Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-15

0lCSOIJ AGdL b was OAsASS AOW AS WAS
so near the quiet room. He told her
he had come with the transport wag-
ons that stood outside the town.
He had walked in and wanted lodg-
ings for the night.
1t was a deliberate lie, glibly told.
He would have told 90, though the re-
cording angel had stood in the next
room with his pen dipped ins the ink.
What was it to him? He remembered
that she lay there, saying always, IL
am better"
The landlady put his supper In the
little parlor where he had sat in the
morning. When 1t was on the table,
she sat down in the rocking chair, as
her fashion was, to knit and talk, that
she might gather news for her, custom
ers in the taproom. In the white face
under the queer, deep fringed cap she
saw nothing Of the mornings traveller.
The newcomer was communicative.
She was nurse by profession, she.
said; had come to the Transvaal, hear
ing that good nurses were needed
there. She had not yet found work.
The landlady did not perhaps know
whether there would be any for her in
that town?
The landlady put down her knitting
and smote her fat hands together.
If it wasn't the very finger Of Gods
providence, as though you saw it hang
ing out Of the sky, she said. Here was
lady i'll and needing a new nurse that
very day and not able to get one to her
mind, and now-well, il it wasn't
enough to convert all the atheists and
freethinkers in the Transvaal she
didn't know!
Then the landlady proceeded to de-
tail facts.
Pm sure you will suit her." she add
ed. You're just the kind. She has
heaps Of money to pay you with, has
everything that money can buy, and
got letter with a check in it for ESQ
the other day from some one who says
Pm to spend it for her and not to let
her know. She is asleep now, but I'll
take you in to look at her.
The landlady opened the door Of the
next room,, and Gregory followed her.
A table stood near the bed, and q lamp
burning low stood on it. The bed was
a great four poster with white cur
tains, and the quilt was Of rich. GRIM
son satin, but Gregory stood just In
side the door, with his head bent low,
and saw no farther.
"Come nearer! III turn the lamp up
q bit that you can have look at her.
A pretty thing, isn't it?" said the land
lady. ,s..s y y :.s:t9 I. ssg
Near the foot of the bed was q dent
in the crimson quilt, and out Of it Doss'
small head and bright eyes looked
knowingly.
''see how the lips move. She is IN
pain" said the landlady. Then Greg
DRY looked mp at what lay on the cush-
ion, little white, white face, trans.
parent as an angels, with q cloth
bound round the forehead and with
soft, short hair tossed about on the
pillow.
eve had to cut it off," said the wo-
man, touching it with her forefnger;
"soft as silk, like wax dolHs."
But Gregory's heart was bleeding.
"Never get up again, the doctor
says" said the landlady.
Gregory uttered one word. In an in.
slant the beautiful eyes opened widely
and looked round the room and into the
dark corners.
"Who is here? Whom did I hear
speak?"
"Only this lady, ma'am, nurse by
profession. She is willing to stay and
take care, of you if you can come to
terms with her,"
Lyndall raised herself on her Ell.
bow and cast one keen, scrutinizing
glance over him.
"Have never seen you before?" she
asked.
NO"
She fell back YEARLY.
perhaps you would like to arrange
the terms between yourselves" said
the landlady. "Here is chair. / will
be back presently" ,
Gregory sat down, with bent head
and quick breath. She did not speak
and lay with half closed eyes, seeming
to have forgotten him.
"Will you turn the lamp down a lit
tle?" she said at last. II cannot beal
the light"
Then his heart grew drawer in the
shadow, and he spoke. Nursing was tc
him, he said, his chosen life's work He
wanted no money if She stopped
him.
81 take no service for which I do moi
pay" she said. "What gave to my
last nurse will give to you. If you de
not like it, you may CO."
And Gregory muttered humbly he
would take it.
Afterward she tried to turn herself
He lifted her. All! A shrunken little
body! He could feel its weakness a!
he touched 1t. His hands were to hin
glorified for what they had done.
THANK you! That is so nice! Other
people hurt me when they touch me,
she said .'Thank your Then after {
little while she repeated humbly
THANK you! They hurt me so."
/ Gregory sat down. trembling. Hi
\ little eve Iamb-co,lld thew hurt her2