The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-03
Q SERIAL STORY I MRS. DOC wToMH HoeNEe :s: ss.s::s :s:=s. ,s s:s

first heard it, but it was 50 tragi-' cally real now. Poor lad, maybe she could help him. Bower was glad to see her. Flows Angela? The baby?" he asked anxiously.
 Angela is all right" Emily re- assured him. "You won't have long to wait. Dr. Warren and Dr. Farrell are with her. Just take things easy. Here, have a cigaret."
 Gee, thanks" His hands shook as he held the match. "You think she'll be all right?"
 "Of course, she will. There's nothing to worry about"
 He resumed his pacing, back and forth across the floor. After a while he stopped.
 You're sure Angela's all right, Mrs. Doc?" he asked. Gee if any, thing happens to her = she's all I've got"
 Nothing Is going to happen to Angela, Billy" Emily spoke as if to a child. "Get that idea out of your mind. She'll be downstairs in few minutes. Now stop wor- rying."
 "Mrs. Doc, could you go up there with her?" he pleaded. They won't let me - told me to stay here. She's all alone, she needs some body there. They'll let you"
 "If it will calm you down any, I'll go," Emily answered. The su- perintendent or the floor nurse might order her to leave, but Bower wouldn't know that, and it might quiet his fears. Besides, she was irresistibly drawn toward the delivery room. The same compel ing force had made her leave the waiting room, downstairs.
 She left Bower, pacing again, and walked back to the stairway. Up another flight. She disregarded the sign that warned all visitors of the fifth floor. Delivery Room B, she remembered. That must be it, across the hall. The door was open; a mere fraction of an inch, She leaned against the wall.
 s/*
 Emily could see nothing in the room. except a small corner of the white-sheeted table, the gray wall beyond, and the glaring overhead light.
 "The patient is asleep, Doctor" she heard the anaesthetist say. She caught a glimpse of Alan, all in white, only his eyes visible, as he crossed in front of the door. Then silence.
 After a long time she heard Far rell asking, What is indicated?" but she failed to catch Alan's mumbled reply. Something about version"
 Then Farrell saying: "Remem- Der the first time you watched me do that, Alan? You were as white as your gown"
 And the scardest junior medic you'll ever see. decided right then that I'd never do any OB."
 Should have stuck to that de- cision You'd get a lot more sleep"
 More silence, Alan stepped back into her range of vision and a nurses gloved hand wiped the perspiration from around his eyes. Emily was shivering.
 Emily knew now why Alan was so devoted to his practice. She could share this thrill with him. She, too, had a part, however small, in the beginning of this life. She would never forget it.
 She shut her eyes. She could see Alan's face, as if it were close to her. The lips, set in thin line, that hinted at a smile. The eyes, dark, steady, earnest.
 It was this - this being close to God-that gave Alan, and Farrell, and all other doctors in the world, that understanding of human ills, and of human needs. No wonder they were able to comfort and cheer. No wonder their words brought peace, when all others failed. When one has guided a mother along this dark and friend less way, all other problems fade into insignificance.
 A faint - exceedingly faint - cry brought her back to the present. She heard Farrell saying - Its a girl, a fine girl"
 Then Allen - Oxygen" Nurses moving rapidly. Farrell hurrying past the door. Then the regular measured clicks of the inhalator.
 Emily stood, breathless. The baby must live-it can't die-now. Her heart was pounding.
 Then a stronger cry and Alan's voice-"Well, little lady, you've decided to stay a while?" Farrell chuckling.
 Five and a quarter pounds, Doctor" the nurse said.
 Not very big, but good enough for a star" Farrell replied. More moving around. The inhalator was stilled.
 After long wait, Emily heard Angela's voice, bewildered and won- dering, My baby, my baby"
 "It's little girl, Angela" Far rell was saying then. "A wonder full little girl"