The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-03
RACHEL'S CHOICE,


"The danger is past SO far as the diseas
goes," said the doctor. Everything mo-
depends on good nursing"
Let that be secured at any cost" reptile
Judge Wyman.
"But there's the rub. Money is no II
ducement to the only person whom
know that Is competent TO be intruste
with case like this Of your daughter"
The doctor paced the floor restlessly
while the Judge watched him with an ar
xiouE, helpless air. What could be don
for the motherless girl away at boarding
EChool, just recovering from dangerou
illness, and with weeks OF slow canyalel
Csnce before her? A return to the distan
city home, whence her father had beef
summoned 10 watch the struggle between
life and death, would be fatal in her pres
ent condition. The gloomy grandeur O
the rooms during the hours when her IA
ther was absent at his Office, and with he
twin brother away ct college, had beer
mere than Alice Wyman could bear dur
ing health, and how much worse in illness
separated from the cheerful influences O
boarding school li!e. To remain where sh
was, however, without special attendant
was equally out OF the question.
women are such Stubborn fools !" ex
claimed the doctor, impatiently, as he con
tinued 10 stride about the room. 'Thi
Rachel Raynor, trained hospital nurse, i
precisely the person to take charge O
Alice. But she has notion that her mis-
sion is only among The poor I can't per
susde her to enter home OF wealth
though she's at the beck and cali Of ever,
miserable family in my diocese"
"l'm sufficiently poor in some things t
command her sympathy, remarked th,
Judge, sadly.
"0f course you are" grAwled the doctor
That's where she shows her lack OF sense
Your daughter is as helpless, in a certain
way, as the veriest little vail that, ever
now, Rachel Raynor may be nursing tc
life in some back alley. Coniound tines,
women!"
"Get the next best person, them" urged
the Judge. II you don't succeed in day
or two, telegraph me and I'll call at The
Bellevue Training School and secure 6
nurse there. l must return TO New YOrk
tonight"
Judge Wyman never knew what argu
ments the doctor used, but he was greatly
relieved the next afternoon 10 receive the
following telegram from him: "Alice in
charge Of Miss R4ynor. Pulse stronger
Condition better"
The young woman who 40 excited the
Doctors ire belonged to ~ class OF persons
most dIflicult to characterize. She pos
sessed much OF what is commonly called
presence, and gave an impression OF having
an unlimited store Of both physical and
spiritual force. And yet her bearing was
sweet and womanly TO remarkable de-
gree. Alice Wyman, shy, delicate and in.
dependent, chung tenaciOusly to this stronl
nature, that met her on the threshold o.
returning Els. Not emily did she seem Il
absorb vitality from Miss kaynor's pres
ence, but her heart stretched out tendrill
toward the mother element, underlying
other elements in her attendants char
aCter.
II must have been because she saw how
much the girl needed her, that Rachel left
her humble protege in the city, for a two
months's residence in the New England
village where the seminary was located
At the end Of that time u trip to New
York was pronounced safe for the invalid
though the doctor considered 1t best fol
the nurse to 60, too. Unpleasant results
however, followed the journey, and, much
sgaihst her will, Miss Raynor found her
self an inmate OF Judge Wyman's house
1t seemed cruel 10 desert Alice, and We
she was oppressed by the elegance Of The
house. She began to realize in this new
atmosphere how limited her educa
ton Lad been, how ignorant she was O
MT and literature, except as con
nected with her profession. Music
and reading and painting had been crowd
ed out, by her buoy ministry among tn.
sick and degraded; and yet, in her limos
soul, Rachel Raynor knew that she wa
capable Of erioyiDg all the sweet amenitie,
and Ttfnements OF home like this Al
week after week glided by, the temptation
TO linger among these delightful surround
ings was strengthened by Alice's clingin,
love and by Judge Wyman's deierpntis
treatment. The quiet evenings together IL
the library, the drives in the park on sunny
afternoons, the delightful intercourse q
the table, began to soften her first feeling
Of discomfort and to satisfy cravings within
her, OF whose existence she had not ever
dreamed.
That evening she quietly but firmly an.
nounced her plan to leave for the city OF
the following day. In vain Alice weep
and pleaded, while her brother expressed
polite surprise and her father the deepes,
regret. Seeing that the decision was If
revocaple, Judge Wyman asked her Il
stop at the library before returning and re
ceive the check due for her wages. Will
q strange depression Rachel entered tn
room. She listened quietly to all the ar
guments that were offered Tor her TO remain
without being shaken in her purpose. A
length, the Judge rose from his chair ant
crossing the loom to where she sat said
with lnok Of unmistAkable tenderness
into RSchel's brave, patient face:
"Ii you can not stay for my daughter
sake, Miss Rsynor, will you not for m,
lown?"
The room seemed 10 swim as she made
motion to rise, saying family with gestur
OF remonstrAnce
20, don't please"
"But Rachel-Mips Raynor-I can no
llet you 90 out from US, from me, in thi
fashion, l did not know how much love
lyOu I'LL yuu AuuouuCeu lIllh buuueu ulRUL
Again she made deprecatory move
ment, but this time her hands were closel
Imprisoned between those OF the Judge .
he continued his plea. For few brit
moments she suffered her head to rest upo
Ibis shoulder and gave herself up to th
perilous sweetness Of being folded close I
heart with whose wealth OF love Oh
could now enrich her poor life, II sh
chose. A vision Of all 1.-THE best that
woman comes TO know" passed in revie'
before her. But beneath the whisper Of III
fathers words Of love abe heard the con
sneer OF the morning:
.She don't know The difference betwee
Turner aud o Claude"
She thought Of this elegant young coll,
gian, proud Of his learning and position, {
being humbled in recognizing q plain, Or
cultured woman like herself as bis father
wife. Another vision came up, Of her ow
aged father, in the far of New Englau