The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-07
A DOUBTFUL rlOTIVE.


IL was intaKing day In the upper wards
OF "Old Royal" and the auiet-stepping
nurses moved about receiving and arrang
ing. The air tesmed with the spirit OF ex-
pectancy. The lower fat the day pre-
vious, had received its burden sui bacKled
TO its duty, and now everything was
still. The corridors stretahed silent and
gray, and the wards on the left and the
right lay In the duranoe OF sickness.
There had been an epidemic OF fever--a
lOw-lying, stealthy sort CT thixs, which
sapped the life and spread consternstion
I'm the community-b it was abating
and the nurses In charge were having a
short br sathing time. Only relatively,
however. was the nurses respons sibility
lessened. Down below, In the ante-room,
the people gathered and clamored to
hear of their friends. 1t was an ordinary
scene Some won't away rejoicing and
some were sad.
At quarter to the hour nearly time
for closing, when the last struggling WIS.,
itor had disappeared beyond the hend in
the front walk. nm old couple hobbled
down the winding street leading tn the
principal entrance; the porter hesitated at
the gate.
"Wait a little, Sutton The order
was in the Scotch tongue. but 1t had the
tone of one who knew how 60 command,
and IL was understood. 1.-THE old couple
want me. - They hobbled down slowly
but with manifest haste and reached
the speaker as the bolt shot back and the
gate Changed.
II cannot say we have lost hope. The
nurse was tall and distinguished with
fine eyes and forehead, and soft gray hair
mounted high above her brow. She led
them within while she spoke, ana then
added reluctantly, but Wa nearly have. f"
Poor old Mackay leaned forward on his
staff. and culver passed over his face.
The old woman tried To speak.
Its no for me- tae question the
AlmiRhty's will. but it's awfu' hard Z"
She stopped speaking and blinked to keep
back the tears.
The old man blinksd and stared out Of
the window, up the street where the blank
wall of the university shut out the sun.
light and made things gray.
He's been poor support, the old
woman yentured again. "an' he's a guild
lad. Nearly twa month syne he lost his
work at the strike, but he's Len q sojer
an has pension, An' every baubee's
the morn at twelve. He's q guild lad an
II he Is Ia en- ava"
Nurse Christie caHe 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 warts
and corridors when the probationers In
ward 14Gecame aware OF the commotion
outside, and the staff's voice came uis-
tinctly through the air.
"Now, quietly here, pleasel 70 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 woman peered
only. and disappeared.
"ws'Il no gang In, the old mother
said; well gang home, moo
In the corner bed near the door lsy
Aiack Nackay, doekman, ex-soldier the
wracg ~ tall, fine man. He haa wealth
cred India's heat and the pestiie initial
climate OF Africa; he had looked un-
flinchiugly in the cnnnon's mouth while
the din OF the battlefield hnrtled In the
heavens. and the lines tbinned. bu. he
was giving In now. Pale. emaciated,
destblike, he lay; every hour carried
MIN nearer the bourne where every good
soldier wins his laurels and the indiffer-
ent ones wait for further orders. And he
knew, In dim, unconscious way, that he
was dying. lie had waited long time
for the end. Ii was near enough now.
Tho d.y waued, shadows heightened,
tho evening came. Inc day nurses trod
noise lessly through the wards preparing
Tor the long night. Night work in Q hos
ri al Is serious charge Six O'Clock
cbimed, seven, eight.
Nurse Christie stood In the sitting room
wsiling. 1t would soon no time for the
relGp; but meantime mucn was beng
done At last the sub luoa movement OF
softly sDod feet became recognizable. The
day nurses emerged from their wards and
disappeared, and the night nurses were
on uuty, alert, reauy. and bright,
Take care OF Msckay Nurss Medley.
Don't lsave the yard until you are re-
lieved. ana don & stay long away then.
He'll likely go tonigRt, the staff contin
ued NJ she turred to leave the loom |;
"but II you could pull him tbrt ugh the
night, ne might lave until tomorrow at
twelve
Nurse Medley looked puzzled. She
bowed, however. aud said gravely: II
shall pe very thoughtful for Mackay all
shrouQiI the night, dear nurse ~
Inan the meaning dawned uJop hei.
ste had heard Mackay's story, tie wns
dying poor, but his pension would be
Isld IL hs liveu till TOM rrow at IL
Yes, said Nurse Christie. "if Ee dies
before twelve tomorrow lbs pension will