Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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1920 The Aegis g,Vv'e're going to make you well, he said cheerily, Are you two all ready now . They wheeled Mrs. Allen to the office. VVaiting there was a distinguished looking man. This is Dr. Scott, an old friend of mine, Madison introduced, 1 asked him to come down and help me. Late that afternoon Dir. Scott and Madison sat talking in the oflice. You performed that operation like a master, song she came out of it fine. I think you have proved that you are a man, and here's my proposition. l'm getting old and want to retire and in light of your excellent work the staff requests me to offer you the position of head surgeon at the hospital. Dr, Scott, you said that l've proved myself a man. lf that's true, then, it's being with these people tnat has made me one. Conseffuently l'll stay here where l can do some good. Hut Richard, think of the social position and money. It was my social position that made me lead a dissipated life before, sir, and as to money, l was notified this morning that 1 was sole heir to my uncle, the late li. R. Madison. T'hat will provide me with better quarters and a corps of assist- ants. VVhat more do I need ? 1 can't understand-you'd rather do charity work in the slums than be th: head of a large hospital- Dr. Scott ejaculated. My time is employed to much better advantage here, sir. But what of Evelyn ? lt would have been a great mistake for us to have announced our engage- ment. Uur ideas and ideals are entirely different. .l don't think Evelyn ever cared for me. I noticed in the Town Talk that society is expecting the announce- ment of her engagement to Lord Radcliffe. He has been very attentive to her this season. lplut there is no formal en- gagement-she was waiting to talk to you again, Dr. Scott replied. Please tell her that I hope we shall always be good friends and l thank you very much for assisting me this afternoon, Dr. Scott. We'll probably meet more often now. If 1 can help you at a consultation at any time, let me know. I'll do that, Richard. l'll tell Evelyn what you said-your decision is wise- Evelyn would never live this kind of a life. Come and see us when you have time. Goodbye, Richard, and God bless you. Goodbye, Dr. Scott. Madison replied and when the door closed he felt that he had shut out his old life. Life was a peculiar thing he thought, how one strug- gled to attain something and then when that was attained one needs must have something else! The door from the bed-room improvised for Mrs. Allen opened and Nan entered. He smiled at her and asked gently, How's the patient ? Fine, she answered, She came out nicely and is resting well. How much l owe you, Dr. Madison! You've made Mother well. What would you say if I were to leave here ? he asked teasingly. She started, but answered bravely. T have often thought that a man of your talent needs a better place than this. When are you going? Page Twenty-frc'o

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The Aegis 1920 couldn't afford that, and she has been a cripple ever since. She just sits in her room and will see no one. Yer sad, Madison agreed svm atheticall f You sa ' she was hurt when 'ou Q Y , as . v W 5 I were sixteen-that wasn t over a year ago, was it? H.-Xlmost four years ago-I'm almost twenty-onef' she replied. That old l he exclaimed, XVhy, you seem like just a child l VVhere does this money go F she asked, changing the subject swiftly. 'fTo Mrs. Carr-, he was interrupted by the hurried entrance of a woman of the tenement next door. Doctor l she cried, My daughter is sick-will you come quick ? He followed her out and reappeared in a short time. f'It's the Radburn girl-Qbad case of appendicitis-she ought to be operated on -I wonder-H Nan came over to him. If you can, save her, won't you? She is all her mother has. Haven't you instruments PU He nodded. 'lYes, I have com ilete operatin a aratus in that back room. 1 , g pp Do you suppose you could act as nurse? I I'll do anything l she exclaimed passionately, Hit you'll save her. You'll not fail-I have all the confidence in the world in you. Please l All right, he assented, Sterilize the instruments the way I showed you. I'll rig up a stretcher to bring her down on. And Nan, pray that I won't fail. Two hours later Dr. Madison found Nan waiting in the office for him. You're a brick, Nan, you stood by in that operation like'a trained nurse. She smiled wearily. I'm glad I did all right. Is she getting along well P Fine, he answered. She came out from under the anesthetic feeling as well as could be expected. f'Didn't I tell you you wouldn't fail F she asked. e After this Dr. Madison performed several skillful operations and at the same time trained Nan to act as nurse. He had been there almost a year when one day after an exceedingly difficult operation, she said to him: . Are you going to make my mother well, ever FU He hesitated a moment. It's a very dangerous operation Nan, but I'll try it next XVednesday if you want me tof' Oh thank you. How can I ever repay you for what you've done for me! Nan said with tears in her eyes. V M dear Nan he Jrotested, You have done more for me. You have Y . ' . ,, helped me to regain confidence in myself: The next Wednesday he went to the Allens' rooms, where Nan met him. I've told mother and she's so glad-come in here. I want you to talk to her. He followed her into the inner room where a white-haired lady sat in an in- valid chair. And this is Nan's great doctor F she asked. 'Tm so glad you have taken my case. Anything, even Death, would be preferable- to having to live all my days in a wheel chair. Page Twenty-one

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The Aegis 1 920 Dr. Scott wanted me to take a position as head surgeon in his hospital-but I turned him downf' Turned him down I she exclaimed gladly and then added But what a won- derful opportunity-why didn't you take it F Because I thought these people needed me,'l he answered slowly, And be- cause I thought perhaps you'd need me a little too. I wonder if you think so--Nan dearf' V You know I always agree with you, she answered, smiling up at him shyly. The Tooth That Bit Back ALTA MAE HARRISON Second Prize, Short Story Club Contest Oh, josey, come here. .-Xin't she purty though. Rosey I'ostek's dark illum- inating eyes were glued fast to a large portrait of Mary Pickford on the sign board of the lloujoue. Oh, gee, ain't she though. lYhat's she in? Oh Daddy Longlegs. Gee, Rosey, l wish we could see that. Don't you just wonder what that show house looks like inside? Look here. She's drawn pictures for all those little kids. Do you suppose we'1l ever git to go in here, Rosey F l'd give most anything I had. Rosey's small voice was very pathetic. If Blom 'ud only let us keep some of our money. Josey, we just got to sometime. I know it Rosey. lint ginks-we'd better hustle on. Mom 'll give us the flickens. just ta think Rosey, we each got three dollars and passin' up a movie house, we ain't never been to, in our lives. Rosey and Josey Postek had been destined to pass this movie house many times with their pay envelopes clutched in their tiny hands. But they dared not touch a cent of it. It was for Mom. And Mom would be very angry, if a penny were gone. After a long walk of almost silence, except for the occasional burst- ing forth of unhappiness, they climbed the creaking stairway to their unfortunate home. Stealthily they turned the knob, and entered an almost uninhabitable room. josey quietly closed the door behind them, while Rosey walked into the kitchen, where a small woman with a much worn face was bending over a wash tub. Im- mediately she turned. Did you bring it, Josey? VVhere is Roseyys. Give it to me. Now you two see about gettin, supper and hustle upf, Tired out from a hard day at the factory the twins took off their torn coats and handed the pay envelopes to their mother, with their eyes full of tears. Rosey put on an apron, many sizes too large for her, and Josey busied herself setting the table. without a word the girls began preparing supper. After the meal the girls cleared away the dishes, and tidied up the bare room. ,Iosey, Rosey whispered, I,m just sick of making flowers, ain't you? I do so want to see that pretty girl at the movie show. V I 'age Twenty-Three