The record-union., 1897-12-29
A DOUBTFUL MOTIVE.

It was intaking day in the upper
wards Of the "Old Royal" and the
qulet-stepping nurses moved about re-
ceivlng and arranging. The air teemeo
with the spirit Of expectancy. The low
er nat, the day previous, had received
its burden and buckled to its duty
and now everything was STILL Inc
corridors stretched silent and gray, ana
the wards on the left and the rlSht lay
in the durance of sickness.
There had been an epidemic OF Ie'ei
"a low-lying, stealthy sort OF thlhs'
which sapped the life and spread con-
Sternation in the community-put Il
was abating, and the nurses IN charse
We're having short breathing time.
Only relatively. however, was the
nurses responsibility lessened. DOWN
below, in the ante-room, the people
gathered and clamored to hear or their
friends. 1t was an ordinary scene.
Some went away rejoicing and some
We're sad.
AT a quarter to the hour, nearly time
for closing. when the last straggllng
visitor had disappeared beyond the peho
in the front walk, an old couple hop-
bled down the winding street leading TO
the principal entrance; the porter hes
itated at the gate.
WAIT a little. Sutton" The order was
was in the Scotch tongue, but it had
the tone of one who knew how to COM
mand. and it was understood. THE
old coupIe want me-" They hobbled
down slowly. but with manifest haste,
and reached the speaker as the bolt
shot back and the gate changed.
Wa
The nurse was tall and distinguished,
with fine eyes and forehead, and soft
gray hair mounted high above her
brow. She ed them within While she
spoke, and then added reluctantly, but
we nearly have"
Poor old Mackay leaned forward on
his staff and a quiver passed over his
face The old woman tried to speak.
It's no for me tae question the AL
mighty's will, but it's awfu' hard" She
stopped speaking and blinked to keep
back the tears.
The Old man blinked and stared out
of the window, up the street where the
blank wall of the university shut out
the sunlight and made things gray.
He's been oor support" the old
woman ventured again, IAN he's a guild
lad. Nearly twa month syne he lost
his work at the strike, but he's been a
sojer an has a pension, an every bau-
bees spent tae make us comfortable.
It's due the morn at twelve. He's a
guild lad, an if he's ta'en ava"
Nurse Christie came to rescue. 1--WE
shall do our best she said kindly.
Twilight was falling over the old gray
city and making it's way into the wards
and corridors when the probationers in
ward II became aware of a commotion
outside, and the staffs voice came dis
tinctly through the air.
Now, quietly here, please!" The
glass door was pushed open. The blue
arm and white cuff of the assistant
staff became visible, then the sorrow
scanned faces OF an old man and wom-
an peered through the twilight gloom
for moment only, and disappeared.
''Well no gang in." the old mother
said; well gang home. moo"
In the corner bed near the door lay
Alack Mackay, dockman, ex-soldier, the
wreck of a tall, fine man. He had wealth
cred India's heat and the pestilential
climate Of Africa; he had looked un-
flinchingly in the cannon's mouth while
the din of the battlefield hurtled in the
heavens, and the lines thinned, but he
was giving in now. Pale, emaciated,
death-like. he lay; every hour carried
him nearer the bourne where every good
soldier wins his laurels and the indif-
!, ferent ones wait for further orders. And
he knew, in a dim, unconscious way,
that he was dying. He had waited a
long time for the end. 1t was near
enough now.
The day waned shadows heightened,
the evening came. The day nurses trod
lloiselessly through the wards prepar-
ing for the long night. Night work in a
hospital is a serious charge. Six O'Clock
chimed, seven, eight.
Nurse Christie stood in the sitting
room waiting II would soon be time for
the relap; but meantime much was balng
done At last the subdued movement
of softly shod feet became recognizable.
The day nurses emerged from their
wards and disappeared, and the night
nurses were on duty, alert, ready, and
bright.
Take care Of Mackay, Nurse Medley.
Don't leave the ward until you are re-
lieved, and don't stay long away then.
He'll likely go tonight" the staff con-
tinued as she turned to leave the room
but if you could pull him through the
night, he might live until tomorrow at
twelve"
Nurse Medley looked puzzled. She
bowed, however, and said gravely Il
shall be very thoughtful for Mackay all
through the night, dear nurse"
Then the meaning dawned upon her
She had heard Mackay's story. He was
dying poor. but his pension would be
paid If he lived till tomorrow at Il
Yes" said Nurse Christie, IF he dies