Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-08-05


Hilda, still only half conscious.
For two reasons" said Sister Eunice,
sprinkling scented water over the little
white pillow.
Zone is, that 1t was necessary for me
to earn my living In some way; another
was that could do some good to my suf-
fering fellOw-creatures here"
Hilda made no comment, but she pom
dered over that matter; and when she
recovered she also assumed the white
cap and black serge dress, and took the
name Of Sister Hilda.
AS q hospital nurse" she said to her.
self, IL can at least be sure Of good
home, small salary, and the privilege
OF being OF some use to the world"
Sister Hilda became one OF the most
popular and efficient of the whole corps
OF nurses. Her head was cool, her nerve
strong, her self-pOssessiOn perfectly i'm
perturbable. The sight of blood never
dlsmayed her-the grOans of pain only
excited her gentle sympathy instead of
chilling her nerves: and it came to pass
that whenever DIR. MarstOn, the head sur
gpOn, needed an especially self-reliant
and able nurse, the edict-"Send for Sis
ter Hilda"-went forth.
One day there was terrible accident
brought in. A pair of fiery horses had
run away, the carriage was all splinter
ed in pieces, its occupant had been flung
out upon the pavement until all sem
blance of life seemed to be crushed out
of him.
twill he die?" Sister Hilda asked,
with very pale face.
ITO all intents and purposes, my
DEAR" the physician answered, "he is a
dead man already"
IL knew him once" said the hospital
nurse, in low tone.
Everyone knows him, believe" said
Doctor MarstOn. 1T is the millionaire,
Mr.. Fullerton. But all the gold that ev-
er was coined can't buy him reprieye
now"
And Doctor MarstOn hustled into the
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 reused up, as from a
dream.
"Am dying?" he asked.
The doctor answered.
"Yes."
slow much time have left?"
Perhaps three hOurs-perhaps six"
was the answer.
"Send for my lawyer" he said. 81 am
in the full possession of my senses.
tell you | cannot die until | have made
my peace with heaven"
II can call the chaplain in a minute"
suggested Doctor Marston.
81 tell you Iwant my lawyer" persist
ed John Fullerton.
The lawyer was reused out of his mid
NIGHT clumhare and aama af Onaa. md
there, in the hospital ward, John Fuller
ton made his WILL leaving all he had in
the world to Hilda Reynolds.
81 have defrauded her cruelty" he
said. II used her money to a9grandise
myself, and let her think it was lost in
speculation. L have been an unjust
steward, but it is not yet too late to make.
some sort of reparatiOn."
Reynolds repeated the doctor, turn
ing to the nurse. Surely that must be
some relation of yours"
81 am Hilda Reynolds" she said, quiet
ly, laying aside the white-fapped muslin
cap that OvershadOwed her face.
The dying man lifted his glazing eyes
to hers.
"You my ward?" said he. THANK
God for that! Say once before die, 4
forgive yOu'w
And Hilda forgave him freely and full
ly; and when the day broke dimly in the
east, the chained spirit was set free.
People could hardly credit their senses
when they heard that Hilda was an heir
ess again.
Mrs. CarlyOn was taken with a violent
excess of affection for her dear NIECE"
but Hilda had learned the lesson of dis
cernment.
II have passed through an ordeal"
she says. "and hope it has left me wis
er and more merciful toward my suffer-
ing fellow creatures. But at the same
time it has taught me to beware of
friends like aunt Carly0n."