The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-03
The Daily Short Story

DR.. Gordon in the hall in earnest
then the sound of woman's stified
sobbing. Soon he heard the tramp
Of many feet down the hall. Then
deep silence settled on that part
Of the building.
He lay back on his pillow, great
beads Of perspiration standing on
his forehead. 'Lois-Lois," he
whispered, and knew that in losing
her he had lost his mate-the one
woman designed for him. The hours
dragged slowly. The rain still fell
more quietly now. Somewhere,
in that great building. unless they
had taken her home, she lay, the
beautiful eyes closed forever. the
bright spirit set free from the love-
ly body-set free-the real Lois
might she not be very near him now
nearer than in life?
1t was thus that Nurse Crane
found him when she made her
morning rounds. She looked keenly
at his white, set face, smiled a wise
little smile and said softly:
81 wouldn't worry. She is better,
you know"
She! Do you mean Lois? ?"
Charles sat straight up, regardless
of the injured leg.
Why, yes" Nurse Crane looked
puzzled. Didn't you know she was
taken worse yesterday and they had
to operate in the night? She has
been very low, but her condition is
quite satisfactory now" she went
on. noticing the anguished bewil-
derment in his eyes, and if all
goes well she will soon be back in
her old room"
Somewhat at a loss, the good
woman professionally straight
ened the bedclothes and felt of his
pulse. Then suddenly, quite un-
professionally, she smoothed the
tumbled hair from his forehead and
bent her eyes to his.
did you care so much?" she
said softly.
More than all the world" he
whispered, and closed his eyes as
she tiptoed from the room.
The days went by with Lois gain
ing slowly. Charles, still waiting
for his dismissal from the hospital,
had fought his fight No word of
love would he speak to Lois unless
his engagement to Sylvia-an en-
gagement Of convenience, he could
see now. engineered by older folk.
On the day he was first TO visit
Lois he waited impatiently for the
appointed him. firm in his deter
mi,,ation. Mail time broke the
tediousness Of his waiting. There
was the usual violet-scented en-
velope-the note was short this
time-his face altered strangely as
he read. Sylvia, his old pal. had
found the same wonderful expert
ence that had come to him. She felt
she must tell him and break the en-
gagement before his Homecoming
Her heart ached for him, but frank
ness was the only way.
The clock struck three. without
waiting for the nurse. he made his
way with surprising quickness
across the hall and through the
half-open door. Lois was lying.
frail and sweet, looking deep into
the heart OF one of his roses as
though to read some wordless mes
sage there.
His eyes gave the message the
rose had failed to convey, and hers
the light in his. His hands
clasped hers tightly and
A gasp from the doorway Nurse
Crane stood there, on her face
mixture of bewilderment and sur
prised satisfaction.
81 suppose l am responsible for
this" she said after a moment.
Then, coming closed, the elderly
face on which no romance had ever
lef5 its imprint, she added softly:
Bless you, my childreni How
fast you have both grown upi"