The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-02
JACK RENNocH,s NURSE.

Jack Bennoch was one of the thousands
CT young men who had volunteered for
service at the commencement OF hostil-
tiles with Spain He was fortunate
enough 10 be in one of the regiments
ordered to Cuba, and took part in The
battle Of San Juan Hill and the siege
1 OF Santiago. escaping without a scratch
II he escaped the Spanish bullets. how
ever, he was not so fortunate in escaping
the fever, and like many OF his com
panions. returned to the states. his sys-
TEN filed with typhoid and malaria.
Jacks family were spending the sum-
ner at East Hampton. only a few miles
from AIOntauk Point Ef here the regiments
returning 70 Cuba were landed. As soon
as a Through could be obtained he was
taken directly home, and under the low
ing care Of his mother, four sisters. and
Elsie was nurseG back 70 health and
strength.
It was in the second week of his i'll
ness that Elsie first appeared. Jack had
gradually been growing weaker and the
attending physician had warned the fam
lily to be prepared for the worst. That
very morning Jack awolSe, as he thought.
10 find q strange and beautiful girl bend
ing over him. She had large eyes Of
violet blue. and an abundance OF dark
( brown hair. Jack was certain as he gazed
AZ her, deyOuring eyes, that he had never
seen one half so beautiful. or whose face
! expressed so much goodness and love.
| His heart went out TO her on the spot
| and he felt that he would gladly die
for one kiss from those beautiful lips
which, as she caught his ardent look
bent upon her, parted In a smile Of in
finite sweetness.
who are you?" he asked in a whisper
| as if afraid that the sound of his voice
| would cause the lovely vision to disap-
pear.
Elsie is my name" she replied. in a
sweet melodious voice, which made Jacks
heart beat faster, and I have come to
help nurse you
But where do you come from. and
! who sent you. and how long are you go
I ing to stay?" asked Jack eagerly.
L cannot tell you where I come from
or who sent me-" she answered. and the
| length Of my stay depends upon your
| self"
Upon myself" cried Jack. delighted,
| Then you Will never leave me- for 1 love
you and shall want you with me always"
! You must not think of love-" she said
smiling; you must think Of getting well;
to love me would only cause you urhappi-
| ness. I am here to nurse YOU, and not
| make YOU loyesick, so go TO sleep. You
/ silly boy"
She laid her hand on his forehead, and
smOothed back his hair. Her touch sent a
thrill through every nerve in Jacks bod:
he felt too happy to speak. Gradually a
/ feeling of drowsiness came over him, and
/ he fell asleep.
The doctor came every day after what
the family called Jack greatness" COM
menced. You must not mind his wander
! ings" he said. 1T always occurs in these
severe cases. If we can build up his sys-
TEN, his mind will come around all right"
During this time of anxiety for the fam
lily, the days passed pleasantly enough
for Jack. He never was so happy. Elsie
was constantly at his side and, as il ap-
peared to him, OWNED his slightest wish
She was the only thing that was real to
him. His mother and sisters seemed like
phantOms moving in and out. and their
voices sounded far away. He refused TO
take the food and medicines they brought
him, until Elsie appeared to bid him do so;
then he took them without nlurmur.
1t seemed TO Jack that there was moth
ing Elsie could not do to add to his COM
fort and happiness. With her own
hands she made him the most delightful
dishes; never had he eaten such food be-
fore, and he chuckled as he remembered
that the doctor had forbidden him any
thing except boiled milk and white OF an
egg. To be sure he took these. and IL
was only TO please Elsie and deceive the
family, who knew nothing of the special
dishes which he and Elsie ate together.
In the evening Elsie would sit beside
him and pass her hands caressing through
his hair and he would talk to her OF his
love. for she no longer tried TO stop him.
and Jack felt sure that she loved him also.
though she would never say so. and only
listened quietly when he spoke Of his
hopes and plans and built glorious cas-
ties in the air anent the time he should
get we'll
Though Elsie would not speak of love
world she often spoke Of the spiritual
world and of the life to come. 1t seemed
TO Jack that heaven was revealed 10 him
through her eyes and lips, and never had
he learned to reverence God as he did
then.
Elsie" he said to her one nlght--it was
the fifth week Of his illness. and she had
been talking to him of the life hereafter
II believe you yourself are spirit. You
seem to be too truly good and beautiful
70 belong to this world, and you speak so
convincingiy and so intelligently OF the
spiritual world that I do not see how
anybody who has not been there could
talk as you do
Elsie bent down until her sweet face
was close to Jacks as she said: Perhaps
YOU have guessed rightly; at any rate [
am your good influence and have shown
you the road TO heaven. If you follow it
faithfully and unswervingly to the end,
you viii meet me again and we shall part
no more. Now, I must say goodbye I
So saying, she kissed Jack lightly on the
lips.
with the imprint Of that celestial kiss.
he seemed TO wake as If from a sound
sleep.
The crisis is over" he heard voice
saying, "and We VIII soon have him on
his feet again. II was the doctor. and he
was speaking 10 the members Of the
family who were grouped around the
bed.
It seemed TO Jack that it was the first
time that he had seen them distinctly for
a long time Elsie was nowhere 10 be /
seen nor did Jack ask where she was; .
Ter last words were written in his heart (
and he knew that. IN this world et least. Z
he would see her no wore.
He progressed rapidly towards recovery /
and was soon able 20 leave his bed lie
had not mentioned Elsie to any Of the
family and was not sure that they knew .
anything Of her But as he sat talking
10 them Of his Illness his sisters asked. 3
"Andwho IS Elsie. We have just been dy- I
strong enough row 70 answer questions. (
You talked Of her constantly during your /
'crazv spell In fact you seemed 10 be !
talking 20 her. and she appeared more !
real 90 you than any Of "a did. " grew 4
quite jealous OF her Elsie was taking +
care 81 vou' YOU said, and you did not /
want anyone else around apparently. we .
are certain that she mus; be some girl .
you have met and fallen ff l0ve with slnce Z
y-ou went 20 tne var and when the brain +
fe.er came or sen thought she aes with
Won nursing you, hut do ten us who she