The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-04-12
A YOUNG MANS FANCY.
The Story of Trained Nurse
and the Way She Overcame
n Terrible Temptation.
BY JOHN FORBES.
COPYRIGHT, 1901, BY john FORBES.
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weeks Win typnold fever and was nav
only weak shadow of his real self. sub
ject to nervous starts and chills and with
Just strength enough to turn in bed.
1t was in the chill hours of early dawn
that he woke with a start and missed
the familiar figure that had haunted his
bedside for so long, blue and white liz
ure with kind, quiet face above il and
cool, helpful hands that always did Just
the right thing.
Nurse" he called family, and a mo-
ment more brought the day nurse from
the next room. Her blue and white uni
form was gone and her stiff white cap.
In their place she wore Il soft wrapppr
and her hair was plated in a heavy
braid that hung below her waist She
turned up the gas, drew low stool 10
the bedside and sat down.
"The night nurse has gone" she began
quietly. You are so much better we
thought l could manage alone. You have
slept nearly all night Mr.. Western, and
now | shall get you your milk, and YOU
will go to sleep again"
lie followed her lazily with his ewes
while she lighted the alcohol lamp and
put the porringer of milk over it, Then
she sat down on a chair, her head dron
ped on her breast, and she slept soundly
for five minutes. waking when the milk
was hot as easily as though she were
some sort of machine adjusted to rest
just so long.
SO there were two of you" he said as
she came toward him with the milk.
She sat down on the stool by the bed
SIDE holding the drinking tube to his
mouth. This action brought her quite
close, and he noted, as he drank. the soft
sheen of her hair the delicate curve of
her cheek, the long lashes shielding her
eyes, the firm, sweet mouth, and the
strong white hands that were minstering
to his needs.
"You are Nurse Dimple." he said as he
finished. II don't remember the other
one"
She showed two dimpes as she answer
ed. "Ges, that is what you have called
me ever since | came. My name is Wade,
Emily Wade"
II like my name best" he answered.
VERY well, but now you are to 90 to
sleep"
But the patient was not so easily dis
posed of.
Nurse Dimpe" he began as she turn
ed away, do patients ever remember
what they said and did when they were
delirous?"
81 don't know" she answered. IF
they do, they never spoke to me of it,
hope they do not, for most of them would
feel ashamed of themselves if they did"
You meant that for me, and you know
/ remember that insisted on your call
ing me Harold or wouldn't take my
medicine or my nourishment Aud you
did it too" And he laughed weakly at
the remembrance.
Il shall call you something worse than
your Christian name if you talk any
more. Go to sleep" And She passed her
hands over his forehead until drowsiness
oyercame him.
The next two weeks were very hazy to
the young man and consisted of long maps
with occasional irritating calls to drink
cruel or milk.
At last came q morning when the fog
cleared from his brain, and he woke re-
frcShed. Before him stood the nurse in
fresh blue and white dress, and snowy
cap above her soft brown hair.
~ whole egg this time, Mr.. Western,
and you look as though you could take
it"
He took his egg and asked meekly if he
might be allowed to talk and was granted
ten minutes. After he had learned the
day Of the week and month, he asked
suddenly:
Did that night nurse ever come back,
or have You taken care of me alone ali
this timc!"
Not quite alone" she answered.
Your sister. Mrs. Albright, sits with
you every other afternoon. and Miss Vio-
let Grant takes the alternate day She
sits in the dressing room and rings the
bell If YOU stir. She is too shy 10 run the
risk of your waking and finding her here.
she has brought Il bunch of these violets
every morning early and inquired for
YOU"
She is little wood violet herself" he
exclaimed calamity. But you. Nurse
Dlmpe, are very rose for freshness
TINS morning. | prefer roses"
Spare your compliments. Mr.. Western.
You are getting too well to be allowed to
talk nonsense"
es, ! am better, thanks to your care"
ne SAID sobery. But if am not to be
allowed to say what ! think and feel to-
ward yon, shall wish myself back into
tne days of weakness and delirium, when
made YOU do what | wished"
our ten minutes are up. Mr.. West
'Eh' Miss Wade said, a little sharply,
ana she set about tidying up the room
with unnecessary swiftness.
Harold continued to gain each day,
and seeing that direct lovemaking was
ulStaSteful to his nurse and that more
careful advances must be made he turned
10 studying her likes and dislikes, talking
over books with her and getting her to
read passages from his or her favorites.
linus a very real and pleasant friendship
Sprang up between them.
But Miss Wade could not help seeing
mat the lad was growing to love her. and
many long hours at night she debated the
question with herself Harold was much
younger than Miss Wade, very handsome
ana would soon he very rich 1t was a
temptation to the woman, who knew just
what the world had to offer her.
she had nursed eight years and knew
that TWO more were about as many as the
average nurse could do Then would
come some offer to become matron of an
orphan asylum or some similar position,
OF else she would be obliged to hunt for
chance as companion to some nervous
frank or old person. 1t was not a tempt
ing future to look forward to, and here
oeIore her was ease il she would take it.
Ihe thought of Violet Grant always in