Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-09-02
Danes Last
Jest
By ELLA SAUNDERS

There's a patient In the tbirs
In the ward wants looking after" ~.
the house surgeon to Nursa r1, g'-a
acute alcoholism and exnosa.s
Picked up by the ambulance an ~
ago. He'll want looking after"
They looked at each other s,,
smiled, for they were the best friar -a
that 1t is possible for two people - =
who know that they can never h. a.
thing more than friends.
1t had been almost a case Of love .,
first sight when they met al the h..
pital six months before. Ana nh.
silence became impossible Nursa n
lice had spoken the words tia. bsa
robbed Wesley Of mis- hopes forever
He had learned of her unhappy ma,
riage tive years before to a drlnksra
and rogue who had ill-treated her and
finally left her. OF her taking mn
nursing, her admission to the hospitsI
where she was generally loved Nv
nurses and patients alike.
She had thrown her whole life I'M.
her work and was recognized AZ n.
most devoted and competent Of III.
staff.
"rll go and see him." Nurse ELL.
answered.
Five minutes later she was staring
into the face of the man on the he'd
with terror that CONSTRUCTED bs.
heart and left her NUMB. cold and
speechless.
And, as IL conscious of her presenes
the man opened his eyes and looked
back at her. At first he looked witbovt
recognition; then malicious smila
began to spread over his features
80 it's you, Ellice, is If" he mum
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 70.
lowed her every movement And at
the thought of the past, and the awful
sense of being entrapped by it again
she moved as if in a dream, not daring
to think, lest the old terror should
drive her mad.
He was not changed. When he grew
better he delighted in tormentng ber
"Well fix up a little home. Elllce," b
would say. you've become a SUD /
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 a little deal on thatIl soon bring
In the shekels. I'm not down and out /
And, if l was, you'd see me through
wouldn't you, Ellice?"
"Yes. I'd see you through she an 4
swered mechanically.
He watched her wolfishly when IVES
ley was at the bedside He knew d i
a moment, and he tainted her when h
he was gone.
$50 that's how the land lies Is itr
he jeered.
Making up to the doc. Ell? Wei
there's nothing doing to that. Dyoa
understand You're my wife. and
when get out of here you're going
to be mine, or I'll soon put the lid
that doc friend Of yours"
Wesley faced Ellice in the pasSn
"Ellice, who is that MANI he asked
in fierce whisper.
"My husband" she answered.
He said nothing more. After al
what could be said? 1t was fate tla
had brought him there the same faa
that now suddenly produced re'spS
SO that for days Dane lowered betFss
life and death, only again 10 imp@s
slowly. until he was sitting up ono
more and watching Wesley and Ells
with his bitter smile.
81 don't understand it, SAID Nw
ley, frankly puzzled. by all the TUG
he ought to have been dead OF wa
days ago. Ellice"-the cry in his YOU
was almost of despair-'tell me ="
you wish him to get well?'
Eyes, / do" she answered bra'eq
"Then-"
81 shall leave the hospital. caA1"
see you again"
"But you will not-you will MOI
sob, no, no, never" she ans"s's
with a strangled sob: and ued "''
| him.
Dane was sitting up in bed ''s
day now. He was to be di'AD'
soon. He called Nurse El.ies - - -
II guess you're pretty fond e" =
doctor chap ehY" he asked 0''-
curiOusly at her.
"Wen?" she asked listlessi'. 49,.
| eve been a rotten sort OF h'sI
| to you. I guess Did yea mean
you said about taking care Oh 'v 4.
"Ill do everything In the "''D
you" she answered. "except-eA.e.ts ~,
He grinned at her in his il1.''
way. "See you tomorrow, ''s'
jeered. I'm kind of sleepy nov
talk things over, then
Nurse Ellice, you are ~aHie'
patient" -
standing by the bed inside 'As
One glance at Danes face i'.a =
the truth She pulled hersel. ~
with mighty effort Of V'-
..v,-,. to-, sba fatteVol