The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-02-24
By
Cynthia
Dcanc

about her that would give the faintest
clue as to who she was or where she
came from.
Our little patient lay day after day
In that strange stupor OF utter uncon-
seriousness. from which only one thing
ever seemed to stir her. IL anyone
attempted TO take from her the great
doll she clasped In her arms. she
would rouse UP In kind OF temporary
wakefulness, and an excitement that
was very bad for her. only to sink
back again Immediately into her for
mer state OF Inconsistencies. Strict
injunctions were issued TO the nurses
never to touch the waxen beauty; and
so the strange couple remained silent
ly In the corner bed-the white faced
unconscious child. with the halo OF
dusky hair, and tina rosy, fafr-haired
doll, whose staring blue eyes were
forever wide open, gazing vacantly
into space.
Acute brain disturbances. follow
ing upon severe shock OF strain, was
the only diagnosis at which any or
US were able TO arrive. and beyond
feeding the lonely little being thus
cast into our midst and keeping her
as quiet and comfortable as possible,
nothing more could be done for her.
The people who had left her In the
waiting room at Kings Cross had
neither been seen nor heard Of again; ;
the child might have been dropped
from the clouds. for all connections
she appeared to have with anybody.
A week went by, and although my
tel t. Al N
abated, the coming hospital meeting,
with its attendant festivities, absorbed
a good deal OF my time and thought
more especially as we were very
anxious that our wards should show
themselves at their best to the dis
tinguished foreigner who was coming
with the treasurer, Mr.. Darcy. Ru-
NOR had II that the visitor was GER
tain Russian lady OF very. high line
age. and very great importance, who
was living In London for time and
was particularly DESTROYS of learning
| all that she could OF the methods and
management OF English hospitals,
with q view OF improving those OF her
own land.
On the day before the meeting when
went my morning rounds the little
patient, who SO much interested me,
was. as before, quite unconscious: but
when l approached the ward In the
evening for my second visit Sister
Clara approached me with an odd look
OF excitement In her face.
"She is conscious" was the eager
exclamatfon-and 1t was not neces-
sary for her to explain who was
meant by she" The child had been
90 much In al our thoughts that |
knew instinctively 10 whom Sister
Clara alluded.
| 'Consciousl" I answered, with equal
eagerness Has she spoken? Has
she said anything TO give us a clue
az to her IDENTIFY"
| "She has spoken several times--in
fact. she has said good deal, and
seems TO want TO tell us something
but none Of us can understand a word
she says"
made no response, Tor by this time
was beside the child's bed, noting In
tently the change that had taken place
In her since the morning.
| Her face had lost some OF It's
deadly Wilderness, there was touch OF
4 Notot III ~ hoWf hSI WYE WSt y
wide open--great dark eyes that look.
ed up upon mine with a wistful. al.
most agonized expression, most pitiful
In 30 young child.
What fl II, dear?" said gently,
smoothing back her soft dark curls;
tell me how you feel--and what
can do for you"
A still more distressing look shot
iHte Aef eyes, her Afews drew totctff-
er, she shook her head vehemently
and poured out a torrent OF words
In a language of which | could not
understand a single syllable.
shook my head and replied slowly
that l could not understand her, re
peated the same statement In French
and German, but these languages
were evidently as unintelligible to her
as was English, and the trouble In
her eyes deepened I did my, best
to sooth her, and spoke In reassuring
accents, hoping that the very tones
OF my voice might have calming ef
(, feet: and | think they did quiet her
for her face grew less troubled, and