The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-09-01
lS15G15LS1SE51515
! OH, WHAT IS LOVE!
. BY MARY J. HITCHCOCK

Signing heavily, jim looked at his
wife's pale face among the pillows.
Under the softened light Of the sicke
room she looked so frail-the girlish
slenderness which-was really one Of
her chief charms seemed just skinni-
ness. Sick for several days, she had
failed' to get up to prepare his break
fast as usual, and he had hurried home
from work, anxiously wondering what
the doctor had said.
"He hasn't been here-yet," Sally an
swered "Josie phoned for him first
thing this morning, but he said 1t
would be late before he could get
around"
"Well, how do you feel?" Jim sat
down heavily on the edge of the bed.
'Oh, no worse than I've been feel
ing" 1t was the best that Sally could
think to say In an attempt at cheer
fulness. "You haven't been worrying
about me?
"How can help it?" Jim reached
for Sally's hand, and noted with grow
Ing concern how hot and dry 1t
seemed. IF anything should happen
to you, Sally"
you would go looking for Number
Two in little while" Sally's playful
ness did not irritate Jim. 1t seemed to
make him sad.
"Pd look a long time before l found
anyone like you" Again he reached
for her hand, and tried to hold 1t,
when Sally would have pulled it away.
II haven't been very good husband
to you, have l, Sally?"
"Don't be sillyl' Sally told him.
you've never heard me say sol"
,"Of course you wouldn't"
Because l couldn't"
"Well, in way l haven't been so
bad" Jim admitted slowly. ~ haven't
beat you, and l don't remember that
ever got drunk-even since prohibition
but, l haven't done as much as
done for you"
Sally pulled her aching bones to the
far side of the bed. She had never
discovered this crazy streak In Jim.
Alarmed, even more than a little fright
ened, she surveyed him incredulously.
II don't blame you"-Jim was speak
ing again-"Pve been brute to you"
you've been nothing of the sort,
but you talk like a fool!" Sally
snapped. Then, as the buzZer sounded,
THANK goodness The doctor! Let
him in, and stay out till he goes-do"
Jim recalled the day when he had
married her. 1t had been double
wedding, Sally's girl chum marrying
chap with whom the girls had both
gone to school. And II had ended
In the divorce court-that other mar
| riage.
He walked into the hall as the doc
tor came downstairs.
Anything serious?" His concern
was real, at least.
Nothing worse than one Of these
spring colds that everybody seems to
be taking turn at. I'll leave pre-
scription that ought to get her out Of
bed In a couple of days"
The doctors cheerfulness, perhaps,
was the reason for Jm's haste to get
upstairs. He took them two at time.
~ believe l feel better already"
was Sally's greeting as he pushed
open her door.
Huh Doctor said you weren't sick
at ALL" Sally's husband stood cycling
her scornfully now. "Such fuss you
made over nothing-getting me all
worked up over your sly insinuations
about dying, and all those things Had
to take 1t out telling me what hard
time you've had Of 1t with me. Any
one might think 1 was really the
meanestl"
Hurry, II you're going to get that
prescription filed tonight" Sally
yawned and turned her pillow to find
cool spot. "It's after 10 now"
Jim shrugged himself into a coat
and rubbed his hat with his sleeve.
"You might bring me a little Ice
cream. The doctor said 1 could eat
| it"
"Bring you nothing!" Jim growled.
you'll be costing me enough with
druggist charges and doctors bills"
But he took the stairs very softly,
and Sally did not catch even an echo
of the closing door as he went into
the street.
In 15 minutes he was back, the
much-wanted lee cream in paper box,
and Sally's favorite magazine, fianked
by basket of selected fruit, was
under his arm.
Thought you'd be too lazy to even
try to get up tomorrow" he grunted,
so, to keep you from setting me
crazy I got you something to read.
And, just so you won't have me run
ming my legs Off waiting on you l
called Josie on the drug store phone
she's sending her girl over tomor-
row to get something done In this
house"
"Fine" Sally sat up In bed and
pecked dainty at the Ice. "Your sister
is real comfort-thinks Of every
thing. doesn't she? You are, tool"
as an afterthought.
Jim paused, hung up his coat. then.
standing at the foot Of the bed, he
/ ~ q.