The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-29

nHu N0WM through Tue NA4EtNN anu
into the chapel TOO late. The door
was shut and all was in darkness.
In q moment I knew what had hap
pened; the porter, supposlng that had
gone and left the visitors 10 him, had
turned out the gas, locked the door
end gone away With them. Oh. It was
TOO lorriblel I beat on the door with
both my fists! I raised my voice in a
fearful scream. but that was worse
than the awful silence. for the hollow
walls took up the sound. and the mock
ing echo came back to me. as If the
dead were shriehng in their places. !
sank on my knees on the damp stones
and covered my face With my hands.
The building stood far away from
any other; the clustering wind would
prevent my voice being heard even had
l the courage TO shout again. which ]
had not; no one would be In the grounds
IN such weather as this; ! should not
be missed. In the ward I should be
supposed. being of duty. to be in my
own room. Nurse Fiemming missing
me from the supper table. would inn
agine that / had gone to bed. and
would probably retire without, as she
thought. disturbing me. What should
/ do7 What could I DO? TO rcmain
there all night seemed impossible, yet
how much more impossible 70 get
away. I had always been accounted
among my fellow nurses as the most
courageous. and fear had been won't
to boast that nothing could frighten
me, but 7 had never dreamed Of any
thing like this. To sit among friendly
faces in the taylish OF beside a CHEEKY
fire. was one thing. To be forced to
spend a night alone with the dead was
another
At length I gathered sufficient cour-
age to turn round and try to realize
my position. Oh. how I envied those
fortunate mortals who. IN moments Of
danger and dread. can quietly faint
away into calm uncOnsciousness, TO re-
cover their senses only when the horror
is r-st II I could only lie down on
thar cold floor and sleep. Aye' even
if it was the sleep that knows no walk
ing. how gladly would I have done So
Anything rather than remain terror
stricken with these dreadful com
panions. ! glanced at the lantern:
how long would it burng Could I de-
pend on it's light lasting till dawn2 /
looked at the trolly, with its cold, still
burden, then, with a mighty effort. 1
crossed the chapel, and. Selling the
end OF the ghsbdy carriage, whirled 4
quickly into the large mortuary. With
as much strength as my arms still
possessed, / sent II into the darkness,
and few back into the dinly lighted
chapel. closing the door behind me.
Now at least was alone, with moth
ing more unearthly than white flowers
and a large ebony cross which huns
against the wall. Sinking down into
the corner most remote from the inner
door, wrapping my shawl closely round
my shiVering shoulders, ! placed the
lantern beside me. and stroyo vainly q
think of pleasant things. ] tried tc
think OF the ward, with rs cheerful
fire and rows Of beds with their cozs
red rugs; Of the fun We had had al
Christmas with the children and thu
Christmas tree; OF home. with the deai
faces l hoped to see when the summer
came, and with 1t the long-anticipatet
holiday. But all in vainl Ny eyel
would keep glancing round at the hor
rible door. My ears would strain them
selves to listen for sounds from tha
silent room. Oh! l should 60 m4dl
could not bear it, How wicked How
cruel! that no one came to seek me
What was that? The great clock a
the entrance was striking. One! two
but. no, seyenl eight then silence
Only eight o'cloclSl Only two hour
since ran through the garden to fetcl
the stimulantsl
Almost involuntarily I slipped m,
hand in my apron pocket Yes ther
were the two bottles. carefully wrappel
round with my handkerchief, as I hal
PIT them.
For moment a ray Of hope dartel
across my mind; surely, when tn
bottles were missed from their place
inquiry would be made. and I shoul
be sought for. But q moments re
nection brought back the old despair
It was not an unheard OF thing Fl
those busy times-for the dispensary 4
be forgotten until the door was lockei
and the dispenser gone. Mixtures an
medicines would be left on the littl
shelf outside. but not the stimulants-
and sister. with a sigh at the forget
fulness Of her nurses, would serve tn
patients from the stock bottles, and n
thought would be directed lo me.
WLsther I fell asleep or not hav
never since been able to determine
but when I reused from the semi
consciousness into which I had fallei
several hours appeared TO have elapsed
Instead Of the dim light Of the lanterl
at my side, the chapel was flooded
with silver moonlight. In spite tf m.
thick shawl I was fearfully cold ant
cramped yith leaning SO long agains
the chilly stones. / was aware tha
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