Middletown transcript., 1904-07-09
fortunate in your nurse, Mrs. Graves she
EHnws r,eoro fho !, mort docters 81

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Miss Gregory gave him deprecating
glance. Please send these people to
bed, Doctor. all but Rob want him to
help me" !"
Mrs. Graves was about TO protest, but
the doctor raised his gloved hand warn
ingly. This head nurse chooses her
own assistants, y he said pleasantly ''you
will all be called upon, / assure you"
The doctors prophecy proved true. As
the weary weeks went by. every member
Of the Graves household was pressed into
service by the watchful nurse. Mr..
Grayes's mother took the three little
children to her own home few miles
distant The house soon settled into hos
pital routine. Mrs. Graves was banished
from the sick-room. Her presence seemed
to have most unacconntable and irrita-
ting effect upon the patieut. Under Miss
Gregory's careful guidance, Bess and
Gertie became very dependable day
nurses. Arthur and Rollie alternated in
taking the first watch of the night. Rob,
stronger.than either of his brothers, de-
veloped a hitherto unsuspected gentle
ness, that made him Miss Gregory's fav-
,ored coadjutor. He shared with her that
most anxious watch--from midnight until
morning. His strong, firm hands were
as-tender in touch as Miss Gregory's own.
His nerves were under absolute control.
To use his own expression, he "never got
ratified, !" even in an alarming emergency.
The crisis was reached and passed in
safety. The fever burned itself slowly
out. Closely the doctor and Miss Greg
ory watched for some sign OF conscious
recognition to follow the abatement OF
the delirium. But for many days the
sick man lay, white-faced and still, rarely
speaking.
Is it because he is too weak to speak 2"
asked Miss Gregory, anxiously.
Not altogether" replied the doctor !;
s'it is what / have feared from the be-
ginning. Our most anxious time is yet
to come. How much longer can you
stay?"
Until Mr.. Graves is WE'LL"
1t may be long time. He will re-
gain his bodily strength gradually, but !
fear for his mental condition. Do you
know why he calls You Marion ?"
Eyes; l asked his mother. Marion
was his twin sister, who died when they
were eighteen. He calls his SONS and
daughters by names belonging to his
classmates Of years ago. The few times
he has seen his wife he has appeared to
be greatly disturbed, and has asked that
that Pickering girr be sent out. 1t
seems that the Pickering girl was school
mate whom he greatly disliked. 1t is
very hard for Mrs. Graves"
81 suppose go" assented the doctor,
indifferently. He was silent awhile, and
then broke ont earnestly Miss Gregory
under God, you have saved that mans
life. / believe you havea chance to help
restore his reason. Humor his fancy that
you are his sister. Find out:if he has a
fad Or hobby. and arouse his interest in
it. I-iinagine his life las been lone dem
milton grind.1
81 know" murmured the nurse, un-
derstandingly. but if he does-eome
back-himself, he viii find many changes
in his home and in his family"
"Good girl" commended the doctor,
approvingly 81 haven't been blind"
Changes there were, indeed The
wings of the death angel had swept SO
close that each one had felt the dread
presence. The older ones began to under
stand the burden of care and anxiety that
their father had borne, and row each
one eagerly sought ways and means to
take part OF that burden. Rob attended
to the marketing, and took his fathers
place at the mead of the table to carve.
The task was assumed as his best way of
helping hard lesson in patience and
seIf-denial for a hungry growing boy.
Arthur found that his personal needs
could be reduced to a minimum. Rol)ie's
tact and ready, courteous address obtained
for him position with the insurance
company with which his father had been
SO long associated. Bess became soloist
at the st. James church. and Gertie se-
cured a class of piano pupils.
BY family agreement, Rob remained in
school, everyone approving Of his deter
mination to become surgeon. That's
the thing for Rob-" said Rollie; Rob
has dressed wounds and nended broken
bones for birds and beasts ever since we
were kids. And after l bad preached
fowery sermon over the grave OF some
dead pet, he was sure to dig it up and
dissect it. Ugh! But that is Rob's
choice, and we will see him through"
This was partly owing to Miss Gregory
She and Rob had become very confideaf
tial in the long watches they had shared
To, her the boy had disclosed his great
ambition, and she had discovered the
sweet and tender side of his nature hid
den under his gruff speech and uncouth
manner.
Study as hard as you can, Rob-" she
had said lyon shall lave your chance.
The money will be forthcoming when
necessary, and this shall be our secret,
yours and mine. y
The bond between them became even
closer when Miss Gregory told him how
she, physicians daughter, had studied
medicine and surgery, and had borne the
hardships Of severe hospital training,
that she might help her father in his
work. And then of her fathers death,
and Of her dreadful sense Of loss and lone
illness. You'd better stay with us
always" the boy has said, earnestly Il
there's 60 many of US you wouldn't be
lonesome any more, and Art-' He1
stopped awkwardly.
That's Arthur's secret" she said
quickly and kindly; We will wait for him |