The Topeka state journal., 1921-06-29
Eoening Story
Billy Dd II.
By CORONA REMINGTON.

l.
love it. Harry; love to feel that am
a tiny unit equipped and willing to
relieve suffering"
"Yes, but you don't seem to realize
that you'd relieve my suffering a
whole lot, Edith, if you'd marry me"
could marry simply for home. I
guess could get some one who would
be willing to be my wife,
I'm sure you could, dear" In a
flash Edith johnson ran over in her
mind the number of nurses in her
| acquaintance who had been crazy"
about the handsome doctor. altho he
had given them no encouragement.
"H isn't like that with me-" Harry
Morton went on. I've loved you for
four years, ever since you came here
as a probationer, and used to sit in
the anatomy class with your eyes fixed
on me like two shining stars. I could
see them in the dark after I went
home"
Don't, Harry. for goodness sake.
must go back to the hospital now"
she said glancing at her watch. I'm
on duty again at and there's an
operation from the charity ward"
That's a fact. I nearly forgot my
case. I'm operating on little fellow
want to try to fix his back, but don't
know whether can. He's walked on
crutches all his life-was here last
summer for a broken hip. That's
when I got interested in him and per-
suaded his guardian to let me have 8
try at his back"
"Oh, he's an orphan" said the 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 ever
saw. What he needs is mother love
and proper food. The woman that's
caring for him now is past fifty and
acts as If she thought that all children
should be chloroformed at birth"
How dreadful" exclaimed Edith
What a life for child"
An hour later Doctor Morton and
Nurse Johnson were standing beside
the operating table on which lay the
figure of a tiny, big-eyed boy.
"Just take a nice long breath and
go to Sleep" the anesthetist said
cheerfully.
"If I'm going to sleepNI got to say
say 'em to Doctor Harry"
Morton took the little fellow in his
arms and the boy, burying his curly
head in the doctors shoulder. began:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
And pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If should die before wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take.
Amen" whispered the doctor
fervently.
"Good night" smiled the boy,
placing a moist kiss on the doctors
cheek
Good night, pretty nurse" Billy
waved to Edith.
Tears stood in the girls eyes as she
took the wraith-like form in her
arms.
Good night, you precious thing"
she said, holding him close for a
minute.
you and Doctor Harry are nice to
kiss--Aunt Jenny isn't" volunteered
the child.
1t seemed ages before they could
determine the outcome of the opera
ton, and night after night the two
watched the little fellow struggling
for life.
He's such a delicate little chap
that even if we do pull him out OF this
he hasn't much chance without proper
care and nourishment."
TITS a sin" murmured the girl
vehemently. "And he's SO beautiful
and SO happy and SO intelligent. He
has right to a chance
Il know it, but that woman who
brought him here understands chill
dren about as much as do Choctaw." !"
The night that Rilly took a turn for
the better the doctor and nurse cele-
brated by going out to dinner together.
Its such triumph for you," Edith
smiled across the table as they waited
for their order to be filled.
Yes, I'm happy about it, but I'm
happier still that Billy won't have to
be cripple for life. At least he has
a chance to make his own living now"
| Harry, I'm so proud of YOU" I'M
pulsively the girl put out her hand
1 toward him.
He took it ana pressed it gently as
he looked into the serious blue eyes,
so full of feeling.
THAT means more to me than any
| ole in n answered
solemnly.
| The girl flushed and drew her hand
away and was vexed with herself
afterward for having done so. A
shade of pain passed across the doc
| tors face, but he said nothing.
'Tm a BRUTE" she thought. "Why
did I do that? And he's SO wonder
full and gentle and good. What is II
that always makes me rebuff and hurt
him?"
Edith could think of nothing to say
| in parting that could make it easier.
All night she tossed with grief and
remorse and welcomed the dawn and
the coming activities of the day. She
was both glad and afraid when the
visit, but Billy seemed especially
happy as he chat-ed away uncon-
scious of the strained relation of the
two.
| II expect you'll be able to go home
in a few weeks now" the doctor smil-
ingly told him.
| Don't want to go home" walled the
boy. want you a--d pretty nurse to
be my mamma and papa" Clinging
to the doctors big hand he tried to
choke down the sob in his throat.
/ Don't want to go home!" he kept re-
peating.
"All right, sonny. I'll be your dad
anyway, but don't know whether the
pretty nurse'll help US out or not.
Lord knows how we'n manage without
| her"
/ "Of course I'll be your mother,
dear" said Edith. coming forward.
| "Goodie. Goodiei" cried the boy.
"And we'll live way out in the coun-
| try and have a garden and plant oat-
meal and oranges in it,
You bet we will" said the doctor,
taking the pretty nurse in his arms