The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-03
MARBLES AND DOLLS.
BY Helen Waite Munro.
1922 nv WhAeIer SyI

Dy LACLCh "6AtC VI
Copyright, 1922 by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Inc.)
Nurse Crane was really reSpon-
sible for it all. When she saw
wealthy Charles Ladd's room full to
overlooking with beautiful flowers,
she suggested that he send a few
to the little girl across the hall"
who had none.
Big hearted Charles Ladd gladly
acted upon the suggestion, without
knowing that the little girl was
little only in Nurse Cranes eyes
had, in fact, reached the mature age
of 10.
"Who was lovely enough to send
me these?" Lois Wilson Queried as
she snatched the roses eagerly and
cuddled them against her cheek.
"Oh, little boy across the hall,
who had more than he wanted"
Nurse Crane carelessly said, and
Immediately went away and forgot
all about it.
Lois sent a note of thanks the
very next day. She printed it, to
make sure the little boy" could
sead it-rather crooked printing at
that-appendicitis. So, of course,
he printed his reply, and the child
like correspondence flourished I'M
til his broken leg had mended
enough TO allow him to go to the
piazza, the very same day that she
took her first trip there.
1t was Nurse Crane, as it hap
pered, who introduced the two, and
her surprise at the misunderstand
ina ~ nj %
each other grown up.
Shall l play marbles with you,
or will you play dolls with me?"
Lois asked after the first aston
ished questions and answers were
over
Either. as long as we play to-
gether nicely and don't quarrel"
he responded, deciding that the
hospital was not quite the dreary
place he had, up to now, consid-
cred it.
The morning passed quickly, with
exchanged condolences and friendly
conversation. So did the next, and
several more following, until the
two felt like very old acquaintance.
Then came day when heavy, pour
ing rain made the piazza impossible.
Lois in her room gave up to the
queer bodily aches and pains that
had been growing more and more
troublesome through the night, and
to the queerer heart-ache which
had been developing for several
days.
1T seems as though I could not
go home and never see him any
more" she thought. Hell forget
all about me in a few days and Il
I'll be Just miserable" She
dropped at last into a heavy sleep,
flushed and tossing restlessly.
DR.. Gordon looked grave when he
found her SO.
Complications" he told the
nurse, after watching her a moment
I'VE have a stiff fight before us. Her
people had best be sent for. 1 will
be back in few moments and stay
with her.
Meanwhile, Charles was having
troubles of his own. For several
days he had been annoyed by a very
little conscience.
Now he began to realize clearly the
fact that he, an honorable, upright
young man, engaged with all due
and receiving daily dainty notes
from her in her distant home, was
falling deeply in love with Miss Will
son.
When at last that long, dreary day
had worn to a close and Charles was
trying to forget his perplexities and
settle down for the night, his atten-
ton was attracted to a subdued
commotion across the hail. At last
a low moan reached him.
He rang his bell furiously and a |
nurse responded His anxious in
quiries drew forth little informa-
ton. however. Several hours of !
strained listening, followed. each
seeming more hopeless than the !
last. After midnight the commo- !
ton increased and at last he heard