Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-24
What Hdppened

T OPENED my eyes to n sensation Oh
sickening pain. At first. I could not
remember what had happened, and then
as my brain cleared realized the truth.
We had had an accident, and the car
had run into ditch With difficulty
raised myself on one elbow and pcered
around me. 1t was very dark, | could
hardly see thing because of the trees
that grew very thickly on either side of
the road, but | could make out the out
lines of the car. and ! realized that
somewhere in that wrcckage Herbert
was lying.
In some miraculous manner I, had
been thrown free of the car. and as l
fcarfully sat up and began to investi-
gate the seriousness of my injuries
realized that, aside from my arm. which
hung limp ut my side. and the fact that
| was badly shaken. | could move.
Painfully | struggled to my feet, and
although | felt faint and dizzy, l tot
tered over to the car, calling Herbert's s
name over and over.
My voice sounded uncanny in the
quiet darkness of the countryside, and
very frenzy of fear seized me when Her
dcad. suppose ! should come upon him
stretched out cold and still The
thought sent chill after chill creeping
over me, and | trembled with weak
ness.
! reached the car and found to my
surprise that II was not 50 badly
smashed as ! had imagined. 1t lay part
IS on one side, with the wheels of the
other side in the mir, and as | stood
still. fighting with all my might against
the fantness that threatened me,
heard half stitled moan of pain.
Ny heart lcaped. Thank God, Her
bert was alive. And then as ! stag
gered around the car found him.
dropped to my knees and bent over
him aGonizingly
Herbert, are you hurt very badly :
Speak to me. It's !. joan Over and
over l said these words. until finally his
eyes opened and he looked up into my
face.
"I'm NIL right, Joan. Don't be
frightened. denr." And even as he spokC
be was struggling to his feet.
The reaction was too much for me
and began to cry weakly. My broker
arm was sending waves of pain from
one end of my body TO the other. anC
us Herbert seized me by the arms Il
lift me from the ground l faintet
away with the pain.
When ! came to I was lying in be-
in a strange, low -ceilinged room. NJ!
arm was strapped tight to my side. bu
aside from a feeling of numbness NJ
longer felt any pain. My head fel
heavy, and my eyelids seemed weighted
, down. l had pleasant. languorous sen
, sation, n Discrimination 10 think, whicl
: suppose was due 10 some drug tina
,lr p'ota h,,t
, las my eyes closed and I was about t
/ sink into sleep again, suddenly re
9 membered and started up.
Instantly Herbert was bending owe
me.
He looked anonymously white In tn
lamplight Of the room. and the bandag
around his head added TO my fears.
Q Are you all right, Joan? Don
o bother TO talk, dear, unless you fee
= like It"
o But / wanted TO talk, wanted I
y make him understand what was in m
. mind. wanted him TO know what ha
= been in my mind when I had seize
his arm like that. He mustn't go o
= believing that ] wanted TO run ava
with him, he must know the truth an
: at once.
. 1T was all my fault" I manage
to stammer out. but had to let 20
know. ! wanted you TO turn back,
you understand. That was why 1t hap
pened" / was staring at him wild
eyed, and at the look of pain tbs
crossed his face my heart smote mi
What mess | had made of everythin!
and how could | ever hope for happi
ness again after what had happened?