The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-08-17
Danes Last
Jest

~ BY ELLA SAUNDERS
Copyright, 1919, Western Nswspapsr Union.
there's a patient in the third bed
In the ward wants looking after said
the house surgeon to Nurse EliIce.
"Acute alcoholism and AxDosura
Picked up by the ambulance m hsat
ago. He'll want looking after,
They looked at each other and
smiled, for they were the best frfendg
that 1t Lis possible for two people TO be
who know that they can never be any
thing more than friends.
It had been almost a case OF love mt
first sight when they met at the hog
pital six months before. And when
silence became impossible Nurse Ell
lice had spoken the words that had
robbed Wesley Of his hopes forever.
He had learned of her unhappy a
riage five years before to a drunkar1
and rogue who had ill-treated her and
finally left her, Of her taking up
nursing, her admission to the hospital,
where she was generally loved by
nurses ana paLlents aAke.
She had thrown her whole life into
her work and was recognized as the
most devoted and competent of the
staff.
"Tn go and see him." Nurse Ellice
answered. #.
Five minutes later she was staring
into the face of the man on the bed
with a terror that CONSTRUCTED her
heart and left her numb, cold and
speechless.
And, as IL conscious of her presence,
the man opened his eyes and looked
back at her. At first he looked without
recognition; then a malicious smile
began to spread over his features
"So It's you, Elice, To It'll" he mum
bled. who'd have thought OF meet
ing you hereT" :~'.
"You must lie quiet and not talk"
said Nurse Ellice In HI qufet tones
He obeyed, g%rumbling. And b next
day he was too III to talk at all, but
she was conscious that his syes fol-
lowed her every movement. And at
the thought Of the past, and the awful
sense of being entrapped by 1t again
| she moved as If in q dream, not daring
to think, lest the old terror should
drive her mad.
He was not changed. When he grew
better he delighted in ~tormenting her.
"Wen fix up a little home, Ellice," he
would say. you've become a stun
ming woman, and I'd do a good deal
for you. I'm going to give up the
dril.:. I've learned my lesson. I've
got a little deal on that1l seen bring
I'm the shekels. I'm not down and Out.
And, If 1 was, you'd see me through.
wouldn't you, Ellicew
Eyes, I'd see you through" she an
swered mechanically.
He watched her wol1shly when Wes-
ley was at the bedside. He knew In
a moment, and he taunted her when
he was gone. =
$50 that's how the land lies, il it7'
he jeered.
Making up to the doc, eh7 Wei,
there's nothing doing to that. D'you
understand? You're my wife, and
when I get out of here you're going
to be mine, or I'll SOC put the lid On
that doc friend of yours"
Wesley faced Ellice In the passage.
'E1lice, who is that manf" he asked
In Q fierce whisper,
| my husband" she answered.
/ He said nothing more. After all,
what could be said3 It was fate that
had brought him there, the same fate
that now suddenly produced a relapse,
so that for days Dane lowered between
life and death, only again to improve
slowly, until he was sitting up once
more and watching Wesley and Mlies
with his bittsr smile.
II don't understand It," said Yves
lsy, frankly puzxlsd. by all the rules
he ought to have been dead a. wei
days ago. Mlics"-the cry 10 his vetca
was almost Of despsir-'tsll mss -
you wish him to get wsllf'
"Yes, I do" she answered brazgfy.
Then"
II shall leave the hospital. I eann1E
see you again"
'But you will not-yoQ VI Et-r
"oh, no, no, nsyerF" 60 engW0sA
with a stranglsd soss n II issza
him. NJ !
Dane was sitting - = - Nss5
day now. He wa 10 11sehArEsd
soon. He called Nurse Mlics - him.
II guess you're pretty fond IL that
doctor chap, shfs No asked, locking
cusiously at her.
"Wellf" she asked ~liatlessIy.
1--WE been . rotten sort Of husbanA
to You, I guess. Did you mean wAAt
you said about taking care Of msf'
.Im do everything In the world for
you" she answered, asxcspt-sxcspt-
He grinned at her ii his malicious
way. aSee you tomorrow, then No
jeered. I'm kind OF sleepy now. Wen
talk things orer, then. ''s. d
Nurse Ellice. you are wanted-yOur
patient
Wesley and the senior surgeon wses
standing by the bed inside the scr0en.
One glance MT Danes face told Mlico
the trnth. She pulled herself together
with q mighty effort of will
sWhen--Was IT she faitered.
Halt an hour The q feoled
M. We could never have saved him.
but IT we had known what he was MT
fering from -. Ne nasxst have ~
dured ~unbearable torture. Poor ~
low, hes better on so