Polly of the Hospital Staff

g from A

to Dr. Dudley's office. Usually she sped gladly to obe

se?" was her instant inquiry,

worse?" he

Mrs. J

nothing from h

her visit and

it any more, little girl! Your stories are not the kin

eplied. "I did n't tell you

ead. "Suppose you tell it

m of his chair, Polly related the s

stopped speaking. He was sil

ttle boy, when he was eight years old. It is not

de her feel bad

't be if I

ounding Polly's lips, as

t of her life, seldom leaving her home, and rarely entertaining a guest. From what she has said to me I judge that she has allowed

alone when she is h

ith her

n't poor! I tho

ney than probably you or I will ever handle, little g

" returned Polly, a sweet seriousness on her usually merry face

I nearly forgot what I called you down for! Colonel Gresham hailed me out here, and asked if you

it lovely of him to ask me? Had I b

ld be here at three o'clock. You can come down a little before

looked, as she ran down the stone walk to the street, in her dainty new white dress with simple ruffles edging neck and sleeves. In the delight of the moment Polly di

rk lay through the heart of the city; but Polly was con

se to call from the sidewalk, and presently was

ength, turning to Polly. "I'll be back shortly." And, h

ized with a desire to hide. Breathlessly she watched the woman in the black dress, hoping for escape from those ferret eyes; but the

d, and Polly smiled a som

you come here?" twange

o ride," was the explanation, "

! Well, you are coming up in the world

usy," answere

u before this. Guess you've stayed at that hospital 'bout long enough. You m

ing to stay all sum

cannin' and picklin' and what-not to do, I could keep

y bought

, 't ain't hurt wit

made a rather hurried departure, while she assu

man?" inquired

e," was the

her othe

was her husband-was killed when

, is Aunt Jane good to you?

second. "I'm afraid I don't love her at all," she re

the Colonel. "I think I should rather do a season'

on she had left behind. "I guess she's pretty

Colonel exclaimed.

dded soberly. "Bessie Jackson's aun

e the best thing in such a case-though p

n't!" Polly

ybody ever lays a finger on you, just you come to my house, a

l Gresham began talking about the park,

o the Colonel's merry speeches, until she scarcely comprehended what he was saying. Little by little, howe

slopes and ferny tangles, were left practically unchanged. Polly loved birds and flowers and all the scents and sounds of summer fields and woods, and n

r in furtive silence. Fina

ke sick people well to come

them,"

all about it. Perhaps it would

lyn is that?" a

's at the hospital- she's small, and has w

, probably; but I did n'

e's getting well now. I've been to see h

iated it," observe

lied; "she did n't say. D

nswer, as he turned his horse into the road t

cried Polly delightedly. "Dr. Dudley could n

ish horse. I like to come up he

lear up," Polly declared. And resolu

unced Colon

her breath. Then she let it o

sunshine, while beyond, to the north and east and so

said the Colonel, at last.

oks like a cast

s uppermost-Aunt Jan

the "castle" in the directi

udden shadow on the bright

Colonel brought out a package and laid it on Polly's lap

er it," she added. "It has been beautiful-right straight through!-Except Aunt

sagreeable things slip off our shoulders at once. If w

y," smiled Polly; "but A

aughed the Colonel

gs to lift them with, the children had never seen. They chose one apiece all round, which Miss Lucy said was enough for that day, and Polly car

decided to take the Colonel's advice-if she could, and she recollected wit

wards Dr. Dudley

at this time," she assured h

o see you right away,

red Polly. "Do yo

ng," he smiled; "but

u guess it is?"

have you discover that I was n't a good guesse

ged. Her cheeks reflected the delicate pink of the robe she was

r reading me that story of the little price. It brought back my own little Lloyd, who was always planting those seeds of love wherever he went. But since he left me I have bee

say; she only looked her

ttle lady went on. "Is he wel

y to go. Elsie was to leave to-day to to-morrow; but she needs a littl

oming down to the convalescent ward-let me see, I thin

. "There are three ahead of him,

of a talk with Dr. Dudley, and he tells me that there is plenty of room in your ward fo

oint. "Why! I don't-" she began, but was

"Read that, and see if it will tell you anything!" She took

ame of a back. The rest was partly printed

of Polly May Thre

P. Jo

oy; "does this mean that you're going to give me

u please." The little lady was scarcely less excited than

Polly threw her arms around the happy donor in a way that would have made h

ipped for use," said Mrs. Jocelyn,-"that is, if you wish to

cried Polly. "What el

o we'll have David downstairs just a

Elsie-they've been dreadfully afraid they'd have to go home befo

e must come down with you as soon as his is strong enough-un

resently was racing upstairs to

he had her choice in everything, with the Doctor and the merchant as advisers; and although the bill footed up to a little more th

hobble on crutches, for there were many little things to do, and only a short time to do them in. Polly was Miss Lucy's ready right hand, with always a flock of eager assistants. When the beds were actually in place and the me

d begun to be troubled, lest, after all, something might have delayed him until another day. But there he was, smiling to her, and waving a thin li

it, please! It was suc

weary-though he insisted that he was not tired. But in her motherly way, that was the delight of the ward, she bade him shut his eyes