Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-09-23

Had any experience in the bust
nesp ?"
"No!n
"Oh, then, the Ideals quite imprac-
ticable," said Mr.. Makemoney. "We
don't take apprentices here"
And he civilly bowed Miss Seyton
out of his little sanctum.
Sophie applied at a neighboring en-
porium for fine silk embroidery. She
worked week at a child's cashmere
cloak, and was paid-ffty cents!
But this is very little," said Sophie,
piteously, regarding the silver piece.
"Our usual rates." said the fore
woman, frigidly. eff you are not
suited with them, you need not come
again. We have plenty of hands"
Miss Seyton crept home in the frozen,
winter twilight, crying softly behind
her veil as she went. And, her eyes
being blurred with tears, she did not
see an evil-omened piece of orange peel
on the pavement, but slipped and fell,
breaking her ankle. and losing con-
sciousness, through the intensity of the
pain.
When she came to her senses she lay
in little white bed, No. 6l9, of great
airy, sweet-smelling hospital, with a
white-capped nurse bending over her
a woman whom she had known in
former days as gay young girl.
Why am / herep" she asked, in
vague wonder.
"You fell, my dear, and broke your
leg" said Nurse Eudora. st was not
convenient for your Aunt Moore to re-
ceive you, so they brought you here. I
recognized you at once, and requested
permission to nurse you."
"And why are you here?" persisted
Sophie, still only half-conscious.
For two reasons" said Nurse Eu-
dora, sprinkling scented water over tie
little white pillow. Zone is, that it
was necessary for me to earn my living
in some way; another was that | could
do some good to my suffering fellow
creatures here"
Sophie made no comment, but she
pondered over that matter; and when
she recovered she also assumed the
white cap and black serge dress, and
took the name of Nurse Sophie.
As a hospital nurse" she said to
herself, can at least be sure of good
home. small salary. and the privilege
of being OF some use in the world"
Sophie became one of the most popu-
lar and efficient of the whole corps of
nurses. Her head was cool, her nerves
strong, her self possession perfectly i'm
perturbable. The sight of blood never
dismayed her-the groans of pain only
excited her gentle sympathies, instead of
chilling her nerves; and it came to pass
that whenever Doctor Oxley, the head
surgeon, needed an especially self-reliant
and able nurse, the edict went forth,
(" Send for Nurse Sophie.
One day there was terrible accident
brought in. A team of fiery horses had
run away, the carriage was all splint-
cred in pieces, its occupant had been
flung out upon the pavement, until all
sem blance of life seemed to be crushed
out of him.
"Will he die, doctorp" Sophie asked,
with very pale face.
ITO all intents and purposes, my DEAR"
the physician answered, " he is a dead
man already"
81 knew him once" said the hospital
nurse. in low tone.
Every one knows him, / believe"
said Doctor Oxley. cit is the million
lire. Colonel Moody. But all the gold
chat ever was coined can't buy him
reprieve now"
AHO 1IOOIOI OAlCy OO51lCO lupO bl6
next ward, leaving the white capped
nurse to keep her solitary vigil at the
bedside of the man who was slowly,
slowly slipping out OF time into eternity
At midnight he lsed up as from
dream
"Am 1 dyingP" he asked.
The doctor answered:
Eyes"
How much time have l leftp"
Perhaps three hours-perhaps six"
was the answer.
Send for my lawyer" he said. '
tell you 1 cannot die until I have
made my peace with heaven!'
81 car call the chaplain in minute"
Doctor Oxley.
1 tell you want my lawyer" per-
sisted Colonel Moody.
The lawyer was reused out of his
slumbers, and came at once;
and there, in the hospital ward, Abra-
ham Moody made his will, leaving all
he had in the world to Sophie Seyton.
81 have defrauded her cruelty" he
said. 81 used her money co aggrandize
myself, and let her think it was 'ost in
mining speculations. / have cen an
unjust steward, but it is not yet too late
to make some sort of reparation."
"Seyton7 SeytonP" repeated the doc
tor, turning to the nurse. " Surely thst
must be some relation of yoursp"
81 am Sophie Seyton," she said, qui-
etly, laying aside her white-fapped
muslin cap that overshadowed her face
The dying man lifted his glazing eyes
to hers.
"Thank God for that! Say once, be-
fore l die. / forgive your"
And Sophie forgave him, freely
and fully; and when the day broke
dimly in the east, the chained spirit was
set free.
People could hardly credit their own
senses when they heard that Miss Sey-
ton was an heiress again.
Mrs. Medbury Moore was taken with
a violent access of affection for her
"dear niece" but Sophie had learned
the lesson of discernment.
81 have passed through an ordeal"
she says, =" and l hope it has left me
wiser and more merciful toward my
suffering fellow-creatures! But, at the
same time, it-has taught me to beware
of friends like Aunt Medbury Moore!n
Rather High.
Erax,ob 4I,o s.