Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-03-07
NURSE EVA.
BY "THE DUCHESS "

dom feels IN this smoky London {
ours; and over all brilliant SUI
! grown drowsy now, as it seeks its res
and sinks dangerously into the fon
arms of evening.
The stream of carriages is CROWN
thinner; the princess has disappeared
One young man, riding handsom
chestnut in a somewhat careless fasf
ion, as though his thoughts were else
where, quits the Row, and turns tC
ward the ugliest thing in creation
Having reached the Albert Memoria
he passes through the gate little fur
ther on, and finds himself present.
in the midst OF a hopeless jangle, com
posed of cabs, hansoms, drags and s
forth.
Something in the Rngle disagree
with the chestnut's temper. She starts
throws up her sleek head into the YER
midst of her masters day-dreams
makes a false step, and comes heavil,
to the ground, fiinging her rider witt
a horrible crash, right under th'
wheels of a passing carriage.
1t is all done in moment. Their,
is cry from the bystanders, yair
attempt to make a clear space, ant
then senseless form, soiled and dis
figured with dust and blood, is rlisec
by half dozen rough, if kindly hands
and conveyed to the nearest hospital
They pull the bell, and the door beins
opened, they enter with their ghastlN
burden, and lay it down within the
hall; it is all that remains of the care
less, gay young man. so full OF happy
lite, who had left the Park only a shor
time ago.
The house-surgeon, passing through
the hall at this moment, casts sharp
glance at the unsightly object on The
bench.
"What is this ?" asks he; and com
ing nearer bends over it. His face
changes. aGood heavensl 1t is Sil
Rawdon Dare" he exclaims, in hor-
rified tone. "Send the matron here al
once-See what has happened" he
says presently, as tall handsome
woman comes hurriedly up to him
His tone, though low, is agitated.
"An accident?' p says she, STOPPING
in turn, over the PROSTATE baronet.
HAnd very serious one. 1t is Sin
Rawdon Dare. Is there a special
ward p
zone empty"
There is a touch of curiosity in her
glance as she examines the death-like
features beneath her.
"Let mm be taken there. 1t is i'm
possible he can be conveyed ito his own
house in his present state"
at is a chance whether he will
ever be conveyed there-alive," says
the matron, turning away to give her
orders.
There is another thing" says the
surgeon, detaining her. "He must have
a careful nurse. You can recommend
one from the wards ?"
Certainly" says the matron, paus-
ing as if to consider. There is good
deal of kindly interest in her COM
passionate, if somewhat austere, face,
as she gazes at the poor crushed figure;
Just as kindly, however. would she
have looked at him had he been the
veriest beggar that crawls our streets.
"There is Nurse Eva she says hastily;
@she can undertake the case. She is
both careful and sympathetic"
And now the wounded man, merci-
fully oblivlous to his pain, is carried
by experienced tender hands to a
small private ward, and laid upon a
bed. The doctors cluster round him.
A young woman in hospital cap and
apron comes quietly into the room,
and stands beside the bed. She glances
earnestly at her patient.
Surely that poor blood-bestained
creature can have no life i'll him.
There is long pause; then one of the
doctors, who has been stopping over the
figure, lifts his head.
"He is not dead-yet," he says.
There is little or no hope in his tone.
After long sleep, as it seemed to
him, the sick man woke. He lay 81
lently gazing at the four white walls
Of the small room in which that
sleep had taken place, but
wondering why he was there.
as yet, was too great task;
and so he put it from him. The win
dow was open, and beyond, in the out
side distance, there was waving of
green branches, and from still further
on there came to him the subdued
roar of unsubdued populace. Inside
there was some very curious furniture
or, at least, so he thought it, as his
Ianguid glance travelled over it-a huge
branch of crimson roses on a small
table, wicker chair, and girl.
The girls head was turned from
him toward the window. Her body
also slightly bent in its direction. It
occurred to HIM that she must be lost
N thought. The idle way in which
ler hands lay upon her lap helped
him, too, to this conclusion.
AS he watched her, a little sooty
sparrow perched upon the window-sill
md looked at her knowingly out OF
lis small eye. She rose, found some
in funny little cup
BOARD, and returned with them to the
OF course when she got
here the bird was gone. She seemed
n nowise disconnected by this, but sat
iown and fell back again into her
ormer thoughtful attitude, and then
presently not one but three little spar
'ows came and carried away some of
Ter donation. She had not glanced at
he bed when getting her crumbs, be
ieving her patient to be DOING; but
he, watching her with newly opened
yes, had seen her face.
1t was a revelation 1t was beauty
Ierfected
He lay quite still after he had seen
{, dwelling with drowsy pleasure on
he remembrance OF it until some
minutes had gone by, and then grow
ng desire to see it again took posses
ion of him. He felt still SO weak and
ired that he shrunk from giving his
-oice sound, so to attract her attention,
le clutched feebly at the bedclothes,
md then made sorry effort to tap
lpon the quilt.
In moment she was alert and ca
ser. She came quickly to him and
,ent over him.
"Why, this is good news" she said
n low, exquisitely soft voice, and
With smile. "You are beginning to
We yourself again, are you not? No,
10 not answer. / know what you
would say; I understand you quite"