The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-06

ter Anna besides being an excellent
nurse, was very attractive young
woman. She had pretty brown hair
with golden lights In 1t. waving and
ripping all over well-shaped. we'll
and her complexion, though pale, clear
and healthy looking. She was fairly
tall and very we'll built, with look of
strength and vitality pleasant to see.
Her voice was low-tOned and pleasant,
while her choice of words and manner
of speaking showed her to be an ed
ucated woman. Mrs. Power was de-
lighted with her and spoke much of
the pleasure she felt in having so In
telligent and sympathetic companion.
Altogether I thought l had reason to
congratulate myself and my profess
sional brethren on the addition to the
nursing staff at our disposal.
Late one October afternoon, after
hard days work, / drove down to Lis
fallan to visit my patient, whom l
had not seen for two or three days.
l found Mrs. Power alone in the little
morning room where she usually sat,
although Sister Annals knitting basket
and web of crimson fleece gave token
of her recent presence.
where is the sister?" / asked, dur
ing pause in the gossip with my old
friend which succeeded our brief pro-
fessional interview.
Look out of the window" was the
reply went over to the deep bay
window, which formed one end of the
room, and looking across the long gar
den, stretching behind the house, be-
held Sister Anna, her prim cap laid
aside, her pretty head showing above
the soft gray shawl in which she had
wrapped herself; and walking by her
side tall figure which I did not at
first recognized. This was Laurence.
Mrs. Powers nephew. He was clerk in
a bank, and hoped soon to be made
manager of country branch.
The young people were by this time
coming up the steps leading from the
garden, and presently they entered the
room Sister Anna came forward to
speak to me, a pink flush on her usual
ly pale cheek, new light in her pretty
brown eyes. Laurence Moore stood be-
hind her, an expression of supreme con-
tent on his handsome face, while Mrs.
Power looked on, quiet and keen-eyed.
wonder If she were quite satisfied
at the turn affairs seemed to be taking
Sister Anna went over to her patient
and made some change for the better
in the arrangement Of her wraps and
cushions She then seated herself in
her usual low chair at the opposite
side Of the fire. After few minutes
more talk I went away, Laurence
Moore accompanying me to the door
with an additional touch of empress
ment in his always pleasant manner.
II wonder If he looks on me in the
light Of a parent or guardian to be
propitiated,' / said to myself with
some amusement, as I settled myself
comforta bly, In the brougham. II
think 1 shall refuse my consent-what-
ever may be it's value. That girl is a
capital nurse, much too good to be mo-
nopOlized by any one man"
About ten days later, on my next
visit, I was more pleased than sur
prlsed to be introduced to Sister Anna
in the character of Mrs. Powers future
niece, although I did mingle some self
ish regrets with my congratulations.
"Oh," said Sister Anna, laughing, 81
am not goinig to desert my post yet
awhile. 1t is only to be an engage
ment for a long time to come, and must
not be spoken Of. think l can prom
Use not to let any thought of the fu-
ture interfere with my work in the
present, Mr.. Moran. I will put Laur-
ence out of my head when once / en-
ter the sick room"
Il am afraid 1t has to be long en-
gagement," said Mrs. Power They
canpot think of marrying until Laur-
renee is a manager, and even then 1t
would be wiser to wait until he has
saved something. You know mine is
but life income, so that beyond some
plate or an outfit of table linen I can do
nothing to help"
Sister Anna made 1t clear that she
did not mind waiting. Then the con-
versation drifted to the subject of a
former talk about artificial hearts
made of India rubber, which were war
ranted, according to Sister Anna
never to ache"
Come, Anna, you cannot know much
about heartaches, at any rate
Indeed, / had many a one the time
Of my uncle's DEATH" she answered
I do not know what 1 should have
done, had I not been compelled to rouse
myself and work.
Did your uncle know you would
have to work?' asked Mrs. Power.
No; he thought that he had provid-
ed for me. In fact, 1 am sure that he
did do so, but the will never could be
found, SO everything went to his
brother"
His brother? But why did not
you his niece, come in for your share 2"
Don't you see, although 1 called him
uncle, | was only his wife's niece, and
In reality no relation whatever. NV
aunt was living when I first came to
them, so long ago that I can scarcely
remember 1T, but she died soon after.
and then my uncle and 1 took care
OF each other. The old house was a
pleasant place. It did not look like
farmhouse, for there were trees
about 1T, and an old orchard and gar
den. l wanted to manage the dairy.
too. but uncle said that the work
would be too heavy for me-we had
sood many cows-so there was a reg
uiar dairy maid, who never allowed
me TO interfere. / found it hard TO
get cream for uncle's tea sometimes.
and l had to steal when | wanted to
make a hot cake she added, laughing.
HOW did you employ yourself? %
asked Mrs. Power.
oh, l had the house to attend to
ana the poultry yard, as well as the
garden. And then 1 used to read a
good deal, uncle had quite a collection
OF books. He had been buying them ali
his life, chiefly secondhand ones. We
used to get catalogues of secondhand
books from the London dealers. and
sent for those we fancied most. Tt was
ike putting into a lottery. j believe
some or the books were valuable.
There was an old copy of Master
Humphreys Clock, with pictures in
1t, that used to delight me when I was
a child. Pictures of Nell and Quilp and
DICK Swiveller. used to think how
nice 1t would be if uncle and 1 could
go wandering about the world like Nell
mr. H.