The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-19

| hall to the door of the operating
room and stood there.
She~knew the breathless scene
behind that door. David down in
the pit fighting with a passion Of
zeal; his face growing mask-like in
it's intensity of concentration. He
would save Jake-if the power on
earth could do 1t. He thought Jake
a princely fellow
Then her heart raped noisily.
| Jake lying on that table and David
battling to save that great and gen
erous life. Great and generous he
was. Once another room was filed
with flowers, the beauty of the
springtime sent to her who felt her
life all finished. 1t was Jake who
did that thing; Jake who wrote:
Little white darling, don't let this
sadness rob or cheat you. Take it
as a richening of your life"
All that was finest and truest in
his spirit he had given to her. At
every turn of her life some kindness
1 of his had smoothed her way. Even
the dog he had given, licking her
face the day she stumbled between
the oak trees and the baby lay dead
in her arms.
! Ohio return a hundredfold now
that lordly kinJ1ness-to spare him,
even if only a little pain. She went
back to the room. Her hands were
cold and shaking. Prayers stirred in
her mind.
Save him. They must. The world
had need of high and glowing hearts
and few that beat with the mighty,
happy pulse Of his.
October and the sun was setting;
the light in the room purpling and
soft. 1t fell wistfully on a basket
of lilies, white lilies of the valley
These Janina had sent. And the
light was radiant on marigolds, gift
of All old, gaunt. woman-brought
with the womans tears. Jake had
! been good to her. She could never
say how good, and to a/son of hers.
Chickie said to the woman: He
was good to me, too. And to many"
The woman answered.: IT am go
ing home to pray for him"
Jake would like that. The kind,
ironic smile would come flashing to
his lips. Pray for him, of course!
He wouldn't mind. But did they
think he was done? Not much! And
new paths yet untrod-
Coming back that she might walk
new ways with him. Coming back
to bring her all the fine and pleas
ant things he thought life owed her.
HE went again down the hall.
An hour. Then an hour and
a half. A movement-the
door Of the operating room opening,
the~sheeted form, kingly even in its
quiet, wheeled out.
Chickie shut her eyes, sudden
tears rushing to their corners. Ter
rible that Jake should be lying on
that stretcher, who only yesterday
exulted in the glory Of his strength.
How was he? How had 1t been?
She was afraid to ask. But she saw
David coming from. the room and
waited His face had gray, set
look, almost skeletal in its thinness.
! His eyes were brilliant.
/ He saw her tears and turned his
head She asked with a pitiful, I'M
natural quiet: He came out well?"
| Fair"
He has a ruptured liver"
She gave a soft, low cry, knowing
the desperateness of that, and sud-
denly overcome, put her hands over
her face.
He said gently: "No-you're not
giving up, Helena. Jake has a
chance-a good fighting chance. He
has lions strength. And he's in
our hands. 1 think we've got to
save him! Come now-suppose you
go and rest. I'm staying. Come
back in few hours"
She smiled and bit her lips, hear
ing him say that. "Oh-you don't
know all Jake once did for me. You
don't know how I feel for him. l
not for anything.
Yet when she went into Jake's
room and saw the bed tilted; saw all
the flowers removed; looked into his
colorless face and shut eyes, she
wanted to rim away. escape that I'M
natural image. 1t was so different
from the rollickipg, eXuberant fell
low who had so often sat at her side.
When he was again conscious she
was even afraid because Of the shall
low, uneven breath; afraid because
he .yawned and seemed struggling
for air.
She put her hand timidly on his.
He gave no sign. except to murmur,
! Water drink"
| David didn't leave the room. He
| gave orders to the nurse lake said