Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1886-09-16

DC sum, anu II ulscu>SiOn fOllOwed which
was much relished by such of The in
valids round as could hear il.
did not hear any more of the dis.
cussion, nor which had the best of Ii in
the end. My attention became COM
pletely taken up with my patent. who
had sunk into Very low state now that
he was quietly in bed. | had done all I
could for him and was occupied in an
other part OF the ward. when | saw Sis
ter Janet bringing woman up TO his
bedside. i was sorry TO see he had such
belongings, for he seemed 10 be a re-
spectacle, decent young fellow. This
woman was the most disreputable-look-
ing object you can imagine. Her bat
tered bonnet kept slipping back off her
head, in spite of her aimlcss 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 eve on
things. He sat propped up with pillows
on account of the in 'ury 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 a 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
II oil, as sue she was that no good
would come of it, and now her words
had come true, for he had fallen down
the height of "A flight of stairs on TO the
stones. along of the ratings riv-
ing way, when she was a-gettin0
him up rs drunk rs any thing. and now
there he was, and she without far
thing, and would kindly lend her a
trifie; and she ended with n burst of
tears. OF course | 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 | proceed
ed to ITO. 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. suppose
he expected Thomson to improve the
occasion for teetotalism. but Thomson
with, thought. some delicacy. left the
incident to point lis 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. I
can 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 go
| went out. What Il 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 hermit me
within! 1t is his mother that was
come. That she has made harm. il is
possible, yes. But | would not make
him harm, me. | would regard only.
and is ii that madame thinks il would
make him harm? All, non, impossi-
ble,'
Are you his wife,"
The pale face flushed .'Ah, non: tn
morrow. madame, we marry ourselves. ~
Poor things! felt for them. But |
told her it was better for him to keen
quiet. and that she could come and sit
with him tomorrow, being visiting aft
ernoon.
But, madame, if he die, Ii is nee
essaire that | speak to him: ah, il is
necessairc.'
told her that he was not dangerous
ly hurt: that being Il strong. sober
young man, there was every chance of
a speedy recovery. and that as his law
was hurt he could not speak 10 her if
she went to him.
II VIII expect, madame, all the night.
II 1t IS necessa're; | will expect till he
sleep, if | may then regard him"
| could resist the pleading no longer.
and j suspected Sister Janet of sendino
me TO the task because she was unable to
do so. | went back TO her. No. II
would not do; she could not 90 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
Paciiied. ! offered TO give any message
She liked
''Ah, non, Madame, she said: ..you
are so good. / thank YOU from nv
heart. But madame understands the
words must come from me TO him. Tell
him that i come-that Is all -
The girl was very winning.
As the hours passed, Anderson. dis
tress' ng though his condition was. utter
ell no word of complaint. and once
when ] adjusted his pillows and rot a
spoonful Of milk between his lips with
great effort he managed TO say: IL feel
ever so much better And the NIGHT
nurse told me next morning that he had
been just as patient during his sleepIess
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, rs quiet as little mouse. She
did not appear TO say much, but ! sup
pose they had n language of their own.
she came every week. His mother also
came. but not - regularly The Girl
never yielded her placs 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 10 me cOwod bv NJ. and
never stayed long. wa 10 interested
in the two young people that ! used 10
watch them rs ! sat at my needlework
at the end Of the ward wondered
what was going ON below the surface
~ wa evident that the elder woman
and the younger were not friendly ia
each other The young man. I thought
between the two. might have "a difficult
position. He went on fairly we'll for
some time, and by degrees 0reyy abIe a.,