Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-12-12
The Fever
Nurse
BY ELLIS O'NEIL.LE.
!. **sss.s Observation-Disclosures
Copyright, by Joseph II. Bowles)

as we travelled southwark: few had
the hardihood to enter that fever in
fected atmosphere.
When ] quilted the train at Grand
d, Junction, to take my place in the one
coach waiting on the sidetrack Cor
passengers to Memphis. | felt that
was Indeed bidding my last adieu to
the world. and my surprise was great
when found that was not alone. A
young girl was still to be my travelling
companion. The singular beauty and
intelligence of her countenanco would
have attracted attention at any time
or place. But here. and now! Surely
there must be some mistake.
Taking seat near her, | asked her
destination
Memphis" she answered promptly.
"And may I ask" said /. what in
exorable duty calls you there at this
dreadful timer"
"The duty we all owe each other.
she answered quietly. ito give help in
time of need. Are not you responding
to the same CALI"
YES. yes" | said, but l am an old
man, and my life Is all in the past;
with you the case Is very different.
The beauty of youth is in your face,
the light OF hope In your eyes Think
well, my child. think well. before you
lay all this on the altar OF fancied
duty"
Il have thought" she said, with a
modest dignity which waived further
argument. "The work of nursing the
| sick Is not new To me. | am slow to
contract disease, and shall use all the
necessary precautions"
Before parting from her that day l
had asked by what name should des.
ignate her.
Suppose you call me The Gray Sis.
ter" she replied.
Looking into her blooming face,
| said, mo. the name does not suit you.
[ shall call you La Soeur Solitaire,
for ] am sure shall find no other like
| you"
The name was well chosen. That
scourge Of the autumn of 1878 brought
to the front many heroic spirits, of
whom truly the world was not worthy,
but in all the band of noble workers
saw none like my "Soeur Solitaire"
none gifted with her wondrous power
to soothe and cheer.
The weeks went by. filled with ever
increasing horrors, with scenes Of woe
that may not be told, and griefs too
great to name. She passed through
all with undaunted spirit. l saw her
as often as was possible. for her .cOur-
age was needed to revive my own;
but day came when | did not find
her. and tho doctor under whom she
had been nursing could not tell where
she had gone.
prepared to make further inquiries.
but was prevented by the president
of the Howard association. who came
to me just then with an urgent appeal
for immediate help. He asked me to
take one of his nurses and go to a fine
old country seat few miles out. BE
fore you consent" he added. II must
tell you that 1t Is a perfect charnel
house: there were four burials from
there yesterday, and every bed il full
OF fever patients You sec how it is,
the fever of '73 was confined to the
| city; and we thought 1t would be the
same this time, so thousands OF people
| flocked to the suburbs. Old General
Hamilton. the soul of hospitality,
threw his doors open until his house
was full. Last week the fever broke
out among them. They tried to get
along without calling on us for help,
but a messenger came in, just now, to
! say that the general and his son are
both down, the hired nurses have de-
serted. and things are In dreadful
state"
Wishing to understand whom was
to report to for service, | asked IL the
mistress of the house was sick also.
"Oh. she Is summering In Europe"
he answered, "and suspect she wgl
not break her heart oyer her husband
loss. A fine old gentleman, but 80
years her senior IL he's q day. The
messenger said he would not live till
morning. and two of the guests are In
uyihS COnuitluu. IlcT0 comes the
nurse; will you gG?"
consented. and he thanked me
warmly, promising to send Other
nurses as soon as they could be pro
cured
The evening shades were thickenlne
When we dismissed our Conveyance,
and walked up stately avenue which
led to the spacious mansion. TIL,
hall door stood open. and sounds o
mourning were heard from within. Al
we entered some one came down tn,
stairway with lighted taper In he
hand. 1t was La Soeur Solitaire
Her face was white as marble, an,
rhere were tears on her cheeks, bu
she welcomed us with calm voice.
II thank God you have come" sh
said; I'VE are In great distress"
She assigned us our places at once
and she herself went from room t
room. ministering 20 all.