The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-07

But she kept seeing the HOSplldl,
the long corridors: the airy, sun
filled wards: and the children, pa
tent, even happy in their plain. Lit
tie Emma laughing because that pic
ture-hee-so funny! And Johnny
Ross begging: Jaw, gee, nurse, can't
1 have a drink? Gimme sip
gwan!'
This life was hers!
That night Chickie lay with her
hands covering her eyes. She
thought of her bed in the room with
Myrtle. She imagined herself steal
ing back-softly-oh and wake up
there tomorrow morning, pin the
white cap to her hair; find all this
of today but dream; all this of
today wiped out.
Suddenly she sat holt upright.
There was to be all operation in the
morning. Doctor David was the sur
geon. He would notice her gone.
! Would he ask why?-Would he hear
this thing
Of course, he'd hear! Why should
her secret be kept? And it wouldn't.
She knew that we'll enough. In a
week it would filter through all the
wards-oh, you hear everything.
Chickie saw his face, pale yet
strong, and with such a winning
charm about it. She thought he had
the noblest look sometimes, yet a
youngness and a verve. And he
made fun of her, calling her Nurse
Helen" because she couldn't leave
off the doctor" before the David.
How would he look hearing this of
her? What would he think Of the
way she had lied and pretended?
And the way she had talked Of babies
who were abandoned and selfish
people who left them. 1t would
sicken him.
She lay back and turned her face
against the pillows. In her thought
she had flashed out boldly against
every one else scorn. Now she was
stilled.
They were going to a concert to-
gether on Friday night. Well-there
would be no concert.
All the next morning Chickie's
mind went through the hundred de-
tails of the operation. Miss Pain,
the chief surgical nurse, fair girl
with magnificent blue eyes, would
ask: where is Bryce?" Irene would
give some answer Then Irene would
begin to scrub. She would have a
bright hot look in her face. Miss
Pain, whom Chickie half adored be-
cause she was so wondrously capable,
yet as gracious as a practitioner,
would begin to wonder.
Chickie was carried so completely
into this scene that for two or three
minutes she stood with a plate in
her hand, the dish towel quiet.
Jennie said "Chickie, dear, you
just go out in the garden-never
mind about these Dishes"
So Chickie laughed and Tipped
the towel with a terrible speed
Afterwards she aired all the beds.
She went into the front room to see
how the painters were getting along.
And she thought: I should send
for the trunks" But her thought
baked. Mo- Her trunk had a right
to be there-and she had right to
be there. She loved sitting in the
dining room, with all the happy
chatter. Did they all blame her?
Did any one put in word for her?
Phyllis would? Would Myrtle?
! That afternoon she walked half
way down to the hospital, not know
ing why. She walked back in a
breathless panic
No use! Those gates were closed.
She couldn't force them to reopen.
Resentment burned like a poison in
her heart. She wanted to talk
shout out this thing
Yet when the phone rang for her,
she refused to answer
And three days passed. Thursday
| afternoon a registered package came.
1t was from Jake. Within was q
bracelet broad, platinum band
massed with diamonds and sap.
phires. 1t was the most exquisite
thing Chickie had ever seen. Ola
into her eyes. There was a note.
Mr.. Munson presents his compli-
ments to Miss Helena Bryce and
begs she will accept the enclosed in
memory Of moons and SIGH, and that
she will accept it yay or nay. First
ly, if it be yay, then in honor of
great winds on mountain tops. Sec
%
soul if it be nay-yet that she accepc
it none the less in token Of much
beauty and the sweetness of great
hours shared"
She was touched to the inmost
heart by that note, even more than
gift For the note had the mellow
ness, and the rich, fine tolerance
that was Jake's.
Much he cared If they called her
doubtful" Holt she wrote one
single word he would come speeding.
He would laugh at these puny judg-
ments. ITO the devil with them,
Helena. Let them kick US out on
our face. I tell you there are bet
ter gardens to tread"
Something like that Jake would
say. He would put his arms around
her; snap his fingers at the world
Chickie put the bracelet on her
wrist. She sat down, feeling sud
denly weak and defeated. Well
She had tried anyway-tried hard to
come back alone
And how gentle it was-and how
sweet to know another cared. An
other-high up in the worlds good
grace. would yet so gladly stoop to
her
g G. 49,