Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-02-23
CHAPTER XIV.

Two days and nights have elapsed;
no answer has been received to the
doctors Neutrality-suspicious. telegram;
and Shell, sitting patiently beside her
charges, begins to think that the ad-
dress given by Piper must have been
an erroneous one. Nor has profess
sional nurse put in her appearance
the children are going on so favorably
that the doctor deems the services of
one unnecessary, since Shell is de-
termined not to quit her post, and in
deed has given a promise to that effect
to her little patients.
She is quite isolated from the rest of
the household. The children are in
stalled in a large room at the end of
the passage which on their arrival was
fitted up as a night-nursery. Shell is
with them all day; at night she occu-
pies the roomy old sofa in the adjoin-
ing room, leaving the door of COM
munication open.
All intercourse with the outer world
Is carried on cautiously round the sat
urated sheet which cuts her off from
the household In general. Yet some
how Shell has no feeling of ISOLATION
she has books In plenty to occupy her
when the children sleep, and during
their waking hours she has work
enough to keep them amused.
She is sitting at the iyy-wreathed
easement on the third morning. look
ing out for the doctors visit, when a
hired carriage drawn by pair of hors-
es turns suddenly into the front yard
She cannot see the occupants as 1t
passes beneath the window, and the
front of the house Is also out of sight.
She rises from her seat with a
strange feeling of confusion and nerv-
business; she would give worlds to be-
come invisible; she even glanees out
of the window, as If meditating escape
in that direction.
Then steps are heard down the pas
sage, the door-handle turns and the
next moment Robert Ghampley enters
the room, followed by the housekeeper
at Ghampley House.
Papa. papa shrek two shrlll lit
tie voices; and Tolley-dear old Toll
leyi"
The children are caressed and quiet
ed, whilst Mrs. Tolley delights them
with huge bunch of flowers which she
has brought with her.
Then Robert Champley crosses over
to the window where Shell is standing
in the background The girl looks
pale and almost stern, though-a very
unusual thing with Shell-she is trem
bling visibly.
Shell, how can I ever thank Won for
this?" says Mr.. Champley, In a tone
broken by emotion
There is nothing to thank me for
that l see," answers Shell coldly. Il
like nursing-if mamma would only let
me l should like to enter a hospital"
mo young and beautiful woman can
like nursing smallpox cases." rejoins
Robert Champley.
1t Is the first time in her life that
Shell has been called beautiful" and
a quick flush rises to her white skin
which really renders her so for the
moment. Then she breaks into
laugh.
1t is ehicken-pox-not smallpox"
she says quickly.
Are you snre?" asks her eompan-
ion, whilst a look of relief lights nm
his whole face.
Yes, quite; for the first twelve hours
the doctor feared otherwise. but there
is no doubt whatever now they are SUI
fering from chicken-pox in its mildest
form; only as Mrs Pomfret's children
have not had it. we are taking every
precaution."
And you-haye you had it?" asks
Robert Champley anxiously.
Yes. three years ago." laughs Shell;
so you see''-with a satirical little
xmile-"I have been running no great I
risk"
As II has turned out, answers her
companion, regarding her steadily;
but can never forget that you nursed
them during those twelve doubtful