The Washington times., 1936-06-20

doctor"
Her mother moaned as she
crossed the living-room. Who
is talking? Nell, bring me water" !"
Nell thought with piercing clari-
ty: ooh, Lord, I ran away. I left
her"
She brought the water and held
It to Mons colorless lips, saying
with a sob, Il left you! I
shouldn't"
Crying again, Nell? What did
you Say?"
She stopped down and kissed
her mothers cheek. She said
quietly, controlled again: Don't
be frightened, mother dear!"
She went into her own room and
shut the door. She had no pain
now. She thought lucidly: It'll
be born today"
And she made plans. The mo-
ment Jimmy came home he must
phone to Esther. Esther would
come and take care of Nom. Nell
would leave for the hospital this
afternoon.
She washed resolutely, powdered
and combed out her hair. It was
almost three. In half an hour,
Jimmy would return from school.
cit was terror-sheer terror that
got me down." she told herself
with a grim smile as she set the
waves in her hair.
Then she was clinging to the
bureau, pressing he clenched fists
against her teeth, her eyes sink
ing in her head from pain.
She came out of it shaking, per-
gpiration dripping from her fore
head and her face pale and shin
ing with anguish.
It was nothing to worry about.
This would go on for hours. Until
the next morning, perhaps. She
had plenty of time.
But when Jimmy poked his
head into her room; when he said,
startled: Gee, what's the matter
with this house? Everybody in
bed?" tears Of relief rushed down
her cheeks.
'"Tell Esther to come at once.
Be sure. Tell her I'm going to the
hospital and someone must stay
with Nom"
CHAPTER xxx
Nell paced about her room. She
walked with swift, agitated steps,
telling herself bluffly: "I'll get by
now. 1t will be all right. Every.
thing will"
But her agony had begun.
She heard her mother calling.
She didn't answer. She had all
she could do to keep the wild
screams from her lips.
''I've got to get up. I've got to
get to the hospital" she thought,
Sobbing and frantic. "It can't be
born here. God-don't let it hap
pen yet-God, please"
Her thought was busy. Her
thought watched coldly while her
body lay on the wrack, stretched
and torn and pulled in two, Her
thought said: "You fool WHY
didn't you start in time? It will
Ole now. It hasn't ghost of q
chance"
She buried her face in the blan-
kets, deliriouS with pain and fear
There came voices. Forms NOV
ing. The room was suddenly
thronged.
She heard her stepfather say
gruttly: The little fool! She
WOULD do it here!"
"A stout white barge of a woman
answered: "Stop talking. Get the
Kettle OF water boiling"
This was Mama Raskovitch
with the mole on her forehead
and the bristling gray hairs on
her chin. She came, cIucking:
How you feel, Honey? Not 50
good?" W.
Susie, the black-haired girle with
the gold sweater and blood red
nails, stood at the foot of the he'd
saying excitedly: Gee, you poor
Lhlng. You look SIMPLY awful,
We've telephoned the ambulance
1t ought to be here any minute ="
There was that other girl with
The round eyes and insipid mouth
Nell pulled herself upward. She
!eIt outraged and tried to roll to
her feet. These strangers in the
room. Seeing her suffer. Hearing
her cry: She moaned feebly: "I'm
all right. Get out, please! PleaseI
want to be alone!"
She was left alone with Mama
Raskovitch and Susie. The old
woman hustled about, clucking
with Importance and pride. She
hovered over Nell with gruff ten
derness.
Nell didn't want her child born
N this house. She tried to protest:
to shout angrily.
But the old woman leaned down
and gripped her hands stoltIyR