The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-09-28
OUTSIDE THE
WARD
Bu A. n. DAVIES OGDEN
Copyrtoht, 1905. by A. n. Ddcies Ogden

n
Eould be termed popular. Tall, hand
tome, in a dark, cold type Of beauty,
he was much admired, and the doctors
all respected her clear, keen intelli-
gence and executive ability. But the
patients regarded her with evident
awe. No one urged her to come and sit
for a moment by his bedside.
Nurse Humphreys herself regarded
the patients as so many human ma
chimes to be tended and cared for.
It was her work to super.ntend the do
ing of this. What more could be re-
qu!red Of her? And then one day
tender, helpless little morsel Of child
was carried into the ward, and Miss
Humphreys experienced strange sen
sation. The blue eyes looked appeal
ingly into hers; the thin little, arms
were extended. Molly lonesome"
murmured q baby voice. And Miss
Humphreys, rather shamefacedly, bent
and kissed the tiny face.
From that day new life began for
the nurse All the pent up tenderness
Of years, all the starved affection OF
the woman's heart, sternly repressed
for so long, were unsuntedly lavished
upon the child. 1t was 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 q 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
60. It pursued her, obsessed her, be-
)ame 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
90 back to that aunt-that narrow
faced, hard eyed woman-from whom
the Child palpably shrank upon the oc-
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
conyalescent, 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, q 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.
It brought the man to her mind, how
ever. Tom! 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?
Again her eyes travelled around the
dreary little room. Was this then
what her ambition meant, solitary
woman growing old alone? Miss
Humphreys, tired and depressed, knew
that she was morbid; sought to shake
it off, but the feeling was too strong
for her. The reaction from the years
Of effort had set in, and all at once a
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 no
more than this?
The sound of voices outside the door
reused her. The doctor was speaking.
$50 thought it 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 untirtng Wig
1lance. But there fs no reason now
why Molly should not leave the hospi-
tai. It sometimes happens, however,
that nurse takes fancy to patient
and tries to keep him overtime. There
fore I preferred that you yourself
should come and remove Molly. I
would not wish to hurt Miss Hum
obr.r., 9oa{n oo ho oddod kfndlv for