The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-08-11
CHAPTER XIV.

|
CHAPTER XIV.
| Why should not one derive all the
satisfaction that could possibly be ex-
tracted from gr1nmbling to ones hearts
content. when there was ready to ones
hand patient, equable hospital nurse,
into whose discreet bosom one might
empty ''cart loads of family secrets
without the slightest danger of their
ever being hauled up again?
Dick Lorimer, aching and bruised,
disappointed and disguised, feeling that
he had made a thorough mess of very
important mission, Immediately re-
solved to avail himself of that privilege
the very next time his particular
''white-cap" took her seat by his cot.
He would like to have some sort of
name to call her by. Nurse" was
simply "beastly.'' She had such soft
| little hand, such great serious eyes,
such a tender way about her when she
asked ''fellow'' how he "felt now"
| that it was almost mot quite) enough
to reconcile "a fellow to broken leg"
He said as much to the surgeon on
his rounds, adding: 81 would like to
know what you all call her, DOCTOR
"'Alrs. Hamilton is what we call
her. Yes, all the sick folks fall in love
with her. You are only obeying an in
exorable law of your nature. Here she
comes now"
Adown the long spotlessly white
room, whose colorless polished cleanli-
ness was in itself an aggravation to
Dick, who loved life in all its warm
tints, its vivid phases, came the nurse
towards them. The surgeon greeted
her with: You are to let this dam
aged young man talk as much as ever
he pleases, Nurse Hamilton. We want
him kept quiet, but be is more apt to
keep his leg still while his tongue
wags. Doubtless there is a letter to be
written to somebody. There always is
in these cases"
"Yes. And I want you to write it."
Dick fired his answer to the surgeons
suggestion. point-blank at the nurse
He had turned his head sidewise to look
into the clear steadfast eyes that had
such strange fascination for him. If
he was not mistaken, that was the very
thing she was trying to prevent.
You will write it for me, will you
not, Mrs. Hamilton?'
"Of course will. See will be back
presently with writing-materials.''
When she returned with her portfolio
she had on blue glasses.
''What did you do that for?'' Dick
asked, with a flash of decidedly imper-
tinent resentment. ''Those goggles, 1
| mean"
''To make myself comfortable She
opened the portfolio and selected a
sheet of paper. Il am ready"
'But 1 am not" he answered, petu-
lantly: land if YOU don't mean to let me
look at you while l am debating, I'll
make a mess of it. That's about all I'm
tit for, anyway"
For what?'
''For making a mess of things
you mean your leg? You should not
have tried to jump on the car while it
was in motion. There is enough time
for all our needs, if we would only take
it."
This looks like it, don't it?" He in
Dictated his helpless leg by an angry
touch of his long brown hand. Il
| needed just ten more minutes yesterday
than could manage to procure. I
would have been steaming up the river
toward White Cliffs, instead of lying
here with a broken leg, if 1 could have
found it."
But you have plenty of time to get
well in," said Nurse Hamilton, with n
smile which Dick mentally pronounced
twice as sad as tears. 80 my theory
holds good, after all. Now, then, won't
you please begin?"
"Oh, say, please sit where can look
at you without making corllscrew of
my neck"
Thus directly importuned, Mrs. HAM
ilton moved u fraction more directly in
his line Of vision.
81 wish you hadn't put those blinlsers
on, and wish 1 could see you without
that cap; it's regular Disagreement.
And you don't belong to them, nor they
to YOU
The clear white of Nurse Hamilton's
smooth cheeks was suddenly stained
vivid red. She did not look at him as
she administered her rebuke:
you must not talk to me so. You
are silly, impairment boy, and shall
send another nurse to you. / will not
stay"
She raised her hand with quick ges-
ture. She was too late. Her white
friiled cap was swaying triumphantly
on the apex of Dicks daring fingers.
YES, you will. Norrie. 1 knew /
could not be mistaken. 1 knew your
voice. You couldn't put it in mob
cap and blue goggles. Now then"-he
flung the cap upon the foot of his bed
Il have not made such an Internal mess
of things after all; for I have found
YOU
She was looking at him with wide
eyes through a mist. He had called her
''Norrie,' and the ice crust that had
been forming over her chilled and lone
ly heart suddenly broke up under the
| warmth of the boys caressing tones.
In the six short months of her life at
White Cliffs Dick had been her most at
tached squire. This, the youngest of all
| the Lorimer boys, had been a special
| favorite of hers, and she of his. His
little sister," his Madame john" and
his princess Norrie" had been pleasant
to remember. She had no grievance
| here. She leaned toward him with dewy
eyes
And having found me, what then.
Dick? Have you missed me?''
Have missed you? We have all
missed you, sister Nora" he said seri-
ously. John! poor old Johnnie! he has
| aged under it tremendously. Lord, how
old and feeble he does look! He can't
seem to get used to it. He never speak
| of you, though. That's what hurts us
all so bad. He goes about the house
like some dumb brute that has got its
death wound
flush! for dear PHYS sake. hush! He
gave death wound before he received
one
1t came from her in broken sobbing
gasps.
ITO you?" Dicks incredulous eyes