Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-07-05
f- HE greatest literary
50 III success OF the present
Lk-As,@ day IS Beatrice Har
SoLsE.M radea's novel,
- y SHIPS
THAT PASS
IN THE NIGHT
CHAPTER XIV.

The doctors in PctcrShof always said
that the caretakcrs of the invalds were n
much greater anxiety than the invalids
themselves. The invalids would either get
better or die--onc of two things probably.
At any rate, you knew whcro you were
with them. But not SO with the carctak-
ers. There was nothing they Were not ca.
pablo of doing, except taking reasonable
care of their invalids, They either fused
about too much, or else they did not fuss
about ut all. They all began by doing the
right thing. They all ended by doing the
wrong. The fussy ones had fits of apathy
when the poor irritable patients seemed to
get a little better, Tho negligent ones had
paroxysms of attentivcncss when their in
valids, accustomed to loneliness and neg
lect, seemed to become rather worse by be-
ing worried.
To demonstrate with tho cartakers
would have been folly for they were we'll
satisfied with their own methods
To contrivc their departure would have
been an impossibility, for they were firm
ly convinced that their presence was nee
essary to the welfare of their charges And
then, too, judging from the way in which
they managed to amusc themselves, they
liked being in Petershof, though they new
er owned that to the invalids. On tho
contrary, 1t was the custom for the care
takers to deprcciate the place and to de-
plorc the necessity which Obliged them to
continue there month after month They
were fond, too, of talking about the sacri-
fees which they made and the pleasures
which they willingly gave up in order to
stay with their invalids. They said this
in the presence of their invalids And If
the latter had told them by all means to
pack up and 60 back to the pleasures
which they had renowned they would
have been iastonishcd at the ingratitude
which could suggest the idea.
They were amusing characters, these
carctakers. They were so thoroughly UNI
conscious of their deficiencies. They might
neglect their own invalids but they would
look after other peoples invalids and
play the nurse most soothingly and pretti
ly where thero was no call and no occa-
sion. Then they would come and relate to
their neglected dear ones what they had
been doing for others, and the dear ones
would smile quietly and watch the but
tons being stitched on for strangers and
the contour which they could not get
nicely made for themselves being careful
ly prepared for other peoples neglected
dear ones.
Some of the dear ones were rather bit
ter. But there were many of n higher or
der of intelligence who seemed to realize
that they had no right to be i'll, and that
being i'll and therefore n burden on their
friends they must make the best of every
thing and be grateful for what was given
them and patient when anything was
withheld.
Others of still higher order of under
standing attributed the ccccntricities of
the caretakers to one cause alone-thc
Petershof air They knew it had the in
variable effect of getting into the head and
upsetting the balance Of those who drank
deep of it. Therefore no ono was to blame,
and no one need be bitter. But these were
the philosophers of the colony-a select
and dainty few in any colony. But there
were several rebels among the invalids,
and they found consolation in confiding to
each other their separate grievances They
generally held their conferences in tho
rooms known as the newspaper rooms,
where they were not likely to be interrupt
ed by any caretakcrs who might have staid
at home because they were tired out.
Today there were only few rebels gath
cred together, but they were more than
usually excited, because the doctors had
told several of them that their respective
caretakers must be sent home.
What must ! dot" said little Mile.
Gerardy, wringing her hands. The doc
tor says that l must tell my sister to go
home; that she only worries me and makes
me worse. He calls her whirlwind' II
/ won't tell her then he will tell her, and
we shall have some more scenes. Mon
Dieu, and l am so tired Of them. They
terrify me. would suffer anything rath-
er than have a fresh scene. And can't
get her to do anything for me- She has
no time for me- And yet she thinks she
takes the greatest possible care Of me and
devotes the whole day to me. Why, some
times never see her for hours together.
We'll, at least she does not quarrel with
every one, rs my mother does, said Pol
ish gentleman-M. Lichfnsky. Nearly
every day she has quarrel with some one
or other, and then she comes TO me and
says she has been insulted And other
come to me mad with rage and complain
that they have been insulted by her. Az
though were to blame! tell them that
now. tell them that my mothers quar- |
rels are not my quarrels But one longf |
for peace And the doctor says must have |
1t, and that my mother must go home al
once. II tell her that, she will have |
tremendous quarrel with the doctor. As II |
Is, he will scarcely speak TO her So yoU |
see, Mile. 0erardy, that !, too, am In Q
bad plight What am to dor
Then a young American spoke. He had
been getting gradually worse since he came
TO Petershof, but his brother, q bright,
sturdy young fellow, seemed quite uncon-
scious Of the seriousness OF his condition
And what am to dor he asked pa,
thetically. My brother does not even
think am III. He says am 70 rouse my.
self and como skating and tobogganine
with him Then tell him that the DIR ]