The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-02-09
On BOQId The Princess.
How q Woman Came to Nurse q
Sick Lover and Found q
Nurse In Her Place.

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At the last moment she came aboard
and asked to see the captain, who Joined
her shortly in the saloon. What can
do for you?" he inquired reassuringly,
seeing her embarrassment.
| 81 want your advice, captain. l am in
a most unconventional position. The fact
is I-well-my iance is very i'll on your
boat. How he happened to be here did
not know, and there was no time to find
out, so / came to take care of him until
he is we'll Then-well, of course. then
we shall be married." And she rose,
biushing, iHcoherent, evidently excited
and nervous.
There was a pause while the captain
tilted his cap over one ear the better to
scratch his head.
IL guess Barwood is the maR you
mean. He took passage for Cooks inlet.
Coin to change ut Sltka for the Dora.
| Yes; he's real sick with fever. but
1 The captain paused, evidently at loss.
and she continued alphabetically:
| ut Is oil an odd proceeding, ! know,
/ but oh, could not let him go 80 far
alone when he was i'll. We have been
| engaged for some time, and was to join
| him at Seattle. but was taken suddenly
| ill. have no near relatives to know or
care what becomes of me. and her
| mouth curled In weary smile-"so j
came as soon as l was able to travel. He
failed to meet me, as ! expected. and at
| the last moment before the Princess sail
| ed | learned that he was here and i'll. ]
have come to take care of him. He needs
A,,I
thetic.
The captain looked uncomfortable and
blurted out:
But he don't need you. He is well
taken care of"
She saw no hidden meaning In his
words. but hastencd to say:
Pardon me. l am certain you are
careful of the comfort Of your passen-
gers. but l mean q woman's constant
care and nursing" and fond look shone
drawn dark circles. Then the captain
had done with temporizing:
There is a woman with him now"
With both hands gripping her breast
as though his words carried hurt she
said vaguely:
IL thought he was alone. Do you
know who she ISL"
81 AMT much acquainted with either Of
'em. Only know she is hospital nurse
and seems to have taken care Of him dur
in a spell Of the fever he had a few
weeks ago.
"Ah," she interrupted, "he has been i'll;
that was why he never wrote"
"Mebbe So" the captain admitted dry
ly. Anyhow he was taken down with q
relapse the day before yesterday, when
he came aboard. He sent for her at once.
sayin as how she'd nursed him all through
the first bout of the fever and he wanted
her ag in. She come right away and-well.
she's ben here with him ever sence."
A relieved expression crossed the girls
face.
"She is q professional nurse, no doubt.
We shall not interfere with each other.
Perhaps he will want me too," and she
smiled with rosy assurance. The cap
tain's dubious shake of the head was eff
fected while she gathered her parcels and
handbag.
Before go to my stateroom may
see him?"
The captain led the way and knocked
at closed door. 1t was quickly opened.
and fair slight woman in checked ging-
ham, with blond hair tucked into q
nurses cap, came out.
"Mr. Barwood is asleep" she said In
whisper, "and must not be disturbed"
She looked inquiringly at the captain,
who pulled at his whiskers with one hand
and jerked the other toward his compan.
ion.
This young lady wants to see Mr.. Bar
wood"
"But l have his physicians orders to
admit nobody" the nurse said coldly, still
blocking the door. The visitor shrank
back timidly, but the captain. with pity
for both softening his voice. insisted,
"Well, guess he'll have to suspend rules
In favor of this young lady-Mr. Bar
woods wife that is to be-"
1t was the nurses turn to blanche and
shrink.
"Mr Bnrwood is asleep now" she said
weakly, after heavy pause. Il am going
on deck for some fresh air. Will you
come too?'
There was SO much more in the manner
than words that the girl followed obedi-
entity. The captain excused himself, and
the two proceeded above in silence. BY
this time the steamer wns we'll out in the
sound. On the right lowered the noun
tains-gloomy mountains Of chaos, the
grayness relieved only by the emerald Of
glaciers or the foamy veil Of cascade.
To the south the verge doomed distant,
half hid by mists from the under world.
For n space the women stood motionless,
cowcd by the sense OF nOthingness. Then
the nurse spoke.
Excuse II seeming impertinence, but
may | ask what claim you have upon
Mr.. BarwGodT
The reply was cold with suppressed
anger. 81 may excuse it better when
know your right to ask" But she sank
upon q coil of rope near, and the proud
head was bent when the answer came:
THE right Of his afiianced wife. who has
left all-honor, friends, everything-to
take care of him to love him toto mar
ny him."
The nurse spoke with low and pas
sionate trcmor. The other toyed with the
end of the rope, nor raised her eyes
while she spoke in wooden tones.
1T is all odd, unreal, but 1t does not
occur to ME to doubt you. Strange
though you arc. am sure you are hon
est. He loves you. He will marry you.
As for me. what shall l do?" she ended
in q whispered sob to the sea, but the
waters were busy with their endless
striving, and a screaming eagle Knocked
them both.
The nurse came softly and sat beside
her. "You have left all for him. and so
have l, and now we have both lost him.
We have only each other"
THANK YOU" said the newcomer SIM
ply. "Rut il is only | who need suffer,
only | who am to blame. | should not
have come. But | thought he would
want mr-would need me-" and there
was pitfuI note of eXtenuation in her
voice as she rose aud paced the deck.
"but see now that was wrong, for this
Is the end"
But you love himp"
"Spare me. He loves you"
The nurse went to her and took her
hand. How do know that he loves
me? know that he sent for me; that he
asked me to be his wife; to 60 to the