Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-05-22
OUR FIRST CASE.

ALI the doctors knew of us, and had wei
comed us cordially. With one consent
they had said that we were just what
was wanted here.
"Do you think we can afford to stay
another week." asked Kathleen.
"Perhaps, one more, answered.
"It's a most interesting experience, .
she said
"And will end in quite an exciting
fnale,'' added. "The worst of it is the
return home amid the jeers OF oul
friends, who are expecting us any day. .
Kathleen shuddered.
"We may get case in the next few
days." said "Such things occasional
ly happen
"Give me another cup of tea, Agnes, >
cried Kathleen "It is ruinous to the
nerves, but must have it. If any of my
patients drank half as much as do,
not forget, butt
Our landlady flung open the door, and
DR.. Puckle burst in upon us.
"Ahl I was so afraid I should fine
you out, he cried He was Irish.
"We happen to have holiday" sale
Kathleen. cat least we have no very
urgent case on this morning.
"Allow me to give you cup of tea, y
said L
"Tea? Tea at this time of dayl" He
shook his head at US. 81 should have
thought you knew better, nurse. Never
drink tea at II O'Clock. No sugar, thanh
you"
He settled himself comfortably before
the fire, and slipped his tea, while deliv'
ering himself of long and strong dis
sertation on the evil of this habit. Kath
leen and I corroborated every word he
said
"Well, now to business" cried DR..
Puckle. 81 came to ask you to undertake
q case, very painful case. It's old Jo
siah Hartland Ever heard of him?"
"No," I answered.
"That man would have been dead 6
year ago if he hadn't happened to-ah-
live. This time he'll go. Meanwhile
must get couple of nurses for him, by
hook or by crook. Will you undertake
his case?"
"Tell us some more about him, doc
tor"
'sHe lives in Hartland's Hollow.
suppose you know that part?"
sNo," said Kathleen, and DR.. Puckle
looked relieved.
"It's trifle lonely, but I suppose yor
don't mind that?''
''Not in the least" said L "We are
neither of us troubled with nerves-ir
spite of the tea. -
"You'Il find no one there but the
coachman and his wife, an old couple.
You II have to do everything yourselves
I'm afraid. When can you be ready
The case is urgent. -
We promised to go that afternoon ant
when Dr. Puckle left US, Kathleen and
held little celebration in honor of oul
first case.
We found ourselves before low, ram
bling building at 4 O'Clock that after
noon The walls were thickly covered
with ivy and creepers; tall trees sur
rounded it, which lent an air of mystery
to the place A solemn hush was on it,
and the chilly afternoon fog was rising.
81 hope there's good fire, whisper
ed Kathleen, shivering.
The sound of the bell was muff1ed and
seemed to come from underground re-
gions. We had to ring three times be-
fore any one thought Of answering ou1
summons. Then the door was opened
suspiciously, and an old woman peere6
at us out of her spectacles
'Oh, be you the nusses?" she mum.
bled. "You may come in. -
Chow kindV" said Kathleen in my
ear. Don't you feel gratified, Agnes,
by this gracious permission"
She waited till our traps were depos
tied in the hall, then shut and locked
the door.
"One never knows what may hap
pen," she murmured, speaking to her
self. Her candle cast suspicious shadows
round the low, dark hall We could
smell the dust of ages as we followed
the housekeeper up stairs. She told uf
in passing the different rooms and in
formed us that some of them were
haunted, but she didn't rightly know
which.
"What a delightful housed" sale
Kathleen aloud, and her voice echoed
far away and disturbed the brooding 81
lence I wanted to hush her, for I KEEP
feeling as if were at church. $50 cheer
full'' rang out her voice. ;"
"That's your room," said our guide
stopping at the top Of the stairs tC
breathe, land that's the masters .
dark regions we had left behind, and we
found ourselves standing in passage
lighted by single small lamp, with
our bags in our hands and our hearts
beating rather rapidly.
81 thought there must be something
queer about it, said Kathleen. cdr
Puckie was so very reserved" "
60 1t is charming, 1 affirmed. "Now
shall we introduce ourselves to our pa
tient or to our room?'
"Our room first,'' said Kathleen.
"Let us keep the best treat till the end. ,
1t was not an ideal room which hac
been prepared for US, nor overclean but
as Kathleen said, we were both able tx
scrub floor after our hospital training
She threw open the window, lighted botl
the candles on the dressing table ant
then declared that it was fit for thu
queen.
"But horribly cold," supplemented
"Well, my dear, wait till it's airet
before you shut the window. When tina
old hag's lighted our fire, it won't b.
half bad.''
''It strikes me, )" said I, that we ma.
as we'll light it ourselves if we want on
at all 5"
''There seems a superabundance Of in
sects and crawling things" said Kath
leen, examining the corners Of the room
"I'm rather fond of spiders. Are your
"On the whole" answered, Il pre-
fer my bedroom free of them" "
"That is a pity said Kathleen.
"Let us now go and make the ac
| quaintance of our patient, !" suggested
Our gentle knock was not answered
10 we went in unbidden.