Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-07-10

havoc among the poor; MO hosplta
was full to overAowing. An unusua
number of casualties, at the sam time
brought stretcher after stretcher tt
the accidental room.
The great clock over the entrance
was just striking G as I threw my shaw
round me and fastened off across ths
grounds to the dispensary. Running
quickly through tho snow, soon ar
rived at the door, and was greeted by
the customary growl which awaited
late comers.
81 am sorry I am late in coming fol
the stimulants, I said, as soon as
could get my breath. 81 could DO
leave the ward before. Let me see
six OUNCES OF brandy for No. % aud
little No. 1G's port wine; that is all
I think.
Anything fresh this afternoon
Nurse Deaton?" inquired the dispen
ser, as I busily packed the bottles into
my apron pocket, in order to leave
my hands free for my shawl.
"Nothing for us, I answered. ga
bad case hus just gone up to Mary
Ward. A poor young fellow wa
brought IN this afternoon, found dead
in the snow-sood evening"" ana
set off again across the white ground
"Off duty at g." I said to myself, a:
] went. "I would not 10 off, only
am so tired, and Sister says I must. ;"
At the ward door I encountered
Nurse Flemming, my chum and fel
low-nurse, just emerging from ths
ward, accompanied by two women,
one of whom was weeping bitterly.
"Ob, dearle," exclaimed nurse O:
she saw me, sI am SO glad you arc
come. This is the wife of poor No,
IL, who died this morning; she wishes
to see him. I know you ore off duty,
dear, bnt do you mind taking her.
I've just got fracture in, and Mr..
Hooper is waiting to attend to it
thank YOU" I nodded cheerful &C
quiescence, and she turned back to at
tend to her many duties.
Taking the women with me, went
to the room of the porter, who kept
the morturary keys. With many
growls he lighted his lantern and pre-
pared to accompany us, as he was in
duty bound to do.
He was one of many male officials o
st. Alban's, who consider it right tc
be as disagreenble as possible to tht
nurses whenever they required his
services, so I took no notice of hi:
mutterings, but devoted my attention
to the poor woman at my side. While
she was telling me Of the many vir
tues OF her late husband, and Of the
dark future in store for herself ant
her eight children, we arrived at tn:
door OF the mortuary. Leaving u
standing there, under lamp which
projected from tho wall and which
the porter lit from the flame O.
his lantern, the man entered alone, il
order that he might bring forwart
from the large mortuary the particu,
lar body we wished to see; presently
he opened the door again to admit us.
Tie door by which we entered lei
into tiny chapel. 1t was here that
the relatives of the deceased looked
their last upon the pale, set faces oI
their departed friends. The body
about to he visited was wheeled on g
light trolley into the chapel, which
was kept very clean, and daily re-
1ecked with white flowers.
AS we entered, the porter stepped
outside to do something to the lamp,
which did not burn properly, while
went forward with the women and
gently turned back the sheet from the
poor, dead face.
The two women were too much ab
sorbed-the one with her grief anj
the other with her smypathy-to take
any notice of me. So I, remembering
o poor little wait who had died in my
arms day OF two before, and think
ing I should like to see him a3ain, for
I had grown to love the little mother
less creature, picked up the Lantern
from the floor and went in search o
my little patient. 1t was some time
before / found him, and, after i'm
printing kiss on the small, pitifu
face, l went to look at the new post
mortem room, which had lately beer
finished, md which had not seen,
was walking round, the light of the
lantern cleaning weirdly on the white
tiles which lined the walls and floor
when I suddenly heard door bang
Without knowing exactly what hat
happened, l shivered with apprehen
sion and my flesh crept uueasily. Il
q moment I had flown through tn
mortuary and into the chapel. To'
late! The door was shut and all wa
in darkness!
In O moment knew what had hap
pened. The porter, supposing that
had gono and left the visitors to him
had turned out the gas, locked th'
door and gone away with them. Oh
il was too horrible! I beat on tn
door with both my fists. | raised m,
voice in fearful scream, but that wa
worse than the awful silence, for th
hollow walls took up the sound ant
The mocking echo came back to me n
if the dead were shrieking in thei
places. I sank to my knees on tn
damp stones and covered my face wit
my hands.
The building stood far away iron
any other; the clustering wind woul'
prevent my voice being beard eve
had I the courage to shout again
which I had not; no one would he /
the grounds in such weather as this
] should not be missed. In the ware
should be supposed, being off duty
to DE in my own room. Nurse Flcn
ming, missing me from the snppe
table, would imagine that [ had gon
to bed, and would probably retir
without, as she thought, disturLin
me.