Page:Frank Owen - The Actress.djvu/24

12 Meanwhile Olga Fullerton sat by Coningsby's bedside.

"You simply must get well!" she exclaimed.

"Yes," was the quick reply, "I must get well. Before it didn't reâlly matter, but things are different now."

As Coningsby spoke, Olga thought of the words which Jerold Wharton had used that night upon the balcony.

"He always fought and worked like a man, but he never received a man's reward."

Impulsively she stooped and kissed his lips.

"With medicine like that every day," he declared, "I could get well in a week."

A few days later, as Olga Fullerton was about to enter Coningsby's room, she met the Doctor coming out. Doctor Richmond took her by the arm and patted her gently on the shoulder. His stern old face was wreathed in smiles as he announced:

"Girl, I have good news. Coningsby seems much improved. I think Jerold Wharton was right after all. He is going to get well. But why I do not know, I do not know."

Olga Fullerton's face had grown very white. As the doctor was about to comment upon it, she hastened to say:

"The shock of your words is so great that it has indeed quite taken my breath away."

"I appreciate your feelings," agreed the old doctor quickly, "the shock must indeed be great."

But how great it was, Doctor Richmond did not know.