The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-09

hopefully the following day. But it was not that
which amazed the fashionable world who had
quite forgot the poor thing long agO-it was the
sudden and complete disappearance Of its chosen
sovereign, Barbara Roy
Without sign an adieu, single syllable to
mark her flight the queen Of grace and beauty
disappeared from her realm, and her bewlIdered
subjects mourned for her in vain.
Her name was not on any European passenger
list, nor was any one certain of her having com
mitted the madness of leaving town, in the very
height of the gay season.
DR.. Norton her cousin, was consulted as to her
health, and could make no report. He heard OF
her last at poor Lauras bedside, but that did not
appear well in on dit so he never told it.
Her elegant uptown mansion was still inhab-
tied, and her palmer equipages were often seen
on the drive, but always in use by invallds and
old persons-never occupied by their charming
owner. The ponies and Mab's chariot were dis
posed of at private sale, and the Grant family
had now the uRutterable delight of seeing their
East Indian niece, Miss Washington, now undis-
puted ruler of the tickle realm, recline in sleepy
splendor where so lately the brilliant Barbara
sat enthroned.
Meantime DR.. Norton gave his disappointed
heart all the more ardently to his profession,
and no one enjoyed more enviable reputation
either for skill or benevolence. Like most OF
his brethren who love their art, surgery had
grown to be passion with him, and his intense
sympathy with suffering humanity led him to
invent many soothing methods of dealing with
disease that rendered him a favorite and eX-
tolled benefactor of his patients Within week
of the close of the year since his introduction to
the reader he was elected professor to fill
vacant chair in one of the colleges, and con
sequently transferred his attention to a hospital
in connection with it. Attached thereto was a
casualty ward, and on the first day Of his SER
vice it was his painful duty to perform an opera
ton on a poor young factory girl by amputatlng
her left hand which week before had been
dreadfully crused by machinery.
Slax o1o ND Of Nha Of
what she was about to undergo, and according
to his custom Allan did his best to assure her of
the relief of anesthetics, but to all such sooth-
ing she was deaf.
then can bear it. she protested to the persuasive
nurse. 80, please let me have the lady L will
do anything for the lady," was her continuous
cry.
to pacify her, and inquired who this favorite lady
was.
The nurse, conceiving herself best fitted to re-
ply, Immediately made answer:
'Ohl she's one of our visitors, sir. Mrs. Rore
is her NAME | believe She's a well-meanin
lady, but sorter spiles the patients, you see sin
Then, turning to the poor, trembling girl, she
continued, in Gampish tone;
Eye can't expect folks to keep up forever
Kitty and Mrs Rore was here till daylight
awaiting on you, and now she's home a-gitting
her sleep"
''She promised she would be back-and- All!
there she Isl"
The girls tone changed to gush of gladness
her poor, fearful eyes overfowed, her pale lips
quivered, and she stretched out the hand that
was whole with a gesture Of tenderness and
greeting to lady who at that moment appeared
in the doorway
Allan Norton started as if he had beheld an
apparition. Barbara Roy's disappearance from
gay life was now accounted for. She had become
a volunteer hospital nurse.
Never before in all the exquisite garniture of a
i 4.
lovely in his eyes as now, when he saw her
dressed in simple gray and white, as became her
chosen vocation As for her beauty, it seemed
enhanced by the contrast, and her face had
gained the only charm it ever lacked before-the
pure deep tenderness of a soul awakened to the
consciousness of duty and human sympathy.
Kitty's expression of delight at her appearance
affected her very much. She did not seem to no
tice Dr. Norton, but concentrated her attention
entirely on his patient.
20, dear LADY," exclaimed the sufferer, ''this
good doctor is going to perform the operation.
He speaks very good and kind and says he will
give me something to smell that will take away
the pain, or make me kind of dead-like, so L
won't feel it, l know he's kind, and he talks so
soothing; but jes' only want you near me to
hold my hand and let me feel you'll stay by me
when l don't know nothing"
With a ready sweetness Barbara assented,
Her manner had that earnest cordial kindness
in it that went straight to a sufferers heart.
oh thank you, said Kitty, with sigh of
relief Il knowd you was the kindest lady as
ever was"
A flush of pleasure warmed the young lady's
rather pale face as she looked up, and for the
first time saw who the doctor was Their eyes
met. The flush dyed into deeper red on Barba-
ra's cheek, then suddenly disappeared and left
it very pale
Allan was even more overcome All he could
do was to murmur her name and bow profound
ly, and were it not for the poor girl over whom
they met after years estrangement their en-
barrassment would have proved painful.
81 fear this will prove too great an ordeal for
you" said he, in low tone, referring to the OPP
Grafton, and glancing i'll the direction of his
sistant physician, now arriving on the scene
do not waste q thought on me- she
sponded quickly. II am quite accustomed to
such things"
''What a wondrous change year must have
wrought in the butterfly" was his unspoken com
ment.
She seemed to read his thoughts, for she
added quietly:
ga great deal can be learned in a twelvemonth
where one is an earnest scholar
She had certainly proven the correctness of
her words To DIR. Nortons amazement her
skill in preparing the sufferer for the operation
as far surpassed that of the hired nurse as her
native intelligence did He had often been an
noyed by the silly and ineffective interference of
those regular Society Ladies BOuntiful, who per-
sst in treating sick people and those in extreme
poverty as though they were species of incapa-
BILE children, to be cajoled and slnothered by
meaningless words, and not human beings like
themselves open to reason and capable of dis
tngushing real help from affected small talk.
How different were Barbaras ministrations! 1t
was evident she had grown to love the work she
had begun as mental discipline, and to have
forgotten its painful features in the joy of serv-
ing and aiding those who suffered.
1t was well that DR.. Norton's skill in surgery
was so great that even his deep emotion could
not battle its success. The operation was com
pleted most satisfactorily, and when everything
that could remind the poor girl of what she had
passed through was removed, and she was
aroused again to consciousness and saw Barba-
ras gentle face bending hopefully over her. she
exclaimed:
80, dear lady, 1 knowd it would be just right
if you was by me, and now feel as if L need
only thank the Lord, and get well again"
"You are an admirable surgeons assistant"