Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-08-06
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THE LITTLE GIRL
Rv HELEN WAITE MUNRO
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES!

Tor IL all. wien SIG S"" "~''
Charles Ladd's room full to overflow
ing with beautiful flowers, she sug-
gested that he send a few to the 1T
tie girl across the hall" who had none'
Blg-hearted Charles Ladd gladly act
ed upon the suggestion without know
ing that the little girl was httle
only in Nurse Cranes eyes-had, in .
fact. reached the mature age OF nine
teen.
"Who was lovely enough to send
me these?" Lois Wilson queried as SAe .
snatched the roses eagerly ana cuu-
died them against her cheek.
"Oh, a little boy across the hall' /
who had more than he wanted Nurse
Crane carelessly said, and immediate
ly went away and forgot all about It,
Lois sent note Of thanks the very
next day. She printed it, to make sure
the little boy" could read it-rather
crooked printing at that-appendl-
citfs. SO. of course. he printed his re-
DIV, and the childlike correspondence
flourished until his broken leg had
mendpd enough to allow him to 90 to
the piazza, the very same day that
she took her first trip there.
If was Nurse Crane, as it happened
who introduced the two, and her sur
prise at the misunderstanding was
equal to theirs at finding each other
grown up.
Shall l play marbles with you, or
will you play dolls with me-" Los
asked after the first astonished queS-
lions and answers were over.
''Either. as long as we play together
nicely and don't quarrel he respond
ed, deciding that the hospital was not
quite the dreary place he had, up to
now, considered it.
The morning PASSED quickly, with
exchanged condolences and friendly
conversation. So did the next, and sew
eral more following, until the two
felt like very old acquaintance. Then
came a day when heavy, pouring rain
made the piazza impossible. LOIS II
her room gave up to the queer bodily
aches and pains that had been grow
ing more and more troublesome
through the night, and TO- the queereI
heart-ache which had been developing
for several days.
DR. Gordon looked grave when ne
found her so.
Meanwhile, Charles was hayin@
troubles of his own. For several days
he had been annoyed by very un
comfortable little conscience. Now b.
began to realize clearly the fact tina
he, an honorable, upright young mar
engaged with all due formaIity T.
Miss Sylvia Preston and receivin
daily dainty notes from her in ne
distant home. was falling deeply l
love with Miss Wilson.
When at last that long dreary da
had worn to d close and Charles wa
trying to forget his perpleXities an
settle down for the night, his after
ton was attracted to a subdued con
motion across the hall. At last a to
moan reached him. He rang his be
furiOusly and nurse responded. II
anxious inquiries drew forth little il
formation, however.
He lay back on his pillow, gre'
beads of perspiraton standing on II
forehead. "LOis-LOs' he whispere
and knew that in losing her he ha
lost his mate-the one woman d
signed for him.
It was thus that Nurse Crane -four
him when she made her mornlI
rounds. She looked keenly at h
white set face smiled a wise lit
smile and said softly:
~ wouldn't worry. She is bette
you know"
"She. Do you mean Lois? Charl
sat straight up. regardless OF the
jured leg
"Why, yes" Nurse Crane look
puzzled. Didn't you know she W
taken worse yesterday and they h
to operate in the night? She has be
very low. but her condition is gu
satisfactory now she went on, not
ing the angushed bewIderment in
eyes, land if all goes we'll she W
soon be back in her old room.
did YOU care S, much| she Sa
More than all the world he VIII
pered, and closed his eyes as she t
toed from the room.
The days went by with Lois gani
slowly.
On the day he was first to visit l.
he waited impatiently for the appoi
ed time, firm i'll this determinau
Mail time broke the tediousneSs Of
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