The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-18
THE EVENING STORY
Nordine,s Nurse.
(By Marshall Cromwell)


apartment lay with his head back
against the cushions, his face twisted
into the most horrible grimaces Occa-
sionally he would move his head weakly
from side to side only to return again to
his facial contortions
At last she could stand 1t no longer
and leaving her section she crossed to
the door of the stateroorn. If the man
was subject to such attacks his nurse
should not have left him alone, yet she
nad seen the attendant slip forward to
Wnere she knew the cafe car to be.
Can I be of any service?" she called
as she stood uncertainty in the doorway.
me man looked up with a wan smile.
Please don't laugh" he said as she
approached, but there is ny on my
ten minutes to dislodge it. I can't use
my hands, you see,'' with a glance at
MS Dandaged arms, land can't Wrinkle
my nose enough to scare him off
Gravely Helen drove off the offending
insect with the absurd little square or
cambria that she called a handkerchief,
and the man smiled gratefully into her
sympathetic eyes.
1T must seem absurd" he said, but
that fly was driving me crazy. l told
my nurse that he could go forward ana
have a smoke if he wanted to. am
just recovering from an accident"
81 thought you were having-a-ht,
she explained with delicious nttie
laugh. '1 have the section just outside
of the door and I sat and watched you
until I became afraid that something
serious might happen"
Il should have been a gibbering idiot
in another minute" he declared. Il
never felt so helpless in my life
thetically. 1T must be awful to be SO
helpless"
81 am very much obliged to you"
he said warmly. 1T was very good of
you to come to my relief.
.'I am glad to have been OF service,
she said simply. IT shall keep an eye
on you. If you need anything before
your attendant gets back, just call
me-"
She went back to her section and
took I'D her book again. but her
thoughts were not on the printed page.
She was thinking of the man IN the
stateroom. He was man to appeal 10
women; a strong manly fellow with
frank ewes and an honest month. His
very suggestion of strength seemed to
render his helplessness the more
pitiful.
The nurse seemed an inexcusable
time returning, and once or twice she
went to the door to ask If there was
ANYTHING that she might do. The sec
ond time he asked that she SEND for-
ward for his nurse and she summoned
the porter.
That functionary presently returned
with a do1eful face. "Ah doan' fin
him." he reported. He amt In the
cafe car
Nordine asked that search be con-
tinued, but at the next stop the mys-
terry was solved. The nurse had been
left behind at the last station. when he
stepped out for a breath of air. He
wired that he would follow on the next
train. Nordine looked dismayed.
81 guess 1 shall have to wire ahead
for a nurse" he said. Titus won't
catch up with me until we reach Chi
cago and in the meantime 1 shall be
h elpless.''
.'Win it delay your trip seriously?"'
asked Helen, noting the look of dtsap-
pointment that came to his face.
my sister is to be married tomor-
row night" he explained. UNLESS 1
can get nurse by wire shall not get
there in time. I am in no shape 10
make train changes alone"
Helen picked up the message tnat
the porter had written and glanced at
Are you Albert Nordine?" she ask
ed. The man nodded.
ct am Helen Paget." she explained.
"I am to be your sisters maid or
honor. I came from LONDON ana tn9 E
boat was late. I was afraid that L
should not be able to get there IN
time. Why can't 1 be your nurse, Mr.:
Nordine? The porter will help. 1t VIII
be better than getting some unknown
person, even if you are able 10 arrange
the matter by wire"
Nordine looked at her gratefully.
IT wish you could see how much
like an angel from heaven you look 70
me-" he said earnestly. Helen glanced
| in the mirror and laughed.
81 hope I'm not growing wings, she
said. ut would entirely spoil the fit
of my dress, and Bertha and l should
both be disconsolate. l think Ia
rather be just a plain mortal.
"You could not be plain mortal,
he said with an emphasis on the ad-
iective as he glanced into the pretty
face she colored at the compliment
and assumed professional air to COW
[ er 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 ner
ewes. She knew now the reason for
the bandages, for she had read the
| story of how he had rescued tiny
nephew from the blazing summer
home on the Hudson.
| To Nordine the world had sudden
w grown bright again. He was not
able to read and he had been utterly
| ,,,iserahIe in the solitude of the state
room, shut off from his fellow travel
ers in the Pullman. Now, with Helen
to talk to, he even ioreot ehe Siiiai' VI
| his wounds.
He was a. capital talker and long be-
| fore the call for dinner came they
/ were fast FRIENDS.
! He had the meal orought INTO tne
stateroom and she fed him with pref
tv solicitude for his comfort. He
wondered if such meals of nectar ano
ambrosia were ever served upor
| OLYMPUS and he was sorry when the
waiter at last came to take the tray.
He was still more regretful wher
the norter came to put him to bed
hut sleep came quickly to his content
! ed 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
| IL 1-ae sorry when at last the lolG
| t,,,ss ~ freight cars announced thei!
approach to Chicago and she left hin