Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-30
CHAPTER Nj
The Incentive to Live


ing it seemed from great distance,
- saying astounding things, things that
cut deep into her consciousness.
MRS. Templeton | have wish to inter-
fere in your private affairs, you must know
that. The fact that you are not living with
your husband concerns me in only one re-
spect the welfare If my, patient 1 will tell
you the truth. He has about one chance in
a hundred to pull out of this We have done
everything we can to check the fever but it
Keeps rising. In cases of this kind a patient
has more chance if his mind is at rest bkt
Mr.. Templeton is delirious, and very restle
In his delirium he has asked for you.
fact, he keeps calling you repeatedly" -
calling mel" Gloria repeated the wolp
dazedly. Ar
Yes, calling you. 1t may be that you can
help materially in queting him, and at the
present moment it makes very little differ
ence whether you love him not. Fever
patients rarely remember what has happened
once they become rational again. 1t will do
you no harm to stay here and help pull him
through. What / want to know is whether
or not you are willing to do this l want you
to give him an incentive to fight
Gloria was trying desperately to grasp the
situation. 1t seemed incredible that she could
do anything to help. That her presence
should give Rolf an incentive to fight for his
life. Why, they had hardly seen each other
for months; it seemed ridiculous that he
should speak her name. And then suddenly
memory of a sweet-scented night swept over
her. Rolls voice, speaking unsteadily, was
sounding in her ears:
Gloria, can't you see how things are with
me? All I want is chance to measure up
to what you would like me to be-
She had laughed scornfully, freeing her.
self from his arms. She had hurled terrible
words at him. But evidently he had remem-
bered. There had been truth in what he had
said. He cared for her, perhaps more un-
selfshly than she had deemed possible, and
she had refused to believe it,
Twill you stay?" the doctors voice broke
in on her memories, bringing her back with
jerk to the present. will you make it
worth his while to lve?"
Eyes, I'll stay" Gloria returned slowly.
II want to do what 1 can to help. I'll be
glad to-
The doctor gave short nod. eff you're
ready, we'll go upstairs now. What he needs
is rest and quiet. The nurses are doing
everything possible, but his brain is restless.
1t keeps the fever high and saps his strength.
Now, remember I'm counting on you. III.
leave it to your intuition to tell you what
to do
Gloria followed him up the long, curving
stairway AS she climbed she was struck
with the memory of the night Rolf had car
ried her down to the living room to exploit
her before his guests. She had left the house
the next day, but not before he had come to
her room to ask her pardon, and to tell her
that he loved her. Of course, she hadn't be-
lieved him She had looked upon it in the
light of some new trick to humiliate her fur
Their. 1t seemed strange to look back upon
all this now, and to wish vaguely that she
had been more kind
They had gained the upper corridor and
were walking softly on the heavy carpet
They passed the closed doors of her own old
rooms and were going on to Rolls suite at
the end of the corridor.
Gloria had sudden feeling of intense
vulsion. She couldn't go in there. 1t wasn't
possible. She must tell the doctor she had
changed her mind, that she couldn't go
through with it. But DR.. Irwin had opened
the door softly, and without word, Gloria
followed him into the room.
Tuesday: "Delirium" and "AtOncment."
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