The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-08-16

accompanies u CE
of starvation aud sickness. Hard
times and bad living were working
havoc among the poor; the hospital
was full to overAowing. An unusual
number of casualties, at the same time,
brought stretcher after stretcher to
the accidental room.
The great clock over the entrance
was just striking 6 as I threw my shawl
round me and hastened off across the
grounds to the dispensary. Running
quickly through the snow, soon ar
rived at the door, and was greeted by
the customary growl which awaited
late comers.
"1 am sorry I am late in coming for
the stimulants, I said, as soon as l
could get my breath. 81 could not
leave the ward before. Let me see,
six ounces of brandy for No. 20 and
little No. 1873 port wine; that is all,
I think"
"Anything fresh this afternoon,
Nurse Deaton?" inquired the dispen-
scr, as I busily packed the bottles into
my apron pocket, in order to leave
my hands free for my shawl.
'.Nothing for us, I answered. ga
bad case has just gone up to Mary
Ward. A poor young fellow was
brought in this afternoon, found dead
in the snow-good evening"" and I
set off again across the white ground.
"Off. duty at g. I said to myself, as
7 went. 81 would not go off. only I
am 80 tired, and Sister says I must"
At the ward door I encountered
Nurse Flemming, my chum and fell
low-nurse, just emerging from the
ward, accompanied by two women,
one of whom was weeping bitterly.
"Oh, desrle," exclaimed nurse as
she saw me, 81 am so glad you are
come. This is the wife of poor No.
-, who died this morning; she wishes
to see him. know you are off duty,
dear, but do you mind taking her?
I've just got fracture in, and Mr..
Hooper is waiting to attend to it;
thank you" nodded cheerful &C.
quiescence, and she turned back to at
tend to her many duties.
Taking the women with me, went
to the room of the porter, who kept
the morturary keys. With many
growls he lighted his lantern and pre-.
pared to accompany us, as he was in
duty bound to do.
he was one of many male officials Of
ut. Alban's, who consider it right to
be as disagreeable as possible to the
nurses whenever they required his
services, 80 I took no notice of his
mutterings, but devoted my attention
to the poor woman at my side. While
she was telling me Of the many vir-
tees OF her late husband, and of the
dark future in store for herself and
her eight children, we arrived at the
door of the mortuary. Leaving us
standing there, under a lamp which
projected from the wall and which
the porter lit from the flame of
his lantern, the man entered alone, in
order that he might bring forward
from the large mortuary the particu-
lar body we wished to see; presently
he opened the door again to admit US.
The door by which we entered led
into u tiny chapel. 1t was here that
the relatives of the deceased looked
their last upon the pale, set faces OF
their departed friends. The body
about to be visited was wheeled on a
light trolley into the chapel, which
was kept very clean, and daily re-
decked with white flowers.
AS we entered, the porter stepped
outside to do something to the lamp,
which did not burn properly, while ]
went forward with the women and
gently turned back the sheet from the
poor, dead face.
The two women were too much alb.
sorbed-the one with her grief and
the other with her smypathy-to take
any notice of me. So I, remembering
q poor little waif who had died in my
arms day or two before, and think.
ing should like to see him again, for
I had grown to love the little mother
less creature, picked up the lantern
from the floor and went in search oil
my little patient. 1t was some time
before I found him, and, after i'm.
printing kiss on the small, pitiful
face, I went to look at the new post.
mortem room, which had lately been
finished, and which had not seen.
I was walking round, the light of the
lantern cleaning weirdly on the white
tiles which lined the walls and floor,
when 1 suddenly heard door bang.
Without knowing exactly what hai
happened, I shivered with apprehen
sion and my flesh crept uneasily. l.
moment L had flown through the
mortuary and into the chapel. Too
late! The door was shut and all Wa
in darkness!
In moment I knew what had hap
pened. The porter, supposing that
had gone and lett the visitors to HIM
had turned out the gas, locked tht
door aud gone away with them. Oh
it was too horrible! 1 beat on tn
door with both my fists. l raised m.
voice in a fearful scream, but that wa
worse than the awful silence, for tht
hollow walls took up the sound ant
the mocking echo came back to me a
if the dead were shrieking in thei
nlaoes. I sank to my knees on tn