The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-27

then carried BY the hospital attendants
along the echoing, tagged corridor, and
ND fight after flight of stone stairs. AS
lhey went they encountered many silent
female figures-it was the time OF changing
nurses-so that fanciful stranger Nigh
well have thought of the stairway reach
ing from earth TO heaven. on which the
angels % God were seen ascending and
descending.
An observant stranger. too. might have
noted the peculiar doors that hung abou'
the stairs and passages, as If the ghosts
of medicines escaped from the chemists
bottles were lowering in the air. But the
stranger On the stretcher was not observ-
ant: his eyes were closed. his white face
was drawn with acute pain. and the only
assurance OF life in him the subdued
moaning that escaped with his breath; an(
he borne unheeding into the large
and lofty Barnabas ward-the abode of
silence and sickness, where either death OF
renewed life was certain to come to him.
The assistant 10 the chief surgeon of
the ward, who was resident near by, hat
been sent for. He came; and then there
in the ward a scene of swift, orderly,
and almost soundless action. There was a
screen round the bed on which the stranger
had been laid. and there was a strong light
upon il. Within the screen were the sur
geon and his dresser. the sister and the
night nurse-all alert. eager, self-possessed,
bending over the bed. There arose tn
smell Of chloroform on the ar. There came
the flash Of the knife in tho skilled hand
OF the surgeon, and then the def assured
binding and bandaging-an6 the operation
was over.
An hour later the Barnabas ward was
silent and dark save for the light OF the
fire and OF shaded lamp, by which. within
a screen, the night nurse was coming her
list of night duties. The evening was just
begun out of doors-shop fronts were still
faring, taverns were becoming noisy, and
briIliantly-lit theaters and music halls had
settled down to business-but here night
and darkness had long set in. Indeed, in
these beds of languishing which stretched
away dowa either side of the ward night
was scarcely TO be distinguished from day,
save for the sunlight and the occasional
excitement Of the Doctors visit. And many
there were who cried to themselves in the
morning. would God it were EVENING"
and in the evening, Would God it were
morningl" But there was yet this other
difference, that disease and doctor, fear
and hope, gossip and grumbling, newspaper
and Bible and tract. were ell forgotten in
the night, for some time at least, and
natures kind restorer. sleep. went softly
round among the beds and soothed the
weary spirits into peace.
While sleep and darkness thus regned
there entered into the ward tall young
man. He was fair and good-looking. and
he had a brisk and cheerful countenance
He was doctor; but he was not there az
the moment officially. He had been house
surgeon, but his duties as such had ended
several days before. and he was in process
or bidding a lingering adieu to the hispital
before he departed as an army surgeon to
India. He walked UP the familiar way be-
tween the beds till he reached the screen
and the shaded lamp. He was behind the
night nurse. He surveyed her a moment
and she was certainly very agreeable to
look upon-and then he bent over her chair
and put his lips to her ear.
"Oh. how you startled met she ex-
claimed in low, soft voice.
That could hardly be true; for his steps
had been quite audible, and she showed no
sign Of alarm, but rather smile of pleas
ure. The fib may be forgiven her, however,
for she was plainly in love; she put up
let ii remain so.
What's doing dear?" said he. "Are you
going to have a comfy night?" and he bent
his head with his cheek against hers. to
look at her list of duties-medicines to be
given and poultices applied at certain reg
ular intervals to some patients, and nour-
ishment to be given TO others. and number
so-and-so to be assiduously watched, etc.
To- Oh he
answered. "a terrible accident was
brought in an hour ago and operated on;
young man; a gentleman, evidently"
What has happened?" he asked.
She described as learnedly as doctor
the horrible condition of the young man.
who had beer run over: but you would not
understand her words If 1 set them down
Jack Urquhart was her lover. but he was
first of all a surgeon. profoundly interest
ed in his profession. When he heard of
the accident described he was erect and at
tentive.
ct should Ike to see him." he said
You SHALL" she replied.
She rose. and together they stepped to
the bed, which was still surrounded by a
screen and which was close at hand. He
turned on the electric light fixed at the
head OF the bed. shading it with his hand
from tie face o. the patient. The young
man seemed asleep; at any rate the chic
reform had not yet let go its hold on him;
II still kept him drowsed, and * was imp
ishly twisting the muscles of HE face and
neck. catching him by the throat and fiut
tering his breath
Good heavens" he exclaimed In a whis-
per. when he had gazed an instant. 'It's
Cecil-my cousin Cecilr'
He seemed so transfxed with astonish-
ment that the nurse. noting signs Of rest
lessness IL her patient. leaned behind Mr.
UrGuhart and turned off the light
Come away. Jack she whispered, "and
tell me-"
She took him by the arm and led him
back TO the privacy of her own screen.
They sat down together and sat quite
silent for moment In the great, breath
ing hush of sickness gathered about them.
d At first Jack UrQuhart was vague and won