The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-29
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
BiIly Did It.
81 coRoMA BENNINGTON.

~ ~ -
feR UT, Harry" the girl remon.
strated, ~ married |
- would have TO give up my
profession. Think what that would
mean, and how worked during
those three hard years OF training
And / love 1t, Harry; love TO feel
that am a tiny unit equipped and
willing,to relieve suffering"
Eyes. but you don't seem to
realize that you'd relieve my suf.
fering q whole lot, Edith, II you'd
marry me-" said the doctor, sadly.
II isn't as II could marry simply
for home. guess could get
some one who would be willing TO
be my wife"
I'm sure you could, dear" in
flash Edith johnson ran over in her
mind the number Of nurses in her
acquaintance who had been crazy"
\ about the handsome doctor, al.
though he had given them no en-.
\ enlargement.
ut isn't like that With me,
Harry Morton went on. i've loved
you for four years, ever since you
come here as a probationer, and
used TO sit in the anatomy class
with your eyes fixed on me like
two shining stars. could see them
lin the dark after went home.
Don't, Harry, for goodness sake.
1sl must go back to the hospital
now" she said glancing at her
watch. "I'm on duty again at 3
and there's an operation from the
charity, ward"
That's a fact. nearly forgot
my case. I'm operating on little
tellow-want TO try TO Tx his back.
but don't know whether can. He's
walked on crutches all his life
\ was here last summer for broken
hip. That's when got interested
in him and persuaded his guardian
to let me have a try at Lis back"
"oh, he's an orphan" said the
Z Girl, her eyes soft with sympathy.
I'VE must do something to cheer
him up"
He doesn't need cheering up.
He's the happiest little beggar you
eyer saw. What he needs is moth.
er love and proper food. The WON.
an that's caring for him now is
I past fifty and acts as II she thought
that all children should be chloro.
formed at birth"
How dreadful" exclaimed
Edith. What a life for a child"
~ laNa NH "a
Nurse johnson were standing he.
I. side the operating table on which
lay tho figure Of tiny. big.eyed
Just take nice long breath and
90 to Sleep" the anesthetist said
\ cheerfully.
III I'm going to sleep got to say
i MY prayers" declared the boy. I'll
lay EN- to DR.. Harry"
Morton took the little fellow in
bis arms and the boy, hurying his
curly head in the doctors shoul
der, began:
Now lay ME down to sleep.
And pray the Lord my soul to keep
\ Il should die before wake.
I pray the Lord my soul TO take"
amen" whispered the doctor.
feFyently.
"Goodnight,' smiled the boy.
placing moist kiss on the doctors
3 cheek.
Goodnight, pretty nurse" Billy
waved to Edith.
Tears stood in the girls eyes as
che took the wraith.like form in her
arms.
eGoodnight, you precious thing,
she said, holding him close Tor d
minute.
NYo1 and Doctor Harry are nice
10 kiss-Aunt Jenny isn't" volun
! teered the child.
It seemed ages before they could
determine the outcome OF the oper.
alton, and night after night the two
watched the little fellow struggling
kot life.
He's such a delicate little char
That even II we do pull him out OF
this he hasn't much chance With.
/ out proper care and nourishment."
Its sin" murmured the girl
{ yehemently. And he's so beautiful
and so happy and so Intelligent. He
has a right to chance"
II know It, but that woman who
brought him here understands
children about as much as do
u Choctaw."
The night that Billy took a turn
for the better the doctor and nurse
celebrated by going out 10 dinner
together"
TITS such a triumph for you"
4 Edith smiled across the table ms
they waited for their order 10 be
y filled.
s.Yes, I'm happy about 1t, but I'm
\ happier still that Billy won't have
to lbe cripple for life. AT least
he has chance TO make his own
living now"
Harry, I'm SO proud Of you" I'm.
4 pilsiyely the girl put out her hand
toward him.
He took 1t and pressed it gently
3 as he looked into the serious blue
eyes, so full Of feeling.
s.rhat means more to me than
anything else on earth," he answer.
Cd solmenly.
The girl flushed and drew her
hand away and was vexed with
4 herself afterward for having done
10. "A shade OF pain passed across
the doctors face, but he said moth.
Ing.
rim a BRUTE" she thought why
uidsTSd do that? And he's so wonder.
tul, and gentle and good. What Is
Itthat always makes me rebuff and
hurt hint"
The evening was total failure,