The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1922-11-09
The Kind
He Hadn't Met
By JUSTIN WENTWooD

Charles Murgatroyd was out Of his
clement and he made no bones about
[ when he woke to consciousness In
he best private room of the hospital,
20 find that he had fractured two ribs,
)ne leg, and a collar bone in the auto
accident, and was doomed TO a stay
that seemed almost eternal.
He hated the routine, and he could
not understand why the nurses did not
'un to obey him.
Il tell you must have drink, Miss
Mullins" he detained. Il am used to
IT, I'll become physical wreck with
out 1t. It's mediclnal-it's-"
"Oh, Doctor Richards, Mr.. Murgat-
royd thinks it's time he had another
drink" said Miss Mullins to the house
surgeon, as he came into the room.
wen let you have one after din
ner," said Richards. How're you
feeling?"
Feeling? There's no feeling about
this place." growled Murgatroyd. "Of
all the incompetent fools I've ever met,
that nurse Of yours heads the list"
Miss Mullins smiled. perhaps Mr..
Murgatroyd will think more kindly
Of us when he gets better" she said.
Murgatroyd was helpless in her
hands, She made him take castor oil.
She wouldn't let him shave with his
left hand. She, In short, bullied
him In her quiet, efficient way, and
Murgatroyd grew more and more puz-
zled about 1t.
81 can't understand you, Miss Null
| lins," he said week or two later.
Here I've been cussing you in blue
streaks and you've never turned a
| hair"
Were trained to stand cursing, Mr..
Murgatroyd" answered Miss Mullins,
a little prlmly.
"Why are you so stand-oflish? You
folks don't seem human" he growled.
Don't you think what you call hui
man may be little inhuman, Mr..
MurgatroydY" she asked.
"What do call HUMANE"
"Why-why, hitting it up, and-and
drinking and having good time"
cdlu MISS A1ulAlun QulNNlSs
Murgatroyd sneered. $50 my repu.
tatlon has preceded me, has itf" he
demanded.
you must forgive me, Mr.. Murgat-
roSd,"
"What have you heard about meT"
"Do you really wish me to tell your"
"Everything-please."
ooh, Mr. MurgatrOyd, I'm taking a
liberty, / know, but--but | know you
guve fifty thousand dollars to the
Chlldren's fund.- and"
"Just a within, WellT
a"Ahd 1t seemed so sad, so unhappy
that you should live without--without
understanding life Those things
aren't life, drinking and-and you,
you know what mean"
women, ehf See here, Miss Null
Inns, I've never yet met the woman
whom I'd raise my little finger for.
They're all alike, after the money and
the gay time"
Some may not be-" Miss Mullins
looked at him fearful, angry, reso-
/ Iutely.
4 Murgatroyd stared at her. Maybe
you're right" he muttered.
The day before he was to leave the
hospital he said 10 heri Miss Null
Inns, we've got to be pretty good
friends while I've been here. And
I've been studying you. win you for
/ give me If 1 say that l was base
enough, when you first spoke to me
| about things to Judge you as I should
have judged the other women of my
acquaintanceT
"You mean, Mr.. MurgatroydT
II thought you were trying 1t on.
Don't be angry with me for saying
that. I've repented in dust and
ashes, and that's In the nature of a
confession. Miss Mullins, do believe
there are different women In the world
only haven't been lucky enough TO
meet them. And Pm so glad I've met
you and want to show 1t by-by ask.
4 ing you If youll-marry me-"
n Miss Mullins cried little. Il am
80 sorry" she faltered. IL"
$50 the proposition doesn't appeal
to your" he asked.
I'm engaged to Doctor Richards"
Murgatroyd was silent. Suddenly
| he burst out furiously.
"You were playing with me, then !"
1T wasn't"
"What did you want to preach TO
me for2 l tell you all you women are
the same. You were leading me on, in
your own way just as those other wom-
en- led me on In theirs"
"Please, Mr.. Murgatroyd."
"There, I'm sorry. Forgive me. And
will you please leave me a llttleT'
asked Murgatroyd humbly.
And he sat still In his chair for a
long time wondering. Certainly he had
lived blindly, as Miss Mullins had said.
Certainly he meant to be far more cir
cumspect and decent In future. But
but
That "but" was endless.