Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-06-08
Danes Last
Jest
BY ELLA SAUNDERS


the house surgeon to Nurse Ellice.
Acute alcoholism and exposure.
Picked up by the ambulance an hour
ago. He'll want looking after"
They looked at each other and
smiled, for they were the best friends
that it is possible for two people to be
who know that they can never be any
thing more than friends.
1t had been almost a case Of love at
first sight when they met at the hos
pital six months before. And when
silence became impossible Nurse FL
lice had spoken the words that had
robbed Wesley of his hopes forever.
q He had learned of her unhappy mar
riage five years before to drunkard'
and rogue who had ill-treated her and
finally left her, of her taking up
nursing, her admission to the hospital,
where she was generally loved by
nurses and patients alike.
She had thrown her whole life into
her work and was recognized as the
most devoted and competent of the
staff.
"Ill 90 and see him." Nurse Elllce
answered. -
Five minutes later she was staring
into the face Of the man on the bed
with a terror that CONSTRUCTED her
heart and left her numb, cold and
speechless.
And, as if conscious of her presence,
the man opened his eyes and looked
back at her. At first he looked without
recognition; then malicious smile
began to spread over his features.
$50 it's You, Ellice, is it," he num-
bled. Who'd have thought of meet
ing you here?"
you must lie quiet and not talk"
said Nurse Ellice in her quiet tones.
He obeyed, grumbling. And the next
day he was too i'll to talk at all, but
she was conscious that his eyes fol-
lowed her every movement. And at
the thought of the past, and the awful
sense of being entrapped by 1t again
she moved as If in dream, not daring
to think, lest the old terror should
drive her mad.
He was not changed. When he grew
better he delighted in tormenting her.
"Well fix up little home, Ellice," he
would say. you've become stun
ming woman, and I'd do a good deal
for you. I'm going to give up the
drink. I've learned my lesson. I've
got little deal on thatll soon bring
in the shekels. I'm not down and out.
And, if l was. you'd see me through,
wouldn't you, Ellicef'
Eyes, I'd see you through" she an
Swered mechanically.
He watched her wolfshly when Yves
ley was at the bedside He knew in
a moment, and he taunted her when
he was gone.
$50 that's how the land lies, is it?''
he ieered.
Making up to the doc, eh? Well,
there's nothing doing to that. D'you
understand? You're my wife, and
when l get out of here you're going
to be mine, or I'll soon put the lid on
that doc friend of yours"
Wesley faced Ellice in the passage.
"Ellice, who is that man?' he asked
In fierce whisper.
"My husband" she answered.
He said nothing more. After all,
what could be said2 1t was fate that
had brought him there, the same fate
that now suddenly produced a relapse,
so that for days Dane lowered between
life and death, only again to improve
slowly. until he was sitting up once
more and watching Wesley and Ellice
with his bitter smile.
II don't understand it," said Wes-
ley, frankly puzzled. by all the rules
he ought to have been dead or well
days ago. Ellice"-the cry in his voice
was almost of despair-"tell me, do
you wish him to get well?"
Eyes, d." she answered bravely.
"Then-"
81 shall leave the hospital. 1 cannot
see you again."
But you will not-you will NOT?
"Oh, no, no, never" she answered,
with a strangled sob; and fled from
him.
Dane was sitting up in bed every
day now. He was to be discharged
soon. He called Nurse Ellice to him.
~ guess you're pretty fond of that
doctor chap, eh?" he asked, looking
curiOusly at her
"Well?" she asked listlessly.
"pve been a rotten sort Of husband
to you, l guess. Did you mean what
you said about taking care of me?"
"I'll do everything in the world for
you," she answered, "eXcept-except-"
He grlnned at her in his malicious
way. "See you tomorrow, them" he |
jeered. I'm kind of sleepy now. Wen /
talk things over, then"
Nurse Ellice, you are wanted-yOur |
patient"
Wesley and the senior surgeon were |
by the bed inside the screen. |
One glance at Danes face told Ellice |
the truth. She pulled herself together
with mighty effort of will I
'When-was itT' she faltered.
Half an hour ago. The man fooled
us. We could never have saved him.
but If we had known what he was suf- /
fering from he must have en-
duEed unbearable torture. Poor fell
low, he's better off sop