The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-05-29
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! The Honor Of
| Nurse Joyce


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possibility of her knowing Forde
through her brother, still lots Of men
have partners in the city who do not
know each others people, or know
them only very slightly, and the idea
did not really trouble me very much.
But this is different. Just think it
out
He paused Slightly, with his eyes
fastened on her.
When father makes these fearful
statements of his he never refers to
the person with whom he imagines he
is speakeing by any other name than
'Tom,'" Maxwell resumed. There
was certain amount of safety for us
in that. For instance, Flint-who is
as sharp as needle limited privately
to me almost from the beginning that
there was precious little Of delusion
in what father said, and that is why
kept him here but even he does not
know VINO Tom was. But we are not
safe in the same way with Nurse
Joyce"
why not?" asked Mary.
Because I am sure that she is in
terested in Forde and he in her. Do
you suppose they do not talk of what
is going on in their lives? She is
sure to have told Forde of her being
on nursing duty here, and it is pretty
certain that would recall to him his
fathers connection with ours-noth-
ing could be more natural than that.
Now, suppose they compared notes
that would be natural, too-and that
she found out that the Tom of faith
er's delusion was Forbes father, that
his name was Tom Forde. You have
only to go one step farther to imagine
her telling Forde all that she has
heard father say. Now, Mary, you
can call this jumping to conclusions,
but the jump is short and easy one.
Even you must see and admit that"
Mary did not Immediately respond,
for she felt there was reason in his
words. But she had seen a good deal
of Christabel by this time, and it was
her instinct rather than her intellect
that inspired her reply.
"You are assuming she said, "that
Nurse Joyse will tell Mr. Forde what
she has heard father say when he is
in that state. l don't believe that she
would; she is not that kind of wo-
man; it would be disloyal and dis
honorable thing to do
again, Mary, 1 hope you may be
right said Maxwell. Then he went
on with a sheer, For my own part
have no great faith in the loyalty or
honor of anybody" He glanced sig
nificantly from her to the unconscious
form of Sir John. "The biggest force
in life is self-interest: sometimes, of
course, loyalty and honor are we'll in
line with self-interest and that is the
time when they are trotted out; other
wise they are virtues which no one
practices. Now where does Nurse
Joyce's self-interest lie, Mary? With
us or with Norman Forde?"
Mary was silent, chilled to the mar
row. The heart in her poor body was
MISUNDERSTANDING painfully. She
had often heard such sentiments from
the lips of Maxwell before, and in a
less pronounced form from those of
her stepmcther; they were the senti-
ments, though unconfessed, of the
vast majority Of the people with
whom she associated. And that un-
kind, unflial glance of Maxwell's at
his father and hers had reminded her
that their father was like the rest of
the world-or perhaps worse. Mary's
soul was bitter within her, and she
wished with all her might-as she had
often wished since she had come to
know the truth about her father-that
her heart would stop its beating for
ever. But the one bright spot now in
her clouded life was Christabel and
her friendship, and Mary spoke up for
her friend
81 do not believe" she said. passion
ately, that Nurse Joyce is guided by
self interest She is a nob!e-hearted
creature, and will not betray u.s.
mot even to the man she loves?'
asked Maxwell. with wry face, for
he hated to think that Christabel and
Forde were lovers. mot even to him,
when he may have SO much to gain? -
mot even then,' said Mary
Maxwell laughed harshly.
Sentimental stuff" he exclaimed,
cyn.cally. amy way, go and talk to
her and find out what she knows, or
what she has done or is going to do
1t was now II o'clock, and the male
nurse made his appearance. Mary
went slowly to her own rooms, where
her maid was awaiting her.
Have you seen Nurse Joyce this
EVENING"" asked Mary. .:a 5
| mo, miss" replied the girl; abut l
think | heard her moving about her
room short time ago.
Mary allowed the maid to undress
her partly. and then, putting on a
dressing gown, sent the girl away.