The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-11
EUening Story
The Meeting Tides

BY A W. PEACH.
Mary saw the ambulance sweep up
the tree-ined avenue to the door
where the orderlies waited. Looking
down from her room in the tall nurses
building, she watched the figure on
the stretcher, with some faint remem-
brance of having seen before the face
of the quiet man who was being ten
derby carried in. Her telephone rang
softly; the message was brief: Elmer
gency. Reynolds-Dr. Louis has the
operation"
She went downstairs, thinking as
she went that it was getting to be more
and more her tall surgeon lover who
was called upon for the critical opera
lions in the head cases. IF only
could love him as he loves me-" she
thought. wondering for the hundredth
time why she could not.
AS, she stepped into the room where
the still form lay. a nurse looked up.
Quick, Mary, it's a serious concus-
SION She started to aid the other
nurse when she glanced at the white
face. The hard floor seemed to sink
beneath her and something within her
cried out with anguish. She was look
ing into the face of her old lover. AL
Ian Lane; and in that looks space the
past came before her-her hot accusa-
tions, his cold denials, refusal, to eX-
plain-then the parting. He had not
loved her as she loved him-with all
the passion of her twenty years.
Mary, what has come over you?"
sharp query aroused her.
She bent to her task. AS she re-
moved the vest. from the inside pocket
a leather case fell at her feet. She
picked it up, and as she did so the
simple case opened, and there she saw
herself, dark-haired, dark-eyed,
happy.
The meaning of it-there could be
but one meaning; he loved her; had
been loving her for the eight years
that had come and gone, and now fate
had thrust him before her, dying. She
and all the vines she had tried to
grow to hide her love for him were
stripped aside.
Mary what has come over you ?"
her companion demanded. "They are
waiting for him
She shuddered at the thought of
the operation room. She could not
possibly stay there and hand to Louis
the instruments and watch them.
"Oh, 1 can't! I can'tH' she cried.
| drawing away, her eyes on the calm
face below hers-a strong face, lined
with care.
She rushed out. DR.. Louis was pass
ing. He looked at her with brown
when they were turned to her. She
caught his arm.
Arnold, you must save him-you
| must-you--" Then she remem-
DeTSo anu away. his eyes
were suddenly keen and cold.
You mean-is he the one I have
seen you thinking of when I was
thinking Of your"
She nodded. She heard his quick
| breath, and when she looked up was
frightened by the stark GOODNESS in his
eyes. That very GOODNESS sobered her
sharply. Louis loved her with all tho
| fire of his nature; would he in a mad
moment dare to fail to do something
h0 h 70 he ir1St 70 xfa
forever from her reach this old love
that had come broken to her feet? 1t
seemed hardly possible, yet--his eyes
you will >help. of courseG" he
asked coldly. f.
She started to shake her head; then
| the wild determining ton came to be
there-tust to be sure. She nodded.
In the little anteroom to the opera
| ton room she made her preparations.
| then went in to her duties. The still
figure was wheeled quickly in; and
the old, old struggle began-the battle
of the living 70 keep the living.
The white-tiled,. hushed room be-
came for her a torture chamber in
some wide corridor of hell. Her Splen-
did training served her; she was able
to work almost automatically. Her
great fear passed; Louis was working
as she had never seen him, with mar
velous skill and speed; and suddenly
it dawned upon her that he was MAX
ing his great sacrifice also as he la
bored with all the skill he possessed
to save the life beneath his knives
for her. The. coldness that had been
in his eyes was the GOODNESS of men
who summon theiV will to great task
and q still greater decision
The bandages at last were woven
about the crushed head and the quiet
figure was wheeled out. Louis turned
to her, his eyes dark with WEAKNESS
and Gtra in sMaTU almost
but think he will live. He must
have ceaseless care. I will have you
assigned to the case"
The battle-ground was transferred to
room "a in corridor 10, and there a
girl kept the night vigils, the time
when souls are most likely to go out,
and a surgeon who loved her spent his