The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-28
NORDHyE'S NURSE.
By MARSHALL CROMWELL.

Helen Paget started through the open door of the stateroom with in- creasing wonder. The single occupant of tho apartment lay with his head back against the cushious. his face twisted into the most horrible grim aces. Occasionally he would move his head weakly from side to side only to return again to his facial contor- tions.
 At last she could stand it no long, er and leaving her section she crossed to the door of the stateroom. If the man was subject to such attacks his nurse should not have left him alone, yet she had seen the attendant slip forward to where she knew the cafe car to be.
 Gan I be of any service?' she called as she stood uncertainty in the door way. The man looked up with Q wan smile.
 Please don't laugh" he said as she approached. but there is a fly on my nose and I've been trying for the last ten minutes to dislodge 1t. I can't use my hands you see." with a glance at his bandaged arms. and -ant wrin- kie my nose enough to scare him off" Gravely Helen drove off the offend- ing insect with the absurd little square of cambric that she called . handker- chief. and tho man smiled gratefully into her sympathetic eyes Tt must seem absurd he said, but that fly was driving me crazy. I told my nurse that he could so forward and have sn- 'ke if he wanted to. I am just recovering from an accident" thought you were having-a-fit." she explained with a delicious little laugh. T have the section just out side of the door and I sat and watch ed you until I became afraid that something serious might happen" T should have been a gibbering idiot in another minute" he declared. T never felt so helpless in my life" T can understand" she said sym pathetically. Tt must be awful to be so helpless"
 T am very much obliged to you" he said warmly. Tt was very good of you to come to my relief" T am glad to have been of ser vice." she said simply. T 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 LOOK up her book again, but her thoughts were not on the printed page She was thinking of the man in the stateroom. He was a man to appeal 10 women; a strong manly fellow with frank eyes and an honest mouth His very suggestion of strength seemed to render his helplessness the more pitiful.
 The nurse seer ed an inexcusabIe 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 doeful face. "Ah doan' fin him." he reported. He ain't in the cafe car"
 Nordine asked that search be con tinued, but at the next stop the mys- tery was solved. The nurse had been ie1t oehind 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.
 guess l shall have to wire ahead Tor nurse. he said. Titus won't catch up with me until we reach Chi cago and in the meantime I shall be helpless.
 Will 1t delay your trip seriously" asked Helen. noting the look of disap- pointment that came to his face.
 My sister Is to bo married tomor- row night he explained Unless can get nurse by wire I shall not get there in time. am in no shape to make train changes alone
 Helen picked up the message that tho porter had written and glanced at it.
 Are you Albert Nordine?' she ask- ed. The man nodded.
 T am Helen Paget." she explained. II am to be your sisters maid of honor. l came from London and the boat was late. I was afraid that should not be able to get there in time. Why can't be your nurse. MT. Nor dine? The porter will help It will De better than getting some unknown person. even if you are able to ar range the matter by wire"
 Nordine looked at her gratefully
 T 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
 T hope I'm not growing wings" she said. Tt would entirely spoil the fit of my dress. and Bertha and I should both be disconsolate. think I'd rath- CT be just a plain mortal"
 You could not be a 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 professional air to cover her embarrassment
 You must not flirt 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 tiny ne- phew from the blazing summer home one the Hudson
 To Nordine the world had suddenly grown bright again. He was not able to read and he , l been utterly mis- srable 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 
 He was a capital talker and long before the call for dinner came they | were fast friends.
 He had the meal brought into the | and she fed him with pret- " solicitude for his comfort He won l lered if such meals of nectar and am- ,rosia were ever served upon Olym- | ous and he was sorry when the waiter | It last came to take the tray.
 He was still more regretful when | he porter came to put him to bed, | ,ut sleep came quickly to his content | cd mind and in his dreams Helen | vas with him again.
 She came to him in the morning as | 'oon as the stateroom had been made | ID and the day passed all too rapidly. | He was sorry when at last the long | strings of freight cars announced their |