Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-02-15
T. 80 HANDS
81 mlLDRzo WHITE


The sArewd su gson sat looking at
the girl. a haii-meeSiag, half-indulgent
expression u lis ray eyes. The girl,
amused, returned his gaze. She was
lopn' ing sracefally in the most com
E0rs1b{e A@ls lier hostess iF-sasssi afford
sd. She was Sn4all creature. as dam
tily dressed and formed as Dresden
figure.
~Well." she asked With mild intel
est, what is the yerdictT
BEG pardon the big man sais y
dare say l was staring rudely tha Nh
conscious rudeness born Of study Ing
ones patients
Il" the girl objected 'am net pa
tient. Perhaps, however, you may have
formed some helpful character dag
nosis. Your scrutiny registered dlssaf
isfaction. Where do l offsnd?"
Doctor Homer Amsdsn leaned for
ward iInpulsively; he took the young
woman's hands IN his own. looking
down upon them. They were beautiful
bands, the nails pink and taperins. the
slender fingers, white and soft ~ vel
n
vet. The physician frowned.
DOLLS hands, he said, GROSSLY. '-rhe
typical hand Of the modern pleasure
loving and admired woman. Not one
callOus Of worthy toil-not the band
of our mothers, palms roushensd, Va
unselfish effort for home and family
broadened through loving labor
| The surgeon laughed shortly 'yss
must be commended for your rood
nature, at least" he said Il have
learned brusqueness and brutal frank
ness in the school Of my profession.
"And have earned" added the girl,
"a reputation, thereby, Of skill. Tell
me- am curious-how do you happen
to come to this humble ,Hampdon?"
Il came at the request Of valued
/ friend" the physician told her.
"You have met, of course, young
! here, and with reason. His life Is prac-
tically given over to the villagers. If
he were not held by enforced family
ties Paul would make a name for him
self in the bigger world. We were
school companions. I, free from family
to say, to make my fortune. PAU
stayed because his widowed mother
was dependent invalid. His only SIS
] ter, crippled from childhood, became an
added burden. So Paul lives in this
I little corner of the world, life Of sac
ritice and devotion, cheerful unc0m-
planning in his solitary lot. Solitary la
that sense that he may never be free
tomarry."
/ Coralie Curtis carefully adjusted her
ruffled skirts.
I "Don't you suppose" she asked.
''that one day some Hampton young
woman will be glad to share his trials
for his dear sake n
1 Paul's friend laughed remlnissenuy.
"You have not" he said, apparently
met Paurs family"
difficult" questioned Coralie.
For years." the doctor replied, paul
4 has been begging to have the living
room of the old family home repapefed
! to present needs; the other rooms
modernized and made more cheerful.
III see today the same riotous rose
paper, the same antiquated gloom.
There is no ruler more despotlc than
your invalid"
Coralie sighed; her blue eyes be
tween their dark-fringed lids were very
grave.
IT am sorry" she said paul PhA-
fps is all worthy of happiness"
you know him?'
"Only since came here to visit this
old friend of my mothers. l am now
quite alone In the world and even con-
sidering making Hampton my future
home Different from the great city
but friendly"
Il heard OF you" the surgeon said,
Immediately after my arrival"
Carelessly she seated herself before
the piano; melody rippled forth,
sweet as a birds song. 'That," she
laughed back at him, 1.-THE hands can
do"
Paul telephoned the surgeon that
night at the inn. ave been busy over
at the Hudson's," he explained, two
children down with diphtheria. Tried
everywhere to get nurse for Mrs,
Hudson. Miss Curtis is visiting there,
you know, and tried to get her out
before quarantine, but she would not
20. Insisted On remaining to nurse
j those kids. IF only"-Paul Philips
paused Mss Curtis escapes, she's
never had the disease. VIII you &c
with me to the skin-grafting case in
the morning."
II WILL" answered the surgeon
abruptly, and hung up the receiver.
"If only Coralie does not contract
the disease" he muttered.
The boy who had been badly burned
welcomed the doctor next morning as
the comforting event Of his day, q
| shaking old grandmother, bent, tron-
bled above him. Il don't know" she
murmured, why Miss Coralie didn't
come last night. as usual.
"She could not come" Paul said