The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-15
Nurse Quimby's Remuneration,

els Miss Quinby off duty tonight, Mrs.
Preston?" hurriedly questioned DR.. Att
wood Of the head matron, as he paused
at the foot OF the corridor.
Yes, after six
81 shall need her tonight. then. I an
| sorry. but it can't be helped; it is SO
| sickly that a good nurse cannot easily
| be secured. Tell her TO be al the main
| office downstairs at seven. and 1 viii
cali for her. and without further words
he hurried down the stairs and out
| through the great green swinging doors
| of the hospital into the street
Miss Quimby,' said the matron few
| moments later, to a tall. slender, dark
| eyed girl in nurses garb. as she came
! from one of the wards with bunch OF
| towels over her arm and cup in her
| hand, DR. Atwood has just told NE that
| he will need you tonight. He wants you
! 70 be at the main office downstairs al
| seven, and he will CALL
Very we'll"
Isabel Quimby was the daughter OF par
ents that had once been wealthy, but her
father, like so many men, in endeavoring
TO gain by speculation, lost everything =
their beautiful home and their place in
society among the rest. Her father. &c
| whom the humiliation was far worse than
the mere poverty, did not survive the
fearful strain laid upon him, and in less
than two months died, leaving Isabel
and her mother nearly penniless.
Then the young girl, putting pride and
all its accompanying sensit!veness IN her
pocket, entered the ST. Adams Hospital,
an institution in her native city, as nurse.
The tall, beautiful girl in her dark dress
with white apron and cap. and her rich.
heavy hair coiled about her shapely head.
and her beautiful face so earnest and
tender, was almost a tonic to those she
was called TO nurse.
Before her fathers failure she was en-
gagged to Hale Atwood, a young rising
doctor. successful and popular. and con-
nected with the St. Adams Hospital. But
it mad been a hard struggle with him.
for he was poor-that Is in comparison
with her fathers wealth. After the crash
was over. and she found that he intended
her to keep her promise TO him, she told
him one night, as they stood in the par
Tor Of the poor little suite of rooms she
and her mother had hired, that she could
not marry him, for in so doing she would
be but putting ont more obstacle in his
path to fame. since the wealth she had
intended should help him was gone. She
felt it her duty to break the engagement
In vain did he plead and demonstrates
She was firm, and nothing that he could
say could in anywise change her mind
There has been one more such scene
when she entered the hospital, with the
same result. Then he had grown cold
and thy began to pass each other on the
steps or in the long corridors with mercy
a nod, and in time the meager civility
wore away and he appeared to recc g
nize her no more than one. OF the other
nurses.
t.
and doctors and nurses were catching bits
of sleep over their meals or at any con-
venient time. Isabel had been but one
night off during the week and all day
she had been looking forward 10 six
o'clock, when she would be free to so
home for one nights rest; but now this
summons had come, and from him.
Promptly at she opened the Office door
He was waiting for her. Without a word
otherwise than a civil salut4tro1 they
passed out through the doors and down
the steps. Silently he helped her into the
sleigh and took his seat by her side. Not
till they were we'll out of the central Tor
ton of the city and making their way to-
ward the suburbs did he SPEAK. Then it
wasof the case itself-what he wished to
be done, and about the medicines After
that he relaxed into sill nce again. II
placed her in a harder position--besIde
the man she loved with all her soul and
being, and yet to whom. ny her own man
date, she could not speak one word Of the
love that was making her tremble now
She believed she had never seen him so
cool and self-possessed before. Once as
they passed street lamp she had glanced
into his face, silhouetted against the light.
and it had been deep in thought. At last
she ventured a remark.
Where did you say this patient iives?'
There was long silence. and she be-
gan to think he had not heard Ter. and
was about to repeat the question, when
suddenly he turned and looked full at her.
so near that she could feel MS breath.
she was thankful for the darkness, FOR
she felt q hot flush spreading over her
face.
Il did not say" he said, slowly. turning
back to his horse; II did not say I. o.
Isabel, 1 have brought you out here to-
night that l may plead with you just once
more. There is no patient except myself.
and no medicine on this earth can cure
me but you, dear"
For a moment the girl felt herself Civ
ing away. her resolves slipping down, yet
she made one desperate attempt at
rally.
How dare you bring me out here on
such a pretense, DR.. Atwood"
Isabel" he whispered for his arms
were around her; Isabel, want you to
say you love me-"
Her poor. tired head sank upon his
shoulder, and their lips, after long months
of separation, met.
Yes. I love you, Hale" she murr1ured.
and the sleepy old horse enjoyed Il, TOO
for he had chance for little nap.-Bos-
ton Post.