The Winslow mail., 1900-02-01
LiabOd jDo NJ" I- /


was it, Miss Merritt the cir
| cilmstances ?"
No, DEAR" l said, with a sudden
choke.
Il asked him to bring my flowers
afterwards-for the others, especially
for Baby Foster. Children do like
lowers SO, don't they?'
Yes, DEAR There was a little
pause whilst 1 shook up her pillows.
Nurse Jackson" she said, sis to
have workboX; a proper one, on a
stand, like the one your brother in In
dia gave you" 1 had often had Lucy
to tea with me when she was stronger.
Nurse Jackson has been very kind
to you, hasn't she?'
"Oh, yes! she is kind to everybody.
They all are. Nurse Nugent and Nurse
Smith and Nurse Filley are to have
silk aprons-very pretty ones for best.
They are to suit their compilations.
That is very important"
''Of course
Nurse Wilson is to have lock of
my hair. You see, she is a lady, with
money of her own. She says she
would like it better than an apron"
Yes, dear, | am sure she would
DIR. Royd is to have this big lock. l
do like DIR. Royd; don't you, Miss Mer-
ritt?''
'1've scarcely seen him yet, dear
He was our SECOND resident doctor.
and had joined only a week ago, dur
ing my busy season. Everybody was
singing his praises.
1.-The other doctors are all to have
locks. viii you see that none of them
knows that DIR. Royd's was the big
gest?'
Eyes, dear" The thought was like
Lucy.
''Of course, haven't put the hair in
the will. You see, it isn't property
exactly"
No, l suppose not"
Then, of course, | had to consider
the children in the ward. That was
difficult, because there are so many.
So l have left them a summer tree
like the one they have at Christmas,
you know"
They will be very pleased 1 said,
slowly.
THE washerwoman is to have two
pounds of tea-the best, like yours
because she stretched those blouses
you and Nurse Wilson gave us to dress
up in. And-and- L forgot!" She
sank back wearily, and the watchful
nurse brought her something to drink.
Now, dear, dear Miss Merritt" she
said, with fresh animation, there is
you. What would you like for your
legacy?"
Whatever you have left me, dar-
ling" l said. l meant to have a lock
of her pretty hair.
You see,' she said, thoughtfully, 81
want you to have something much bet
ter than anyone else, because-be
cause l love you so much. So l
wouldn't put down any little present,
but just left you the residue of my
real and personal estate 1 know that
is right, because l saw it in a book.
1t is all that is left after the little
legacies. l should hope it would come
to a good deal"
You don't know how much your
estate is, then, dear?"
No." she answered, YEARLY; 81
don't. But you needn't be afraid.
There will be something very good for
you. L know there will. Now kiss me,
dear"
l kissed her, and she sank back on
the pillows and dozed, and Nurse Jack
son came and talked to me under her
breath.
"I'm glad you're here, miss" she
The end can't be long.
She's told you about her will, of
course?" l nodded. "She was writing
It out this morning; L expect it's in
bed with her. DR.. Royd sat with her
Tor an hour this afternoon, and she
talked to him about it. Everyone
lakes to the child
1t was couple of days after the fu-
neral, when, going through the morn
ng's letters, found one from a we'll
known scitv firm of solicitors, inclosing
l check for $25 ION account of Lucy
Field, deceased, at the request of her
executors" When [ went into the
ward that afternoon | heard that the
ward messenger, the gardener and the
had also received the
egacies which the poor child had
l spoke to DR.. Royd about it when
ne came in the evening to cheer me
up. He was a particularly nice fel-
low, l found, and very sympathetic.
obviously some well-to-do friend
or relative is paying her legaccs for
her." he said. Il suppose there will
be one for YOU
| shook my head. ''She had no
friends or relations, doctor. No one
ever came to sec her, and she never
wrote to anyone"
"My dear Miss Merritt he pro-
tested, there is no other eXplana-
ton"
''She would have told me. We were
such friends 1 said, unsteadily.
II know know. You should have
heard the account she gave me of you.
My curiosity was raised to fever
point
II am sorry for your disappoint-
ment," l said, trying to laugh.
Il didn't say l was disappointed"
He locked very hard at me, and I
felt the color rush into my cheeks.
He had paid me marked attention dur
ing the last few days, and-well, it
would be nonsense to say that l was