The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-04-17

! Doris was an orphan and dependent
upon herself She had dritted about
until she finally decided to become Il
nurse, and took up her abode in Phila-
/ lrlpha at the Nurses Home In those
days but little training was required,
and it was only Il short time before her
services were much in demand by peo-
pie who preferred the bright and at
tractive young girl to the stutt.y old
nurses. Upon reaching Crown street.
/ | Soon fund the place my aunt had
directed mt to, almost a counterpart of
our own house onl Il story higher, and
sign over the door bearing the words
Nurses Home"
| Cold and dismal as it was out of
doors. it was little better in the room
where | was ushered, which was Il large
SQUARE apartment, with bare white
washed walls; several strips of rag
carpet were laid cn the floor, and some
Windsor chairs and settee or two rang
ed around the sides. and table with a
red and blue checked cover stood in the
middle of the room. | sat down with
my dripping umbrella in my hand, not
seeing place to deposit it; presently
tall, gaunt woman came in and re-
lieved me of it, and then poked care
fully at the small fire burning in the
little cylinder stove. Sitting down by
window, she began to knit on coarse
wooden stocking, and the click of the
needle was the only sound audible, ex-
cept the everlasting drip, drip Of the
raindrops outside. A Il this time she
had not addressed a word to me, and |
began to feel restless: finally ventuted
to ask if she thought Miss Doris would
soon he down.
''She is setting the supper-tal.lc. and
You can see her in there" pointing to
the next room. IF YOU want to-
So arose with alacrity and passed
into the adjoining room, where | found
Doris putting on the table what SEEM
ed to me very meagre looking sup
per, consisting of mush and molasses,
rye bread, apple butter, and a decoc-
ton of what might have been either
tea or coffee. 1t was evidently that
the establishment was conducted on 4
very economical plan, and | did not
wonder at the eagerness with which she
paratively luxurious home.
> "Annis, dear" said she 1.-The nurses
are coming to supper now, and You run
up to my room Just at the head of the
stairs. | will come as soon as | put
up the chairs and ring the bell
| accordingly mounted the steep
flight Of stairs, and found myself in a
little room. plain enough as toappoint-
ments, yet having an unmistakable air
of refinement about it, but lacking that
protusion ofgew-gaws. called nowadays
bric-a-brac. With a girls natural curl
osity, scanned everything of ofinterest,
and when Doris entered the room was
standing by the window with the mini
ature of an exceedingly handsome
Young man in my hands.
20. Doris. is this thy brother!''
20. did | leave that out? No,
no indeed. onl V friend whom | lost
long ago"
How did thee lose him, did he die?"
"No."
"Please tell me about him. Doris, if
thee doesn't mind"
II never speak of him, Annis, but |
know that you are discreet, and it is
sometimes such a reliefto speak ofone's
troubles. SO | will tell You. When
was about your age, and that is five
wears ago. | was living in New York
with my parents who were in atfluent
circumstances. This man loved me,
but on account of his poverty my faith
er ordered him from the hAlse, and for
bade me to correspond with him; he
went know not where, for have new
or heard from him since. In less than
4 year my father t:il,d, first in bust
ness, and then in health and died in a
short time; my mother soon followed,
and | was thrown ont upon the world
to struggle aS best | might, and a hard
and lonely life is mine; sometimes
wish | We're at the end of the Journey
We were walking towards Apple
Tree Lame during this recital, and |
felt drawn towards the trirndleSs girl
as had never been in the short time
W. had known her had thought of
her simply rs THE nurse but now !
looked upon her As girl like myself,
only with more sens, and experience.
And snch Il sahlv deli ghtful experience
she had had. too; it was quite interest
ing in my romantic way oi thinking;
sounded Just like book. and for a long
while | was busy mentally. bringing
about all sorts of happy examinations
to her story. though that | should be
/ the instrument of her happiness never
once occurred to me.
| After Il more appetlZlng supper than
! that she had helped to prepare at the
/ Home. she was soon installed in my
fathers sick room. Aunt Judith went
comfortably to bed, while | sat up as
lono as dared and read my beloved