Part 19 (1/2)
”One would be quite enough,” laughed Floyd, ”if only that were New York. Oh, come on, Polly! We'll have no end of a good time.”
She shook her head slowly, the red fluttering on her cheeks. ”I can't,” she told him; ”truly I can't!”
”All right,” he responded, and touched the subject no more; yet Polly was troubled at the seriousness of his face. Finding relatives was not complete joy after all.
The good-byes, which came soon, brought no further word from him in regard to her decision; but he urged an early visit, to which Polly and her parents agreed.
The taxicab that carried Floyd and his luggage to the station was barely out of sight when Polly spied a familiar little figure on the hospital walk.
”There's Moses Cohn!” she cried. ”I wonder what he is coming for.”
”Hullo, Polly!” was the friendly call, the freckled face under the shabby hat s.h.i.+ning with delight.
She waved him a welcome, dancing about in the cold of the morning until he came up. They went inside together, Moses eagerly unfolding his errand.
”I've been tellin' a kid 'bout Dr. Dudley and you,” he began. ”He's sick, awful sick, and his father wouldn't have no doctor, and Chris he keeps a-growin' worser 'n worser. So I said how Dr. Dudley could cure him quicker 'n lightnin', and I guess he'll bring him up--he 'most promised.”
”It might be better for me to see him first,” observed the physician.
”No, sir! he said 'xpressly for you not to come!”
”Then I can send the ambulance--”
”No, he don't want that neither! He's goin' to bring him right in his arms. Why, I could myself--easy! He's the littlest kid, an' han'some!
My, he's a beaut! Jus' wait till you see him! He ain't but nine years old. He goes to my school, or did before he was sick. His father's got the money--you bet! An' my! he thinks that kid's it! He is, too! I guess they'll be here pretty soon--he 'most promised.”
On the strength of Moses Cohn's story, Dr. Dudley ordered a bed to be prepared for the probable patient; but he did not arrive until evening and Polly had given up his coming. Then the father insisted on a private room for his little son, remaining himself to see that everything was provided for his comfort.
”Good-bye, Chris! Keep up a big bluff! Daddy'll be here in the morning sure!” That was what the attending nurse overheard of the parting. A minute after the door had shut, she discovered her little patient shedding silent tears for ”daddy”; but he brightened quickly at her cheering words, and soon dropped into a quiet sleep.
Polly was anxious to see the boy of whom Moses had told her, but the slow fever from which he was suffering kept him a stranger for many days. When, at last, she was allowed to pay him a visit, even Moses'
description of his friend had not prepared her for the beautiful wisp of a lad with the sky-blue eyes and the red-gold hair. Polly thought she had never seen so lovely a face. Her smile brought a shy response from the pillow, though talk did not at once flourish.
”Father says you are better,” Polly ventured.
Only a wee nod answered her.
”I've been wanting to come in before,” she persevered. ”Moses Cohn told me about you.”
A faint smile.
”Do you like it here at the hospital?” Polly questioned adroitly.
No smile now, only an added wistfulness. Then courtesy brought a soft response.
”I like it evenings, when daddy comes.”
”It's nice you have him to come to see you. I used to wish I had somebody. There was only Aunt Jane, and I guess she was too busy.”