The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-19

moved about in obedience TO orders. Now
that his first Tepucnance had been overcome,
he treated her as he would have treated any
faithful serving woman. She obeyed him un-
questioningly, and as she was good cook, and
possessed unfailing good nature, she was good
nurse.
The men were certainly hard cases. They
had to be managed, and En- had her own meth
DDS. She would swear at them, threateningly or
encouragingly, as the case seemed 10 suggest,
but never with ill-temper. When circum-
stances allowed she would drop asleep in some
corner TO be awakened by the first call or moan
from her patients.
There were at one time five cases in that
little room, and their recovery was due largely
TO Ems faithful service. We lost three cases
in the other cabin.
Jamesons sense of justice led him to say
something kind to her one day.
You're q good nurse, Emily; you must
have had experience"
Eyes; I've nursed q good many times, on
and off"
Smallpox thought you said you'd never
had that"
mo, not smallpox; but what's the sense o.
bein' scaredf FL Ill can't be much worse than
bein' beat black and blue by drunken fool"
The scorchin might be trifle more worry
in" suggested one of the sick men, in teas
ing way; they were all convalcseent now. An
expression of fear flashed across Ems face,
usually so stolid. a young fellow on one of
the cots saw It, and with some unnecessarily
emphatic adjectives said:
"0h, damn it, EN-, you wont 60 there
There amt devil in all Tophet mean enough
10 toast you If you d."
"He might be drunk, you know" En- an
swered; and then there's no saying what he
would or wouldn't do"
Naturally, En- did not escape the contagion
found her one morning, when called to see
the last of the convaescents, lying on one of
the cots.
SITS come Doctor" she said. GOOD thing
the boys are out of the way. Are there any
new ones?"
"No; let me see your tongue" Her case
was serious, and from the beginning there was
but little hope of her recovery. When ! told
Gerald about her, his face was a curious study.
He was generally very guarded in his forms of
expression, but / thought he spoke strongly
when he said that If the Almighty had ever
created any greater conundrum than a woman,
he hoped that it might be kept out of his range.
"You wouldn't find women SO mysterious,
Gerald, if you would make up your mind to
study them at a shorter range" i said. / had
often counseled him to marry.
Wouldn't ]? You weren't with us down
in Maine when had the smallpox"
"No, that was after had come West"
lyon remember Amy D-?"
ayes"
ave were TO have been married-well. no
matter about particulars. What can We do for
Em2"
mot much I'm afraid" She was rather
more patient and obedcnt than the men had
been. At times she was delirious but there
were intervals when she was not SO and when
she wanted TO talk. From the little kitchen
one day ] heard jameson say, Emily, how
did such good sort Of woman as you are
| come to be living AS you do here2" ! had a
| pitcher of hot water in my hands; / stood
still until it burned my fingers to hear the
| answer.
al never knowed any other way to live. Ye
| don't think Pm wickeder'n the men round
! here are, do YEP"
The answer was prompt and positive. "No,
| ] don't" Was this my Puritan friend9
As EN- sank under the effects of the disease,
| and ii became plain that she must die the
Mexican woman who was helping TO take care
| of her thought the priest should be called but
! En- did not want him. She had not, it seemed,
any church traditions and thought her with
out any germ Of religious feeling but one day
she surprised me by asking suddenly Jameson
! had just gone OUT:
lis God better'n himf"
"Why, Emily?"
eff lie is mcbbe He'll give me another
| chance" 1t seemed as If the thought had in
some irregular fashion, been turning itself
about in her mind for some time; for after q
time she added: "Mebbe He'll be good"
Yes" i said; He'll be good"
"You know that day met We in the road ?"
She was looking toward the door, and still
thinking Of Jameson. A curious attempt to
smile was apparent on her dsfgured face "He
thought that day that was worse than the
smallpox. ] know he did, but he's BEN good, /"
She dozsd fitfully, and in one of her waking
| moments asked:
"Will God take care Of me as You two
| have?"
Jameson was standing by her then. He an
swered unhesitatingly: Yes, Emily; he had
the kindcst words for such women as you are.
He'll take care Of you"
Then mebbe I'll have chance. i haint had
| much chance here"
Yes; I'm sure there'll be chance for all
who want one" This was far broader creed
than the one had heard my friend formulate
in our frequent talks, but he spoke sincerely
and confidently.
There was in our care for the sick woman
7