The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-05-02

noble example OF flOlcncS NlSnJlngale
she went to one of the hospital training
schools 20 fit herself TO follow her sol
der, if necessary, and nurse some poor
victim of the war back to life, or to
soothe his dying moments If he was
beyond help.
But other work was in store for her.
A letter from home brought news of an
epidemic of the most fatal type of ty-
phoid fever in her own village. The
inhabitants were so alarmed that they
were leaving the place, and nurses could
not be obtained, so great was the fear of
the contagion. The concluding item
was this:
Squire Atherton is down with it,
and of all the indoor servants at the
manor, old Hannah, who took care of
the mistress in her last sickness, is the
only one left. She declares if she leaves
the master in his sore need, it'll only be
'feet first.
Without a moments hesitation, Hill
da went to the matron, telling her she
was needed at home, and procured her
discharge. Then, laden with her pre-
cious, newly gained knowledge, she
took the first homeward-bound train.
Old Hannah was seated at the mas
ter's beside, looking worn and weary.
As Hilda came softly in, dressed in her
clinging gray flannel dress, with her
glossy hair hidden by close-fitting
muslin cap, she looked to the surprised
old woman like an apparition. Hilda
smiled and held out her hand as she
whispered:
Don't you know me-Hilda, of
Deepdale farm? / am here to help you.
know what to do, so don't be afraid to
trust me. III watch the master faith
fully if you'll go and take rest"
Something in the girls quiet, resolute
manner impressed the faithful old serv-
ant that she was making no idle boast,
or she would not have yi3lded up her
post. As it was, weary human nature
asserted its claims, and she went gladly.
She soon came back with a bowl of
warm soup. 1t tasted gratefully to the
young nurse, as she had not broken her
fast since the reception of the letter.
After this, HIlda was left alone, with
the sick man. The night wore YEARLY
away, the silence only broke by the
restless means of the sufferer, when
Hilda would straighten his pillow, and
pass her cool hand with magnetic
touch over his forehead, thus giving
him a momentary relief.
After old Hannah was thoroughly
rested, she and Hilda divided the time
in the sick room, and by that means
kept their strength from giving out.
1t was weary fight with death, but
a strong constitution, aided by careful
carried the Squire through.
The Gelirium passed away, and deep
sleep came upon him. 1t was the crisis.
elf he awakens rational and comfort
able, he is saved" said the doctor. ''If,
on the contrary, he falls into a state of
coma, nothing can help him."
Hours passed on. Every tick of the
repeater on the mantle
seemed to find an echo in the hearts of
the anxious watchers. At last the crit
zeal moment came. The Squire awoke
free from fever, though weak as a child.
He was saved.
At first Hilda kept as much aspossible
out of his sight, shrinking into the
shadow of the heavy damask curtains
when he was awake. But he did not
seem to notice her, and she gradually
forgot her caution.
During his long and tedious GONZALES
cence he was often querulous and in
tractable. Then Hilda would take a
book and read to him in her low must
cal voice, and thus soothe him to sleep.
She was only waiting until her pres
ence was not absolutely needed to 60
back to her self-imposed duty at the
hospital. One morning she had been
reading the Times, until the Squire was,
as she thought, asleep. Then the paper
dropped listlessly in her lap. Her
thoughts, unmindful of time and space,
were with him she loved so faithfully
and self-sacrifcingly.
A trembling voice suddenly reused her
from her reverie:
Hannah tells me you are going
away. Is it necessary? Can any other
sick person need you as much as | do?''
Hilda looked at the old man in sur
prise. A cadence, born of loneliness
and sorrow, in his voice, touched her
and as she recalled the
hale, hearty Squire, who often rode by
the farm in the pleasant old days, calling
out a cheerful good-morning TO her
uncle in his stentorian tone, tears came
to her ewes to see what a wreck of his
former self he had become.
After brief hesitation she said softly:
"If you need me L will not go away
for the present.
81 do need you very much" was the
reply. $50 that matter is settled.
Now, nurse, want to ask you ques-
ton. Have l ever seen you before?
Somehow your face seems familiar, but
can not place it." ......
Hilda felt the blood dying her face,
even TO the border of her cap. She
turned away, ostensibly to adjust the
folds of a curtain, in reality to avoid a
reply.
Just then Hannah came in with the
mail. Important news from the army
was expected, there having been rumors
Of an engagement. tai
"Get the paper, nurse, and run over
the war items.'
Hannah caught the words and passed
on her way out. In her way she was
as much interested as the Squire. Was
it not her nursing who was far away
on the battlefield striving TO win his
spurs?
Hilda took the paper and ran her
eyes over the columns. One pitiful
moan escaped her lips; the nest mo-
ment she lay apparently lifeless on the
floor. The heavy fall loosened her cap,
and her hair rolled in all its rich luxu-
rance around her-a kindly mantle that
hid her deathly face from even old Han
nah's plying eyes. 4
A dash of cold water soon revived
her, and as soon as the fright occasion
ed by her sudden illness had subsidized,
the Squire took the paper, and saw fac
ing him in staring letters:
ABLooDY ENGAGEMENT.
Trx-,-s