The Washington herald., 1908-07-18
NORDINE'S NURSE
By MARSHALL CROMWELL.

+ Helen Paget started through the open
{ door OF the stater0om with increasing
wonder. The single occupant Of the apart
ment lay with his head back against the
Z cushions. his face twisted into the most
horrible grimaces. Occasionally he would
move his head weakly from side TO side.
only 10 return again TO his facial con-
tortions
At last she could stand It no longer.
and leaving her section, she crossed TO the
door Of the statereom- IL the man was
subject 10 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-
can I be of any service2' she called
as she stood uncertainty IN the doorway
The man looked up with a wan smile
Please don't laugh" he said as she
approached. but there is a hy on my
nose and I've been trying for the last
ten minutes TO dislodge IT, I can't use
my hands. you see" with glance at
his bandaged arms. and I can't wrinkle
my nose enough TO scare him on"
GTavely Helen drove OF the offending
insect with the absurd little square OF
/ cambric that she called handkerchief.
/ and the man smiled gratefully into her
sympathetic eyes
1t must seem absurd" he said, but
/ that fly was driving me crazy 1 told
my nurse that he could 90 forward and
have a smoke II he wanted 10. am
| lust recovering from the effects OF an ac-
| cident-"
/ I thought you were having-a-ht,"
she explained with delicious little laugh
i have the section just outside Of the
door and I sat and watched you until I
/ became afraid that something serious
might happen
7 should have been a gibbering idiot IN
another minute" he declared 7 never
felt so helpless in my life
7 can understand" she said. syEpa-
thetically- 1t must be awful TO be 50
helpless.
I am very much obliged to you," he
] said, warmly 1t was very good OF you
10 come 10 my relief"
L am glad TO have been Of service,"
{ she said. simply. I shall keep an eye on
I you. II you need anything before your
attendant gets back, just call me-
She went back to her section and took
I up her book again. but her thoughts were
not on the printed page She was think
/ ing OF the man in the sJaterOom- He
was a man 10 appeal 10 women, a strong.
manly fellow, with frank eyes and an
.
/ strength seemed 20 render his helpless
/ ness the more pitful
The nurse seemed an inexcuSable time
returning. and once OF twice she went 70
the door 10 ask If there was anything that
she might do The second time he asked
| that she send forward for his nurse. and
she summoned the porter
That functionary presently returned
with a dOleful face. All d0an' I'm him.
Z he a l. a ia ~ 20
Nordine asked that search be continued.
but at the next stop the mystery 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-
I guess shall have 70 wire ahead fer
a nurse, he said Titus won't catch I'D
with me until we reach Chicago. and in
the meantime I shall be helpless"
VIII it delay your trip seriously?''
asked Helen. noting the look Of disap-
pointment that came 70 his face
My sister is 10 be married tomorrow
night" he explained Unless can get
a 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 the
porter had written and glanced at it.
Are you Albert Nordiue2'' she asked
The man nodded
I am Helen Paget," she explained Y
am 10 be your sisters naaid of honor
I came from London. and the boat was
/ late I was afraid that I should not be
able 10 get there IN time Why can't
1 be your nurse, Mr.. Nordine? The porter
will help It will be better than getting
some unknown person. even If you are
I able to arrange the matter by wire
Nordine looked at her gratefully
| 7 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
! Z hope I'm not growing wings" she
said. 1T would entirely spoil the At OF
/ my dress. and Bertha and I should both
/ be disconsoIate- I think I'd rather be Just
/ q plain mortal"
You could not be a plain mortal" he
[ said with an emphasis on the adjective as
he glanced into the pretty face. She col
| ored at the compliment and assumed a
I professional air to cover her embarrass-
ment
You must not hirt with your nurse.
I she ordered
l She sank INTO the seat beside him that
I he might not see the pity in her eyes
( She knew now the reason for the band
ages, for she had read the story OF how
/ be had rescued a tiny nephew from the
blazing sumner home on the Hudson.
To Nordine the world had suddenly
grown bright again He was not able TO
read and he had been utterly miserable
I in the solitude Of the stateroOm, shut OF
I from his fellow-travelers in the Pullman
Z Now. with Helen to talk to. he even for
I got the smart of his wounds
He was a capital taiker. and long be
/ fore the call for dinner came they were
| fast friends
He had the meal brought into the state
room and the fed him with pretty solicit
[ tude for his comfort He wondered II
I such meals Of nectar and anbrosia were