The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-10-03

the nurse. All the pent up tenderness
of years, all the starved affection Of
the woman's heart, sternly repressed
for SO long, were unstintedly lavished
upon the child 1t was a bad case.
Miss Humphreys flung herself with
tireless energy into the battle with
death Molly could not die; she must
not die. And love won. The fatal crisis
was passed; the little life began to
tighten its hold on existence. Miss
Humphreys rejoiced until one day
came sudden, most unwelcome
thought. Molly was out of danger;
Molly was growing well; Molly would
soon leave the hospital and go home.
Miss Humphreys started and tried to
Danish the thought. But it would not
go. 1t pursued her, obsessed her, be-
came a nightmare.
Outside the big ward was small
room where Miss Humphreys some
times sat. Late one afternoon she
was there, still haunted by the thought
of Molly's departure. 1t seemed ter
ribly near. How could she let Molly
go back to that aunt-that narrow
faced, hard eyed woman-from whom
the child palpably shrank upon the &C.
casions Of her rare visits? Was she
unkind to the little thing? Miss Hum
phreys wondered.
A sudden sense Of encouragement
possessed the nurse. Molly was nearly
convalescent. yet to the doctor Miss
Humphreys had dilated at length upon
unfavorable symptoms, inherent weak
nesses, and this morning. this very
morning, she had deliberately altered
the temperature line on the patients
chart. That was objectionable. She
had fancied that the doctor had looked
at her rather oddly as he returned the
chart. Did he suspect anything? Must
she let her go-this child with Toms
name and with Toms own blue eyes
Where had Molly found them? The
aunt, dry, uncommunicative person,
only said that the child's mother was
dead. Molly babbled of daddy al
most always from home. The idea had
once flashed across Miss Humphreys
mind that Tom himself might be this
daddy, but she had dismissed the sug-
gestion as too improbable. There were
doubtless thousands of Brennans.
1t brought the man to her mind, how
ever Toni Where could he be? He
had loved her once Why had she let
him go? Miss Humphreys looked about
the plain little room, thought Of the
ward beyond She had sent Tom away,
had left her home, come to New York
and entered the training school,
worked. denied herself, suffered, In
spired, sustained by no ignoble am
bition.
Well, she had succeeded. She had
achieved her goal. Was she not head
nurse in this busy hospital ward Z
Again her eyes Travelled around the
dreary little room. Was this then
what her ambition meant, a solitary
woman growing old alone? Miss
Humphreys, tired and depressed, knew
that she was morbid; sought to shake
1t off, but the feeling was too strong
for her. The reaction from the years
Of effort had set in, and all at once q
wave Of heartsickness seemed to sub
merge her In its depths, forcing the
unaccustomed tears to her dark eyes
Miss Humphreys uttered little sob
Was what she had won worth the
sacrifices demanded? Did life hold nc
more than this?
The sound of voices outside the dool
reused her. The doctor was speaking.
$50 thought 1t best to send for you
yourself and explain matters" he was
saying "Shc is one of our best nurses
and has worked night and day to save
your child. Indeed. that the child LIVED
at all is largely due to her untiring Wig
lance. But there is no reason now
why Molly should not leave the hospi
tai. 1t sometimes happens, however
that nurse takes fancy to patien
and tries to keep him overtime There
fore / preferred that you yourself
should come and remove Molly.
would not wish to hurt Miss Hum
he was humane man and could sym
pathize with the dizziness of the nurse
life. I'VE all think so much Of Mis-
Humphreys"
miss Humphreys" repeated the man
And at the voice the woman started
and clasped her hands over her heart
"Miss Humphreys. you say? Could
could see herr"
The doctor considered moment I"
hardly think that she is on duty now,
he said slowly "Oh," with suddel
recollection, "she often sits in that Iii
tie room. Possibly she may be Their
now"
As Brennan entered she sprang uI
facing him. and for a moment the.
~. s.a.ru Al snence, the womal
struggling to control her uncertain
breathing.
The man started forward "Margs
ret!" he cried. Miss Humphreys nod
ded.
Yes. it is l." she answered. tryin
to speak in commonplace manner. g
belong to this hospital" But he di
not seem to hear her.
Margaret, oh, Margaret he repeat
ed below his breath. She was far NOR
lovely than he had ever seen her, wit
that new, softened expression, the teal
drops still clinging to her long blac
lashes. She lifted her head.
80 you have come to take Mol
away" she said simply. The man star
ed. He had quite forgotten the child.
"Nhy-she cannot stay here-the doc
tor says that she Is WELL" he STAN
mered confusedly. HE said
Eyes, know" responded Miss Hum
! phreys. "She Is quite WELL" Sh'
was staring straight ahead, her darl
eyes filed with a blank, unseeing look
He would go away again. Molly woul'
go away. What was there left 70
her? The doctor knew what she ha'
done. She might have to leave tn
hospital But she did not care abou
that. Brennan took step forward.
Margaret" he cried: "oh, Margaret
why did you send me from your
There was a whole lifetime of PAL
and yearning in the mans voice an
Miss Humphreys heart gave sudde
throb. He had not entirely forgotte
her then. The image of that othe
woman had not entirely obliterated be
own.
81 don't know" she faltered. fee
ing like silly schoolgirl. Her usus
calm self possession was gone. Tn
doctors would not have recognize