The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-19
On b0Nd The Princess.
How a Woman Came to Nurse q
Sick Lover and Found
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 your he inquired reassuringly,
seeing her embarrassment.
Il want your advice, captain. l am in
most unconventional position. The fact
is I-wcll-my tiance 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 l came to take care of him until
he is well. Then-well, of course, then
we shall be married." And she rose,
bushing, 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 is the man you
mean. He took passage for Cooks inlet.
Coin to change at Stka for the Dora.
Yes; he's real sick with fever, but
The captain paused, evidently at loss,
and she continued alphabetically:
1T is all an odd proceeding, l know,
but Oh, could not let him 20 SO far
alone when he was III. We have been
engaged for some time, and l was to join
him at Seattle, but was taken suddenly
i'll. have no near relatives to know or
care what becomes Of me, and her
mouth curled in weary smile-"so l
came as soon us | 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
" nd hn SuIlon liUnify UNA
thetic.
The captain looked uncomfortable and
blurted out:
But he don't need you. He is well
taken care off,
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 woman's constant
care and nursing" and 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:
thOHSht hG was 1JO you
know who she Isl"
Il amt much acquainted with either of
'cm. Only l know she is hospital nurse
and seems to have taken care of him dur.
in spell Of the fever he had few
weeks ago.
"Ah," she interrupted, che has been i'll;
that was why he never wrote"
"Mebbe So" the captain admitted dry
Iy. anyhow he was taken down with n
relapse the day before yesterday, when
he came aboard. lie sent for her at once,
sayin MS how she'd nurscd 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 scnce."
A relieved expression crossed the girls
face.
'She is n 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 ef-
fccted while she gathered her parcels and
handbag
Before l go to my stateroom may
see him."
The captain led the way and knocked
at Il 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 whskers with one hand
and jcrkcd 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 codly, still
blocking the door, The visitor shrank
back timidly, but the captain, with pity
for both softcning 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. Barwood is asleep now" she said
weakly, after heavy pause. II am going
on deck for some fresh air. Will you
come t0O?'
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
tans-gloomy mountains of chaos, the
grayness relieved only by the emerald Of
glaciers or the foamy veil Of cascade.
10 the south the verge doomed distant,
half hid by mists from the under world.
For space the women stood motionless,
cowed by the sense OF nothingness. Then
the nurse spoke.
"Excuse seeming impertinence, but
may ask what claim you have upon
Mr.. BarwoodY"
The reply was cold with suppressed
anger. Il nny excuse it better when