The Portland daily press., 1900-04-20
! On B0QTd The Princess.
How q Woman Came to Nurse .
Sick Lover and Found q
Nurse In Her Place.

At the last moment she came aboard
and asked to see the captain, who Joined
her shortly In the saloon. What can
do for youT' he inquired reassuringly.
seeing her embarrassment.
II want your advice, captain. l am in
q most unconventional position. The fact
is I-well-my fance is very III on your
boat. How he happened to be here l did
not know, and there was no time to find
out, so came to take care of him until
he Is well. Then-well, Of course. then
we shall be married" And she rose,
blushing, incoherent, evidently excited
and nervous.
There was a pause while the captain
tilted his cap over one ear the better to
scratch his head.
II guess Barwood Ia the man you
mean. He took passage for Cooks inlet.
Coin to change at Sitka for the Dora.
Yes; he's real sick with fever. but
The captain paused, evidently az loss,
and she continued alphabetically:
at is all an odd proceeding, / know.
but Oh, could not let him go 30 far
alone when he was i'll. We have been
engaged for some time, and was to join
Dllu Ut Schttity but WIS SeoeNaAs
iii. l have no near relatives to know or
care what becomes Of me,"-and her
mouth curled in weary smile-"so
came as soon as was able to travel. He
failed to meet me, as l 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
me-" And the sudden dignity was pa
thetic.
The captain looked uncomfortable and
blurted out:
But he don't need you. lie is well
taken care Of"
She saw no hidden meaning in his
words. but FASTENED to say:
pardon me. l am certain you are
careful of the comfort of your passen-
gers, but l mean a woman's constant
care and nursing" and a fond look shone
in her eyes under which fatigue had
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:
I'll thought he was alone. Do you
know who she is?"
81 amt much acquainted with either OF
'em. Only know she Is hospital nurse
and seems to have taken care of him dur
in spell of the fever he had a few
weeks ago.
"Ah," she interrupted. che has been i'll;
that was why he never wrote"
"Mebbe So" the captain admitted dry
ly. Anyhow he was taken down with a
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 a 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 60 to my stateroom may !
see him"
ae captain led the way and knocked
and fair, slight woman In checked giDg-
nam, Win UlOuu nhiE tuShSQ ihto y
nurses cap, came out.
"Mr. Barwood is asleep" she said in q
whisper, land 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,
swell, l guess he'll have to suspend rules
In favor of this young lady-Mr. Bar.
woods wife that Is TO be-"
It was the nurses turn to blanche and
shrink.
"Mr. Barwood Is asleep now" she said
weakly, after a heavy pause. Il am going
on deck for some fresh air. Will you
come toop
There was so much more In the manner
than words that the girl followed obedi-
emily. The captain excused himself. and
the two proceeded above in silence. BY
this time the steamer was well 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 a cascade.
To the south the verge doomed distant,
half hid by mists from the under world.
For space the women stood motionless,
eowed by the sense of nothlngness. Then
the nurse spoke.
Excuse a seeming impertlnence, but
may | ask what claim you have upon
Mr.. BarwoodT'
The reply was cold with suppressed
anger. u may excuse 1t better when ]
know your right to ask" But she sanK
uDon a coil Of rome neaE and the proud