Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-01-28
A BELATED GIFT
By JENNIE LITTLE.

pital that 18th 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. teasingly
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
jovially. 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 8.
Because why? The only girl said
Yes, last night, and in three months
more, no lonesome bachelor quarters,
but little Home. Sweet Home for
mine. Gee. Isn't II a 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 soberlv.
agreed to give all we could spare to
the Red Cross and Salvation Army in
stead of buying presents for each 9TH
er, so my stockings hung all limp and
iahk, 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 3. 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 a success. Medicine
time. she announced cheerily; then
caught her breath as If icy water had
struck her. and went all trembly. like
a little poplar leaf in storm.
Kit" cried the patient. half i'm
ploringiy half increduIously. Little
Kit! Answer! Is it you?" and with
his free hand tried to tear the band
age of.
Mr.. Rand, don't risk your sight"
she begged in horror. "Oh, why did 7
ever come here? How did YOU get
hurt like this?"
The one good hand had found hers
now and held 1t helpless prisoner.
Kit, why did you run away? Every
day since | have been searching. but
couldn't uncover the ghost of a trail
This morning little kid was out fry
ing his Christmas sled and shot right
in front of loaded truck. He wasn't
hurt nut | got a broken arm and leg,
and something happened to my eyes.
The only thing minded was TO be
DELAYED in finding Won. 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 |
20 stick in her throat unspoken.
Your Cousin Nora told ne. that dav |
you went TO Chicago, that il was ont |
rageous for my father to saddle you
with the care Of me, at my age. and |
everybody knew it was just a 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 daughter-in-law and 7 |
would make her very unhappy if I was
the cause of trouble between Won. So /
Just because | loved your mother
and vou-So much. and because was /
ashamed. | ran away
"Oh, woman, woman" groaned tbe
LIAM. II always knew she had hid |
sharp claws under that soft fur, but I |
didn't think she would stoop to catty |
Hes. And you believed theml Have |
you heen happy away from us, fool |
ish little grip
Not single minute" she con-
feSsed. "and sometimes / have almost
given up and asked you to take me |
back again. I've washed floors and |
helped at terrible operations and the
only thing that carried me through
was the thought of doing it for your
good"
Kit, said the man. ain my coat |
pocket is ring which I have carried
Z 4
ing 10 put Ii on your finger that night. I
VIII you find it 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
her happier than to have you for a
But Nora" said Kit, perplexedly.
The patient laughed.
1T was only case Of the dog in
the manger, dear. Besides. she mar.
ried rich old Ezra Lakeman a month
ago are you bringing me the ring?
Must ] get up n temperature before 7
am obeyed? And listen. A normal
man being engaged. is entitled to
KISS, out man who Is down. with
only one leg, one arm and no ewes
gets TWO without being charged with