Starrett School for Girls - Starette Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 38 text:

Hey, nurse, are you going to leave me? No.,' I'll go to sleep if youill hold my hand. Rather fresh, aren't you? Well, rather, but- All right. Promise to go to sleep? I promise. Doctor Right came in at seven the next morning' to inspect his patient. You may go nowf, said the doctor, putting a kindly hand on Sallyis shoulder. I'm going to attend him now. You go get some sleep. Was he in much pain? No, he seemed quite comfortable. That's good. Nice boy, Mr. Worther is. Has a wealthy family-young and reck- less-and full of the dickensf' Sally's heart jumped at that. Doc Right continued. He's been in more than one mess. Right now his family is in Europef, Sally walked out of the room and down the corridor. For some reason she felt exceed- ingly gay. Why? It was that WORTHER. He was a play-boy, and all but flew into her arms. Sally went into her room and lay down. Sleep came quickly, but sleep was disturbed by many dreams. The next morning we find Sally in Steve's room. When can I take these bandages off? inquired Steve. A month-three weeks-one never can tell. Gee, you're encouraging. What's your name? Sally to you and every living sufferer. Right now I'd feel fine if I could only get rid of this splitting headache. Gosh, I had some crack4up. I suppose the car was all smashed-too bad-I'll have to buy a new one, and Dad hasn't sent my allowance yet. Boy, it's a relief to know he's in Europe. . . . What are you staring at me for? Oh, just wondering, said Sally. Wondering where all the money comes from. Of course, it's none of my business . . . Sure, said Steve. You can make it your business. We have lots of dough-too much. How can you say that, Mr. Worther? . . . I hardly know what five dollars looks like. I have some money in the bank that was given to me before my father died. It's not going to be used unless necessary. Wait till I get well, Sal, and I'll show you a thousand dollar bill .... i' Two weeks had since passed. Steve was much better so Sally had been put on another case. She saw him only on Saturday and Sunday mornings, when she shifted with Mrs. Pearl. Hey, Sal, there seems to be a lor of trouble in 301. That patient insists that he'll die unless you come, said a nurse from the ward upstairs. Sally got a troubled look in her eyes. What's wrong, Bee? Is he ill? Naa--he's hollering because he w0n't let that Mrs. Pearl give him his medicine. Sally hurried upstairs to Steve's room. She saw Mrs. Pearl come out. Miss Roy, I don't seem to be able to attend him. I-Ie's the most obstinate creature. . . . Ah, I will leave him to you. Sally rushed into Steve's room. Mr. Worther, what on heaven's earth did you say to her???? Steve was grinning from ean to ear and answered, I merely told her, nurse, that I never took my medicine unless I held someone's hand. Steve . . . Imean Mr. Worther . . . shame on you. It's against the rules to become affectionate with the patient. You should never have said such a thing. Well, I got what I wanted anyway. It's you. Will you stay awhile? 'fl guess I'1l have to, replied Sally, sarcasrically. You act like a two-year-old. By the way, haven't I had any visitors? You certainly have, but no one has been allowed to see you. We had to turn them all away. I'Well, I'll be, said Steve. Since when dom this hospital have a right to rule my pa s? They have a right, said Sally, in the name of the law, to turn anyone away when u ze tl Thirty-four

Page 37 text:

SALLY Buzz-buzz. Doctor Right, there is a new patient in Room 301. He needs immediate attention. Yes, Doctor, I shall come at once. Miss Fulton, please take the wires. Bad case, Sally?,' I donit know. They have just brought him in. He was in a terrible accidentf, Sally Roy led night and day shifts. Her only real free time was for lunch. Hospital life got on her nerves. You just didn't live yourself. You gave your whole soul to help the suffering. The only thing that Sally enjoyed were her daily walks. Of course there was Doc Right. He was so kind and patient, and had taken her in when Mother and Dad had died. When she was older he gave her a job in his hospital. Now, look, she was one of the head nurses at twenty-one. Sally didn't dare tell the Doctor that she was very tired of her work, and would give anything to see some of the outside world. She rushed into 301 and found the doctor leaning over the still form. Miss Roy, I'm going to assign you to this case. A very bad one indeed. He needs lots of care. Give your time fully to this patient, and do not leave his side unless neces- sary. I will relieve you from your other duties. He has fractured his skull and broken both arms. Call me if his temperature rises. Here are the instructions. The doctor handed Sally a white slip of paper. If he lives tonight he will have a big chance. That's all. ' Sally had never before been assigned to a case in such a hurry, and with such prompt orders. The patient must be of great importance. She took a peek at him. Bandages hid his face, and he breathed slowly. Poor thing,', thought Sally, you've had a tough time of it, but I've seen worse. Some of 'em don't even breath. She sat down in a chair near his bed. Her mind started wandering about pent-houses and beautiful clothes. Living in New York as she did it was hard to keep from seeing some of the night-life. just enough to hunger her for more. Sally remembered when she went to a night club with one of the internes. He talked so much about operations and what not that she had to leave her steak dinner. What fun, living with nurses and going out with surgeons who used tonsils and appen- dixes for their chief table topics? How she would love to meet some play-boy who could give her a steak dinner without the tonsils. Her patient started moving. Sally quickly arose and went to his side, and layed a soft hand on the bandaged head. He started mumbling some peculiar sounds, stopped, and slowly opened his eyes. You are all right, whispered Sally. Where was I? answered a weak voice. You mean, where are you? In the Gerald Right Hospital, New York, New York. Anything else? Yea, what's wrong with me? I don't seem to be able to move this or that. This, said Sally pointing to his head, is fractured. 'That,' pointing to his arm, is broken. You were very lucky to come out as you did. Now, please don't say another word. Close your eyes and go to sleep. When you are in a great deal of pain tell me. The brown eyes obeyed instantly. Sally stood for a moment looking at him. The brown eyes obeyed immediately. You know, said Steve in a sort of a whisper, I don't feel so hot. Am I all here? Yes, quite, but you must go to sleep. I suppose you expect me to go to sleep with a thousand pains in my head, and a couple of irons on my arms? No, smiled Sally, but I do expect you to be quiet. Are you in any pain? Well, how many times do I have to tell you I feel terrible? Sally grinned. She liked him. He was really brave. She took a small spoon and poured some water into it. Here, take this. It will soothe you. She .put the medicine down Steve's throat. i I Hm, not bad, nurse. What is it? Scotch, or rye? I don't think this is any time to rehearse your wise-cracks, Mr. Worther. Good night- Thirty-lb ree

Page 39 text:

one is on the point of dying. Now please, Miss Roy, don't tell me I almost died . . . that certainly would bc all the more reason to let them seeime. Who was it? Two men and lots of girls, ' replied the nurse. Was one of the girls a blond? V . V - ' All of them, came the quietanswer, except one-she was platinum. Oh, laughed Steve, that was Bertha. Say, didn't they leave anything? Indeed they did, said Sally, ', a whole florist's shop. You may have the flowers as soon' as we find enough bottles to put them in. Sally. i . A A V Yes. Would you go out with me when I get well?,' And get my head fractured? NO, THANKS. I like you. You are so different. . . . How odd, mused Sally. Please go to sleep. The doctor gave me strict orders to- A Oh, who cares about the doctor? How much longer do I have to stay in this dump? . . , , If you are by any chance referring to this hospital, I should say another week. X A week passed quickly. Sally was in Steve's room. It was his last day. You've been mighty good to me, Sally. Thanks. Don't mention it, Steve. It's my business. Oh,,' said Steve, a little hurt. Sally didn't mean it. Why, oh why, did she say it!! In the afternoon, Jim came to take Worther home. Sally couldn't stand to see him go so she let Bee help him to the car. She took a fleeting glance at him through the nursery window. Well, there goes my only hope of happiness, she thought as she brushed a tear from her eye. Ever since his departure she tried to work harder to forget him, but all in vain. He stood out so vividly in her dreams. Sally just couldn't bear it. It had been two months since Steve had gone. Sally had received a call from one of her patients. - How do you do, Mrs. Freer. Feeling better? Yes, I guess so, nurse, but my side hurts so. Of course it would-just bear it, and think how lucky you are not to be as bad as some of them are in here. ' I know, smiled the white haired lady. Having an appendicitis operation is no fun. Indeed itis not, Mrs. Freer, and you were mighty brave. This pleased the old lady, and started her talking. Did you know I was recommended to this hospital? . You were? Yes, through my nephew. Perhaps you have heard of him . . . Steve Worther? Oh, gasped Sally, trying hard not to show her emotions. I don't know what has ever come over him. He's so quiet. Maybe it's because his Dad is home, and maybe it's because he's engaged to a rich girl. - Sally gave Mrs. Freer her medicine, and went out. Life was terrible to her. Why did she have to hear all of that? This was the end of things. She was not going to stay any longer. She had quite a lot of money saved up. It was going to be used now. She must tell Doc Right. With faltering steps Sally reached his oiiice. The doctor welcomed her gladly. Yes, Sally, what is it? Doctor, I want a vacation. Sally walked out of the oihce with a lighter heart. He had given it to her. She did not tell him that she might never come back. Now to forget Steve. He was engaged and probably married by now. She decided to vacation on one of the ritzy lakes in New York State. Sally stopped at the most exclusive hotel .... Bought new clothes .... Slept till twelve. . . Played tennis with high society .... Danced with play-boys till wee hours of the morn. . . . Took roadster rides with handsome Tilden. She was tired . . . no money. She had been there for three months. Her bank-roll was empty. Sally was sitting in Thirty-five