The Washington times., 1936-06-13

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They didn't see Nell, who leaned
against the shop window, dazed
and motionleSs.
Recrossing the street with her
heavy bundles, Nell tripped and
fell. She felt something tear away
within her. She felt her heart die
CHAPTER XXVI
They picked Nell up. Two men
A little crowd gathered. She
looked into the curious faces with
a bewildered I'm all right, but
her whole body dripped with fear.
The fall had imperiled her child.
She was sure Of it.
The men helped her to the
apartment house. She went slow
ly, in an agony Of terror, up the
many steps.
Her mother shuffled about in
the kitchen, making a cup Of tea,
perhaps.
Nell dropped to a chair, folding
her arms tight about her, shutting
out the thump and panic OF her
heart. She wouldn't be able to
bear it if the child were MANNED
or if it should now die.
She had seen too often, in imagi-
nation, the small, beloved face.
Blue, burning eyes, like his, and q
flutter of honey-colored curlS. A
cherub child.
She had neglected it. She had
not been to a doctor. All that talk
of Susie and Mama Raskovitch
filled her with dread, so that she
shrank from charity. Her pride
seemed paltry now. It had en-
dangered her child.
Through the gusty March night
when a titanic wind hooted about
her window, she lay awake praying
that nothing had happened to her
baby.
A clear, cold, beautiful morning
dawned, with the sky silky blue.
and the whole world washed clean
by the hurricane. Nell was out
early. She was going to the clinic
The Woman's Hospital faces
north on Cathedral Parkway. An
imposing though gracious build
ing, set high on its grassy emf.
nence with two old oak trees
standing guard.
The clinic entrance is in 109tE
Street. You GO along a canyon,
like passage girded by a high red
brick wall. A white sign with
neat black letters reads:
WOMEN'S OUTPATIENT CLINIC
Hours: 9-11-2-3
Nell stared at the sign as though
it were in a foreign tongue. She
was overborne with anxiety, all
her blithe young courage at the
lowest ebb.
It was not yet nine. Several
women were already seated in the
bare, white, Immediately clean
waiting room. They were sprawled
out in ungainly postures with big
shopping bags in front Of them.
They chatted aimlessly and at
ease.
Nell was led to a desk to reg
lister. She was given an appoint
ment for the following week.
She looked at the card in panic.
"Next week? I can't wait that
long!" She told the nurse of her
fall and the terror lest the child
had died. She grew hysterical
and begged: "Oh, please, can't
they do something now?"
Finally, after much running
back and forth, Nell was ushered
into tiny cubicle, handed a
smock, told to get ready, the doc.
tor would see her at once.
She lay on the operating table,
her head light and her heart
bursting. After what seemed
hours, the young inferno, who had
a Snub-noSe and a shinily-clean
face, said pleasantly: you're all
right. So is the young man"
She cried out with joy: you're
sure it's a SOM"
"Of course not.' But boy or girl
It's plenty strong and should ar
rive in good shape about the mid
die of May"
A whole month earlier than she
planned. But the doctor was GER
tain. Nell had counted wrong.
And you don't think it was
injured yesterday? I dreamed it
had only one arm"
Don't worry about dreams. All
women are tormented. There
wouldn't be one of us born If the
fears of our mothers beforehand
could hurt us. You come for
your tests. All should go along
nicely"
Nell went out singing. They
were so friendly. Glad Nell was to
have child and not a word said
because she couldn't pay.
Standing before the entrance
sign and reading it with bewilder.