The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-02-23

their occupations, their affairs. And
now they turned mp the stone stair
case together, ON their way 20 the
women's wards. Lady Sibthorpe
paused for an instant as they passed
the operating theater. The doors were
closed. Outside two porters were
waiting with a stretcher. Suddenly
the door was pushed ajar. and than
there was vision OF anxious, inter
ested faces, lit up by a strong glare
OF gas; of nurses back bending for
ward, and of n surgeons face blowing
spray on to something that was invis-
ible. Over all an intense silence;
broken only by the hoarse whispers OF
the porters with the stretcher. wonder
ing how long they would have To wait.
Lady Sibthorpe was not emo
tional, but she shiycred a little as she
passed on.
In the Catherine ward" the fifty
/ blue coverleted beds effaced themselves
in the gloom OF the long room. Here
and there the freight illumined the
bland, Unconditional features OF nurse
under her smooth hair and white cap
the sexless features Of woman who
has learned 20 witness suffering with
out sigh.
On seeing Sir Kenneth Brandon, Sis
ter Catherine, a long-nosed woman
with bright eyes. hurried forward as
superintendent OF the ward.
The doctor introduced the two women
10 each other. and for awhile Lady
Sibthrope, notebook in hand, was abb
sorbed with statistics.
Now take me around 10 your pa
tients. Sir Kenneth" she said when she
had done. Sister Catherine moved for
ward, professional look on her bright
face. They stopped at every bed Lady
Sibthrope asked questions In BUSH
ness-lilSe way, and Sir Kenneth, whose
"hospital manner" was proverbial, adj
dressed the patients in the same tone
he would have employed TO a duchess.
His way with women was one OF tho
things for which he was justly famous.
They had come 20 the end OF one OF the
lines Of beds, and were now turning
up the other side OF the room.
eve have a new patient there. Sir
Kenneth" said the sister; mo. ca
hopeless case--the last stage OF con
sumption, aggravated by want and
dirt. They brought her In from one of
the common lodging houses. Poor
creature! she was in a terrible state
when she came"
Indeed" calculated the great physi-
elan, in his sympathetic voice.
All three approached the bed. The
patients back was turned 10 him, but
as steps approached she tossed over
and lay on her back, her weakly
vicious face, with It's flush Of color on
each cheek-bonc, looking sharply
emaciated against the wilderness Of
the pillow There were streaks of
gray in the dark hair, and the eyes
dull. slaty eyes, which had once been
blue-were bloodshot and rcd-lidded.
Sir Kenneth leaned forward and
their eyes met in long stare.
The years seemed 10 roll away.
The Doctors heart stood still. Great
God! Could this horrible wreck 81
womanhood be his wife? And
she was going TO speak? II was fate
full moment.
But No. 20 only laughed an UNI
mirthful, coarse and empty laugh.
"Are you herc?7 she muttered, and
tossed over
The doctor drew a long breath; he
had grown little paler before he
spoke. Poor creature; she mistakes
me for some one else. They often dc
at the last" ne whispered, and then,
!, taking down the usual card hung
, above the bed, on which the patients
age, disease and diet, rs well as the
doctors name in charge Of the case
were written, he added, urbanely
quite right perfectly right. DR.
Brown has ordered everything that
could possibly be of use. Sister, lool
after this case specially"
,, Lady Sibthorpe said something gra
cious and passed on. Not n feature o.
the strange scene had escaped her. II
was evident that something extraordi
, nary had happened. That these two
, the fashionable physician and the pit
I, liable outcast on the hospital mattress
knew each other she had not nov
the smallest doubt But the tire,
moved on To the next bed, smiling ant
! chatting as they went Presently Sii
Kenneth Brandon urged consultation
, at the other end OF London at fiv,
- tlpth anu w Univ A+HAN h'Ah
thorpe back. as she had sent away hei
carriage. They were both rather silen
/, as they were bowled along westward.
! A few nights afterward they met, b,
, accident. at dinner. II was a bril-
/. liant party. The talk, like the food
: was stimulating; the wine, like the
I beauty Of the women, was rare. 1t wa
) in gracefully artificial moments lilS'
these that Sir Kenneth, pessimis
though he was, felt tenderly towar,
!, ! all the world Sir Kenneth, In fact
was delighted. for he was deputed q
: take Lady Sibthorpe down 20 dinner
!, She was n woman who looked espc
I cially well by candlelight and at din
! ner time. Her teeth, her shoulder
|, and her diamonds were proverbial-
|, three things which, added 20 her nativ'