New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-04
A TRAINED NURSE.
BY NJ. L. POOL.
II.

black hair was laid out on the pillow Two thin
hands were outside the covering. The patient
was evidently under the influence Of an opiate.
After contemplating her charge Miss Yardley
sat down in the chair the mother had left. She
leaned back with a relaxed air, taking imme-
date advantage. as q nurse must learn to do, OF
any moment for rest.
A half hour passed Neither the nurse nor
the sick girl moved.
few minutes later carriage stopped in the
gard, and then DR.. Pratt entered. The doctor and
the nurse mutually regarded each other. He
came to the bedside and put his fingers on the
bony wrist.
Il did not think the opiate effect would con.
tinue so long," he said.
He went on TO give some details, knowing his
patient could not hear him. He noticed the sun
light. He might have ordered sunshine, but he
was old-fashioned in practice as well as in years
He thought a great deal Of drugs. When he had
left some fresh walls with directions, he looked al
the open window and the now fading light. lie
put his hands in his pockets and stood up very
straight. He was wondering whether he ought
10 mention that window to the nurse. He nnalV
concluded that he would not say anything ABOUT
it. But he continued his erect attitude as Il T"
show that he had the right TO have the ioo'-
Theoretically sealed if ne chose 10 do So IL
the patient would probably die, anyway. -
was very well aware that he did not hno"
was the matter with her. He had oan l7 - nos
yous exhaustion He was very grateful do Po
I'M. o,hor nb1sic;ans have been, for that term
Ua was prescribing now for brain leNeI, nc
,horcbt i nroboble that, if 'Rella lived Hons
..o,,oh bo sbonld finally "hit" her case lie
"a . rreot many drugs from which TO choose
Oro 30 the troubles with his practce was uha'
.,o+ion,s did not keep the breath OF LIE IN them
svf9cient time TO enable them to receive The
right drug. "a
HE Inns pushed out as he gazed at the nurse. She
had listened attentively and intellgently TO his
instructions.
II told them" he said, that it was difficult
case. and wanted fighter"
They call me fighter she answered.
sPerhaps then. we can pull through"
,Relia's mother met the doctor in the yard.
She could not make up her mind to lie down I'M
I'll he had called But she could not trust her
self TO speak She merely placed herself before
him. Her whole form wavered,. shaken by her
doubt and fear.
"Oh.p he said with bostcrous cheerfulness, IL
think we'll pull through now. The thing for you
TO do is TO GO 10 bed and to sleep"
Il can't" she said She put her hands tightly
together. Besides thinking bout 'Relia, l do
wish knew what was in the letters"
The doctor looked little blank.
Were the whole family going to have nervous
prostration'
What letters ?" he asked
sYou see. fore she got out Of her head, she
made me promise solemnly that no matter what
haSpened l wouldn't open single letter from
him
Him ?" repeated the doctor questioningly.
sDan Belden. you know" The man laughed
aPshaw!p he said. they are love letters. of
course. Why do you want TO see what's IN
them? %
Il expect they're love letters" was the answer
3 But tell you that amt all. / shouldn't have
such a feeling bout UNI. l tell you DOCTOR l
have terrible feeling about um.'
DR.. Pratt almost began TO think that here was
another call for the exhibition of morphine lie
did not know what TO say. AT last ne remarked
that when 'Relia's mother had had good nights
rest she would not worry on that subject AT
this ,Relias mother gave him look of great
scorn.
"She keeps UNI under her mattress" she said.
nc II this fact must necessarily change the doctors
judgment He smiled.
Mrs. Doggett came up close TO him.
do YOU think the nurse will read um?' she
1vbispered. How can one know what trained
nurse viii do?'
She won't be half as likely read them as if she
belonged in the neighborhood'
But when she makes the bed?'
@Psbaw!" said the doctor again. Then, to
divert her. he asked How is young Belden
getting on in Boston? 1 heard there was some
hitch in his business"
He's doing frstrate now. They Thought
they'd be married by Christmas.
%I,o became
ceased She coughed. Her strained gaze con-
tinued on the doctors face.
aTben YOU don't think she'll read UNI ?" she re-
peated.
NO. I know she won't" sharply. The
doctor got into his buggy The woman went
slowly back into the house. She mounted
the front stairs She went into the spare room
and took a small photograph from the shelf there.
II was picture Of 'Relia at fourteen; little prlm
thing. with hair patted smooth on her thin tenn
pies
The mother lay down on the high. spare bed
not remep bering that il was in a manner sacred
couch kent for company. In a moment She was
asleep. the bit Of card held tightly clasped IL
was thus her sister Lucy found her, and had
thoughts of waking her TO ask if she knew she
was living on the best cOunterpalne OF
the best bed. But the face was SO
worn and sunlen and looked so much IKE a ueau
face that Aunt Lucy forbore. The foroearance
cost her a pang for the Counterpart, however
In the south parlor. at twenty minutes 10 nile
in the evening. 'Relia opened her eyes.
II was almost dark there. for the lamp hao only
a small fame and was heavily shaded
Are they safe. Mar?" she asked She was
Obliged TO try twice before her dry mouth could
form the words.
Miss Yardley rose and took the girls hand.
She always did that first with new patient
She had feeling that this clasp established
sympathy between them.
1t isn't Mar said 'Relia. in long whine.
Il wish you'd look under the mattress and see
IL they're there
IT. -. Ala as ehe was hidden There's