The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-09-18


was much relished by such of the in
valids round as could hear 1t.
did not hear any more of the dis
cussion, nor which had the best of II in |
the end. My attention became COM
pletcly taken up with my patient, who |
had sunk into very low state now that |
he was quietly in bed. had done all |
could for him and was occupied in an
other part of the ward, when saw Sis
ter Janet bringing woman up to his
bedside. / was sorry to see he had such
belongings, for he seemed to be re-
spectacle, decent young fellow. This
woman was the most disrcputable-look
ing object you can imagine. Her bat
tered bonnet kept slipping back off her
head, in spite of her aimless clutches,
and her ragged shawl was of dirtiness
unspeakable. Anderson, my patient,
was so i'll that when Sister Janet moved
away came forward to keep an eye on
things. He sat propped up with pillows
on account of the injury to his Jaw, and
he could not reply to his mothers re-
marks, except by feeble signs. But this
did not seem to matter much. She was
very voluble, and addressed herself to
me and to Hicks in the neighboring bed.
She said all in breath what pity it
| was when fine young man like her
son. and the only support of his wild
| owed mother, took to drink, and how
she'd begged and prayed of him to leave
| it of, as sure she was that no good
would come of it, and now her words
had come true, for he had fallen down
stones, along OF the ratings CIV
| svr ohn
him up as drunk as any thing, and now
thing, and would kindly lend her
tears. Of course 1 could see what Sis
ter Janet being rather inexperienced,
and charity itself. had not noticed
that the woman was herself under the
influence of drink and must be got away
as quickly as possible. which l proceed
ed to do. Of course the scene was wit
messed by all the patients near at hand.
l fancied Hicks looked somewhat
abashed, though he was reading his
paper with great diligence. 1 suppose
he expected Thomson to improve the
occasion for teetotalism, but Thomson
with. I thought, some delicacy, left the
incident to point its own moral.
1t must have been an hour after the
departure of the mother when Sister
Janet beckoned me across the ward.
''Here is another person asking for
No. g." she said. "They should not
have given another pass tonight. l
can't let her in. She came just after
the other woman was gone, and she has
been standing outside for above an
hour. Try and see if you can persuade
her to CO."
I went out. What contrast from
No. 9's last visitor! A small, slim girl,
pale as death, but quite collected. She
clasped her hands.
"Ah, if madame would permit me
within! 1t is his mother that was
come. That she has made harm. it is
possible, yes. But l would not make
him harm, me. l would regard only.
and is it that madame thinks it would
make him harm? All, non, impossi-
bler'
care you his wifep"
The pale face flushed. "Ah. non; to-
morrow, madame, we marry ourselves. :"
Poor things felt for them. But l
told her it was better for him to keep
quiet. and that she could come and sit
with him tomorrow, being visiting aft
ernoon.
"But, madame, if he die! 1t is nee
essaire that l speak to him; ah, it is
necessaire!'
told her that he was not dangerous
ly hurt; that being strong, sober
young man, there was every chance of
speedy recovery, and that US his jaw
was hurt he could not speak to her if
she went to him.
II will expect, madame, all the night,
if it is necessaire; will expect till he
sleep, if may then regard him."
could resist the pleading no longer,
and suspected Sister Janet of sending
me to the task because she was unable to
do so. l went back to her. No, it
would not do; she could not go back
from her word. However, she finally
gave way SO far as to consent to the
girls coming inside and looking at An
derson from where he could not see
her. Then she went away somewhat
pacified. offered to give any message
she liked.
"Ah, non, Madame" she said; .you
are SO good. thank you from my
heart. But madame understands the
words must come from me to him. Tell
him that come-that Is all"
The girl was very winning.
AS the hours passed, Anderson, dis
tressing though his condition was, utter
ed no word of complaint, and once
when l adjusted his pillows and got a
spoonful of milk between his lips with
great effort he managed to say: II feel
ever so much better.' And the night
nurse told me next morning that he had
been just as patient during his sleepless
night. The little French girl came
that afternoon at the earliest moment
of visitors time and stayed till the lat
est. She sat by the bedside and held his
hand, as quiet rs q little mouse. She
did not appear to say much, but sup.
pose they had language of their own.
She came every week. His mother also
came, but not SO regularly. The girl
never yielded her place to the elder
woman. but sat still by the bedside,
looking at her all the time with an ex-
traordinarily fierce expression. The
] woman seemed to me cowed by 1t, and
, never stayed long. was so interested
in the two young people that | used to
watch them rs sat at my needlework
at the end of the ward / wondered
what was going on below the surface.
1t was evident that the elder woman
and the younger were not friendly tc
, each other. The young man, I thought,
between the two, might have difficult
position. He went on fairly we'll for
L a a