Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1902-02-13
9ne was still blushing hotly when
his regular breathing showed her that
he had fallen into a quiet slumber.

He was sitting in his armchair taking
q sun bath at window that looked
out on the dazzling white Of melting
snow His visitors had just left him,
at his doctors orders. He was wait
ing for the return of "Nurse Blakely,"
with an impatience which he might
have recognized as longing if his phys
ical weakness had not disguised at
lection in him as an irritable lack Of
what he wished to have. She came in
light footed.
He crowed feeble
"Ah-ha! Did you hear what the doc
tor said? 2"
what did he say?"
She arranged the pillows to case the
strain on weak back. He was CRATE
full for that and his gratitude shone in
his smile.
I'm to be humored, the doctor said; !;
I'm to have my own way in every
thing"
"Are you?" she said, avoiding his
eyes. "You certainly had your own
way about the fruit
He laughed now at the folly that had
kept him happy prisoner In the hos
pital for the past nine weeks THAT
fruitv' he said; that was the most de-
licious-the most Do you know.
Nurse Blakely, thought those peaches
would kill me, but I was dying for
something to eat - and just took
them" She did not reply. "A mans
| fool when he has q fever. isn't he!"
he added with apologetic seriousness.
"Only theny' she retorted with OBJ
| stinate fippancy.
She was busying herself about the
room. He was watching her every
! movement with an eye Of invalid ten
derness.
"Oh. say" he protested. "you don't
make any allowance for fellow being
illr'
She affected a professional cheerful
ness in the matter.
"Oh. you're we'll on your way to
health" she said. "We'n soon have
you back to your friends"
| Nurse" he said. you're the best
friend ever had-or want to have"
| Her clustered loneliness rose on her
in a surge Of bitterness.
"Wait till you've been away from
here about a month. One feels very
| dependent and-and affectionate when
one is i'll. 1t soon wears off"
"That's the way you always talk, u
he said moodily. Then. Frightening,
"Ill report you to the doctor. You're
not humoring me-"
She did not answer. She smiled
having warded off the danger which
his milder manner had warned her Of
She seated herself in a chair and toob
up book which she had put down or
the table when his visitors had en-
tered.
whats that?" he demanded peev
ishly. "What are you reading"
"Don'ts," she answered laconically.
"Don'ts:"
"'One Hundred Don'ts for Nurses
she read from the cover. "Things VIZ
are not to do.''
"Well, don't worry. Your sins have
been all of omission. It's the things
you have not done"
She smiled serenely at the page.
"You might read it out, at least" b.
said.
"Let me see" She turned the pages
II think that is probably included l,
the prohibitions: Don't let others know
the secrets of the profession"
He clutched the arms Of the chair.
j, you're teasing me. Let me reat
that book or I'll get up"
She laughed and passed it to him
He began to read:
Don't sit in rocking chair and rocl
while resting" 'Don't injure the fur
niture in any way and be careful o
all fancy decorations" He looked
/, about him. ''The wreckage has bee1
appalling in this palatial apartment.
! He read again. "Well, great Ehv' b
cried. and looked up at her. ".Why.
was your :str.
. what wasT' q
, "Come here, please"
RI She went to him. He pointed wit
thin finger to an accusing "Don'
kiss your patient"
I She flushed under her dainty Swis
= cap.
e mot even delirious patients" b
: inquired.
. She turned her back on him from th
] window.
'Not even those who have an illr
S mination of reason?' he persisted. Sh
:. could find nothing to say. do 20
n know" he said, ''I've been puzzlin
e over it ever since. It was just befor
t I fell alseep and woke up to my sense
} again. At first I thought it was m
d aunt who brought me up, and the
suddenly thought it was an old chu1
G Of mine at college. You look very lik
him. Why, your names are the sam'
r Was Jim Blakely a relative OF yours
He was drowned"
o She turned on him with cry Of
4 "Jim Jim was my my deares
o brother"
d "Good Lord" he gasped and tried
t. rise. He sank back wearily in hi
chair and sat there staring at he
h What chump am" he said at las
d $50 you're little Marjorie" He r
< membered Jim's picture of her in h