The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-09-26

Why can't | be your nurse, Mr.. Nor
dine: The porter will help. 1t will
be better than getting some unknown
person, even if you are able to arrange
the matter by wire"
Nordine looked at her gratefully.
Il wish you could see how much like
an angel from heaven you look to me-"
he said earnestly Helen glanced in
the mirror and laughed.
q hope I'm not growing wings"
she said. 1T would entirely spoil the
fit of my dress, and Bertha and |
should both be disconsolate | think
I'd rather be just a plain mortal"
you could not be plain mortal"
he said with an emphasis on the ad-
jective as he glanced into the pretty
face. She colored at the compliment
and assumed a professional air to COW
err her embarrassment
''YOu must not firt with your
nurse" she ordered
She sank into the seat beside him
that he might not see the pity in her
eyes. She knew now the reason for
the bandages, for she had read the
story of how he had rescued a tiny
nephew from the blazing summer
home on the Hudson.
To Nordine the world had suddenly
grown bright again. He was not able
TO read and he had been utterly mis-
cradle in the solitude OF the stateroom.
shut off from his fellow travellers in
the Pullman. Now, with Helen to talk
to, he even forgot the smart of his
wounds.
He was a capital talker and long be-
fore the call for dinner came they
were fast friends.
He had the meal brought into the
stateroom and she fed him with pretty
solicitude for his comfort He won
dered if such meals of nectar and am
brosia were ever served upon Olym-
puS, ana he was sorry when the wait
er at last came to take the tray.
He was still more regretful when the
porter came to put him to bed. but
sleep came quickly to his contented
mind, and in his dreams Helen was
with him again.
She came to him in the morning as
soon as the stateroom had been made
up and the day passed all too rapidly.
He was sorry when at last the long
strings Of freight cars announced their
approach to Chicago, and she left him
to get her things together.
His brOther-in-law to be met him at
one of the suburban stations and rode
into the city with them With his help
the transfer to a carriage was easily ac-
cOmplished. His sister was delighted
at the story they told, and that evening
as she stood in her bridal finery she
whispered to Helen her wish that the
girl would be the next of their acQuaint-
anceS to wear the veil and orange bios
SONS. Helen blushed and declared the
impOsSibility of such an occurrence. but
later in the evening as she stood on
the steps watching the departure of the
bridal pair NOrdine came up to her.
You'll have to throw my share of
the rice. too" he said, with Il smile
'Do you suppose, Nell, that some day
you could learn to care 50 much for me
that we can drive off together with
the rice and the old shoes and the
good wishes following in our wake"
Perhaps l might learn" she said as
her eyes were yelled behind the long
lashes to hide how much she already
cared. Il think had my first lesson
on the train"
Other guests came near them, and
she made a gesture of warning DO
you know" he said, trying to make
his tones careless Il am going to give
Titus double pay because he got lost"
Il think he deserved it" she agreed
with smile so Illuminating Nordine
could scarcely refrain from kissing her
in the presence of them all, for in the
soft brown eyes he read the message
and knew that Nell had already
learned.