The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1924-06-21
Why She
Refused to
Marry Hin,
By JAMES BLACK
90. 1924. Western Newspaper Union

WIZARD seven had Just one empty
w bed, and that was not likely tC
remain empty long. The big hospital
was generally overcrowded. Nurse
Bascombe moved from bed TO bed on
night duty, speaking a few words 10
the patients. smoothing their bed
clothes, turning the helpless ones on
their other side.
The senior surgeon, Gerald Wick.
ham, watched her as she moved. AT
thirty-five Nurse Bascombe was as
graceful as a girl. Next in line for
matron. He had known her for sew.
eral years.
There had been a time, two years
before, when he had asked her tC
marry him. He had felt almost conf
dent Of success, but she had refused
him as gently as she did everything.
"Is 1t hOpeless?" he asked.
I'm afraid So"
"You can never caref'
Somehow she escaped answering
that question. A wonderful woman,
with a mystery In her life, every one
agreed. Something unusual had
brought that gentleness, that polse to
her. Never ruffied, never upset. she
was q tower Of strength to the senior
surgeon.
He watched her. They had re-
mained good friends since she had re-
fused him-good friends, but nothing
more. Very tactfully she had let him
see that his hope was destined never
to be fulfilled. Her whole life was
given up to her work. He had ac-
cepted her decision.
A stir without. They were bringing
a patient into the ward. The matron
came in advance, came up to Wick
ham. An accident. A man badly
crushed by a truck. There was no
hope, no use to think of operating.
They were bringing him in Just as he
was.
A filthy tramp, exhaling the odor Of
bootleg whisky. A low, degraded face
which yet bore the stamp of former
breeding and decency. Better that
such a creature should pass out IN
that Inconsistencies which had al.
ready mercifully supervened.
The screen was drawn. The order
ly was stripping the rags of the new
conner. A flannel nightgown was put
over the mangled body. He was lifted
into the bed.
Nurse Bascombe turned back the
sheets. She folded them over again.
A sudden indrawn hiss of her breath.
The senior surgeon looked at her In
surprise. Her face was deathiy white,
her body rigid.
Only for a moment. Next instant
she was herself again.
Nothing can be done for him." said
Wickham. HE won't live through the
night. You've been OVERRIDING 1t. nurse
Better let Nurse Braham watch by
him"
mo, I'll stay here" she answered.
His duties called him away. He
was gone an hour when the word
came that the bed In ward seven was
likely to be empty soon. He went
back. Nurse Bascombe still sat by
the dying man. She was bending over
him, looking into his face.
Wickham came and stood silently
beside her. It was a matter Of min.
utes now. The breath was hardly per.
ceptible, the pulse imperceptible. Sud.
denly, however. the dying man opened
his eyes.
He seemed to recognize them, the
eyelids fiuttered. the lips parted-then
the head fell back on the pillow The
senior surgeon stopped over him, and
then drew the sheet over his head.
Us he identiaedr he asked.
Nothing has come about him"
An orderly came forward. Behind
him walked a policeman. treading the
floor uncomfortably. The orderly
whispered to the surgeon, who drew
back the sheet for a moment.
That's him." The policeman nod
ded. "Guess that's the best thins
could have happened to him."
"You wanted himT
wanted him for months. Seven
years ago he killed and robbed an old
man and got away with it. We got on
his trail again. guess that's the best
thing"
When he was gone Nurse Bascombe
gripped the surgeons wrist fercely,
HE was-my husband" she said In q
fierce, strained voice. do you under
stand-everything"
And with little sigh she collapsed
into his arms, unconscious.
But a great happiness was being
born In Wickham's heart. =. {: