Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-07-12


gently turned back the sheet from the
poor dead face.
The two women were too much alb
sorbed-the one with her grief and the
other with her sympathy-to take any
notice of me; SO l, remembering a poor
little waif who had died in my arms
day or two before, and thinking /
should like to see him again, for had
grown to love the little motherless
creature, picked up the lantern from
the floor and went in search of my lit.
tie patient. 1t was some time before ]
found him, and, after imprinting kiss
on the small pitiful face, | went to
look at the new post-mortem room,
which had lately been finished and
which had not seen. was walking
around, the light of the lantern gleam-
ing weirdly on the white tiles which
lined the walls and floor, when sud
denly heard door bang. Without
knowing exactly what had happened,
shivered with apprehension aud my
flesh crept uneasily. In a moment
had flown through the niortuary and
into the chapel Too late The door
was shut and all was in darkness.
In moment knew what had hap
pened: the porter, supposing that | had
gone and left the visitors to him, had
turned out the gas, locked the door,
and gone away with them. Oh, it was
too horrible. | beat on the door with
both my fsts / raised my voice in a
fearful scream, but that was worse
than the awful silence, for the hollow
walls took up the sound, and the mock
ing coi,v came back to me, as if the
dead were shrieking in their places! l
sank on my knees on the damp stones
and covered my. face with my hands.
The building stood far away from
any other; the clustering wind would
prevent my voice being heard even had
| the courage to shout again, which |
had not; no one would be in the grounds
in such weather as this; | should not
be missed. In the ward | should be
supposed, being off duty, to be in my
own room. Nurse Flemming, missing
me from the supper table, would inn
agine that had gone to bed, and
would probably retire without as she
thought, disturbing me. What should
l do? What could do? 70 remain
there all night seemed impossible. yet
how much more impossible to get
away. had always been accounted
among my fellow-nurses as the most
courageous, and fear had been wont
to boast that nothing could brighten
me, but had never dreamed of any
thing like this TO sit among friendly
faces in the daylight, or beside CHEEKY
fire, was one thing. To be forced to
spend night alone with the dead was
another
At length gathered sufficient cour-
age to turn round and try to realize
my position. On, how envied those
fortunate mortals who, in moments Of
danger and dread, can quietly faint
away into calm unconsciousness, to re
cover their senses only when the horror
is past. If / could only lie down OF
that cold floor and sleep. Aye! ever
if it was the sleep that knows no wax
ing, how gladly would have done so
Anything rather than remain terror
stricken with these dreadful com
panions. l glanced at the lantern
how long would it ourn? Could | de
pend on its light lasting till dawn?
looked at the trolly. with its cold, still
burden, then, with mighty effort,
crossed the chapel, and Selling the
end of the CHASTITY carriage whirled il
quickly into the large mortuary. Will
as much strength as my arms still
possessed, | sent it into the darkness
and flew back into the dimly-lightet
chapel, closing the door behind me.
Now at least was alone, with moth
ing more unearthly than white flowers
and a large ebony cross which hung
against the wall. Sinking down int
the corner most remote from the innel
door, wrapping my shawl closely rount
my shivering shoulders placed tbs
lantern beside me, and strove vainly t,
think of pleasant things. l tried t,
think of the ward, with it's Cheerful
fire and rows of beds with their coy rec
rugs; of the fun we had had at Christ
mas with the children and the Christ
mas tree; of home, with the dear face
| hoped to see when the summer came
and with it the long anticipated holi
, day. But all in vain! My eyes woul,
keep glancing round at the horrible
door. My ears would strain themselve
to listen for sounds from that silen
I, room. Oh! should go mad | coul,
not bear it! How wicked How cruel
that no one came to seek me! VIVA
was that? The great clock at the eli
trance was striking. One two!- but
! no, seven eight! then silence. Onl
: eight o'clock! Only two hours since
ran through the garden to fetch tn
! stimulants!
> Almost involuntarily l slipped m
hand in my apron pocket. Yes, ther
yere the two bottles, Carefully wrappe
round with my handkerchief, as | ha
put them.
For moment ray of hope darte
across my mind; surely, when tn
bottles were missed from their place
inquiry would be made, and shoul
be sought for. But moments re
Election brought back the old despair
1t was not an unheard-of thing j
those busy times for the dispensary t
be forgotten until the door was locke
and the dispenser gone. Mixtures an
medicines would be left on the littl
shelf outside, but not the stimulants-
and sister, with a sigh at the forget
fulness of her nurses, would serve tn
patients from the stock bottles, and n
thought would be directed to me.
Whether fell asleep or not hav
never since been able to determine
but when | reused from the sem