every day; I will see to that"
He had called her dear unconcious-
Z; he still held her hands.
II thought it was you, Evelyn, he
as interested In"
She turned her face away.
II was horribly Jealous"
He was happy enough to make any
nfession.
Were yOu7" she glanced up again.
Eyes, and l want the right to be
alous; may / have it,"
"PardOn me, Doctor Harden, but
r. Marquay wishes to know II he
ay see Miss Meldenr
Doctor Harden dropped Evelyn's
nds and turned to the nurse who
d quietly entered the Office.
Tell Mr.. Marquay will bring Miss
aldnr n him of On0a