The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-08-18
OH, WHAT IS LOVE!
BY MARY }. HITCHCOCK

90. 1922 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
What did the doctor say, Sally?"
Signing heavily, Jim looked at his
wife's pale face among the pillows,
. Under the softened light of the sick
room she looked so frail-the girlish
slenderness which was really one Of
her chief charms seemed just skinni-
ness. Sick for several days, she had
failed to get up to prepare his break
fast as usual, and he had hurried hcme
from work, anxiously wondering what
] the doctor had said
HE hasn't been here-yet," Sally an
swered. "Josie phoned for him first
thing this morning, but he said it
would be late before he could get
around"
"Well, how do you feel?" Jim sat
down heavily on the edge of the bed.
'Oh, no worse than I've been feel
ing" 1t was the best that Sally could
think to say in an attempt at cheer
fulness. You haven't been worrying
about me?"
How can / help it?" Jim reached
for Sally's hand, and noted with grow
ing concern how hot and dry it
seemed. IF anything should happen
to you, Sally"
"You would go looking for Number
Two in little while" Sally's playful
ness did not irritate Jim. 1t seemed to
make him sad.
I'D look long time before I found
anyone like you" Again he reached
for her hand, and tried to hold it,
when Sally would have pulled it away:
II haven't been a very good husband
to you, have /, Sally?"
Don't be silly!" Sally told him.
you've never heard me say SOP
"Of course you wouldn't"
Because l couldn't"
'Well, in a way haven't been so
| bad" Jim admitted slowly. 81 haven't
beat you, and / don't remember that l
ever got drunk-even since prohibition
but, / haven't done as much as |
might-as much as 1 ought to have
done for your
Ddlly pulcu uSI DOHSS " thS
| far side of the bed. She had never
discovered this crazy streak in Jim.
Alarmed, even more than little fright
ened, she surveyed him incredulOusly.
81 don't blame you'-Jim was speak
ing again-'Tve been a brute to you"
you've been nothing of the sort,
but you talk like a foolv' Sally
snapped. Then, as the buzzer sounded,
''Thank goodness The doctor! Let
him in, and stay out till he goes-do!"
Jim recalled the day when he had
married her. 1t had been double
wedding Sally's girl chum marrying
chap with whom the girls had both
gone to school. And it had ended
in the divorce court-that other mar
riage.
He walked into the hall as the doc
tor came downstairs.
Anything serious?' His concern
was real, at least.
Nothing worse than one of these
spring colds that everybody seems to
be taking a turn at. I'll leave a pre-
scription that ought to get her out Of
bed in a couple of days"
The doctors cheerfulness, perhaps,
was the reason for Jim's haste to get
upstairs. He took them two at time.
81 believe 1 feel better already"
was Sally's greeting as he pushed
open her door.
Huh Doctor said you weren't sick
at ALL" Sally's husband stood cycling
her scornfully now. 'Such fuss you
made over nothing-getting' me all
worked up over your sly insinuatfons
about dying, and all those thingsl Had
to take it out telling me what hard
time you've had of it with me. Any
/ one might think l was really the
meaneSt-"
Hurry, if you're going to get that
prescription filled tonight" Sally
yawned and turned her pillow to find
cool spot. Its after 10 now"
Jim shrugged himself into a coat
and rubbed his hat with his sleeve.
"You might bring me little ice
cream. The doctor said could eat
it"
Bring you nothing" Jim growled.
you'll be costing me enough with
druggist charges and doctors bills"
But he took the stairs very softly,
and Sally did not catch even an echo
of the closing door as he went into
the street.
In Is minutes he was back, the
much-wanted ice cream in paper box,
and Sally's favorite magazine, fianked
by a basket of selected fruit, was
under his arm.
Thought you'd be too lazy to even
try to get up tomorrow" he grunted,
so, to keep you from setting me
crazy I got you something to read.
And. just so you won't have me run
ming my legs off waiting on you !
called Josie on the drug store phone
she's sending her girl over tomor-
row to get something done In this
house."
'Fine" Sally sat up in bed and
| pecked dainty at the Ice. "Your sister
is a real comfort-thinks of every
thing, doesn't she? You are, tool"
as an afterthought.
Jim paused, hung up his coat, then,
standing at the foot of the bed, he
scowled down at Sally's smiling face
"Taffyl Well. it won't get you any
thing!'
Then, when she had finished the
cream, he patted the pillows and
Strengthened the bed-clothes, tucking
| them in around her neck.
think Pm doing all this because
| like to make nurse-maid of myself?