The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-17

BuJ tnere was no OlSss ItsinS tncAT pun
derous walk.
after my policeman recovered and
was fitted with what he called "a
be-yew-ti-ful pair of wooden stumps,'
| nursed an amorous platelayer through
an attack OF Inflammation OF the lungs.
When he recovered, he proposed to me.
and couldn't understand 'wot you
wants to go worlsin' like that ere for;
when YOU might marry decent chap
with two quid week He was greatly
detected at being refused, and hung
round the hospital for weeks after his
discharge. blowing kisses up at the ma
irons window (he mistoOk 1t for mine)
with maudlin tenderness.
The platelayer was succeeded by an
Trishman. Inever knew lrishrlsen to!ose
their power OF 'blarney. When fairly
convalescent this one was allowed to
get up two hours day every afternoon.
The first day he enjoyed it very much.
On the next day found Denis strol:ng
about the ward in the early morning
and making himself generally useful.
but watching me from the corner OF his
eye all the time Denis, Denis, this
won't do. 'Ah, shure, miss, / had to
get up to look at gou'' But you're to be
up for two hours in the afternoon
'Shure, miss, it's always afternoon till
l see your swate face forenlnst the
door, And then / hadn't the heart
to make him go to bed again. But he
wasn't really so trying as an idiot boy,
who was so fond Of me that he ate my
photograph.
Then had a sailor, who called HIM
self Jack Johnson; bat | don't think
that was his real name. He had broken
his leg through an awkward fall over
coil of rope on slippery deck. John
son was very nice patient-clean. and
obedient to rules and always good for
a merry tale. But when the gas was
lowered at night he often talked in
more serious fashion. L belongs to
respectable north-country family Of de-
cent. God-fearing folks. with more fear
than love about 'em altogether he told
me, in a moment of confidence. L
couldn't stand the everlasting prayer
meetings and the miserable Sundays,
and used to shirk all l could. But 1T
didn't do. They preached at me, morn
ing, noon and night, and promised me
eternal punishment in any case. So,
thinks l, if I'm to be eternally dis
graced here, and eternally punished
hereafter, I'll try and deserve it all.
II was interested in spite of myself
the lads reckless, bitter talk was so at
variance with his honest blue eyes and
sunshiny smile-and listened TO the ac-
count of his running away ito sea. He
did not know whether any attempt had
been made to track him, and had never
heard one word from home for over six
years.
when discharged from the hospital;
ne insisted on leaving me some curious
shells, strung into necklace; and
when objected, he coolly remarked:
You'd better have EN-. You've been
wonderful patient with me; and l recll-
on you're q good woman. There's a
many that isn't that, worse luck for u.s.
If YOU won't have the shells, / shall
know you think I'm past praying for,
and I'll chuck 'em into the gutter the
| first minute | gets outside.
Months after, he sent me misspelt,
ill-written letter from his mother, tell
ing of her thankfulness to them as
cared for my boy There was also a
postscript, in printed letters, from my
protege saying he had not forgotten my
advice, but had gone home. His moth
err and father were very much broken;
but, please God, he'd look after them
now. and they were free to own they
had kept too tight hand on him. You
told me. straight, I'd acted cruel to 'em,
nurse, and you're right
Zone evening the patients tea was
! cleared away, and they were chatting
cheerfully amongst themselves when
the door opened and tall, handsome
girl was introduced to us as The New
Probationer.' The new probationeI
earnestly and thoroughly applied her
self to each days duties. In spite OF
her queenly carriage she could make
bed admirably and gave every promise
of becoming an excellent surgical
nurse Still she puzzled me. The Cir
never referred to her past or spoke OF
her future, and her reserve seemed
strange in go young a woman, for She
always appeared to be putting strong
restraint on her natural high spirits
One night a girl was brought in who
| was diving from the effect of railway
accident When she opened her eye:
they remained fixed on our probationer
who stood at little distance from the
door. l fetched the probationer Il
speak to the patient when. TO my sur
prise, shril cry broke from the SUI
ferer and our young nurse dropped OF
the chair by the bedside, exelaiming, IL
an agitated voice: oh Lizzie, Lizzie
is it really you?' The girl died tina
night. A few days later | happened t
be at work in M own room when ou
stately probationer entered
''Can you spare me few moments
sister, I'm going away Before
could answer she was down on he
knees by my chair, sobbing on M
shoulder as if her heart would brea X
i want to tell you,' she cried, 'abou
Lizzie, the woman who died the othe
night It was all my fault she can
by that train: she would never have lef
her home If | had not run away from
mine. She was always good girl, onl1
rather willful, and vexed her father be
cause she wanted to make foolis
marriage. At .ast she said no ono care
for her. and even I. who was her friend
had gone away and forgotten her 1t
such dun little village where we liv'
you know. sister, and the people gosSI
aud worry one. Lizzie was aiway
being told she ought 10 give the ma
up. The end Of ii was that Lizzie h2
great quarrel with her father an
started of in rage TO join an aunt an