Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-12
16

ness.
Yes will, my girl. But I think
you'll get his consent"
Nurse Bridget went to her patients
room. AS she softly opened the door
the sound of a strangled groan made
her pause.
She saw Mr. Bellamy seated at the
writing table before the window, his
back toward her, his head between his
hands, his shoulders shaking as he
struggled with deep inward sobs. She
heard him exclaim to himself in ac-
cents of despair:
Good heavens! I'd better end it
all straight away" And then there
came choking noise in his throat,
sort of curious whimpering like the
crying of a wounded animal. Nurse
Bridget had seen strong men weep,
but she had never witnessed agony
so piteous as this. And all that was
tenderest and noblest in her woman
hood went out in the keen desire to
case his pain. She did not think of
herself, of any petty conventions; she
thought only of him. Swiftly she
moved to his side and bent close over
him, one hand laid on his shoulder.
"Oh, dont-don't!' she said. 1t
breaks my heart"
The strange sobbing ceased. He did
not turn a. once, but put up his hand
to take hers, and he drew it down TO
his lips and held it there.
"Oh, my dear-my dear" he said.
do you care for me enough to be sor-
ry that I can't fight an longer?
"I care enough to want to help you
to fight and come out the conqueror.
And you will if only you will do what
l ask"
"I know what that is. owen has
been telling you that he wants me to
go into McVittie's santiarium for three
months, and l refused. l positively de-
clined to sign this" He struck his
clenched fist on a blue paper-part
printed, part written-which lay on the
table before him.
"Why?"
Cant you understand? Setting aside
the degradation of it, I've no faith in
such things. Hypnotic suggestion!
Faugh!"
NO not altogether. A special drug
which destroys the inclination"
"You know the treatment, them"
"I once nursed a patient who had
been through the McVittie course. He
seemed to have been perfectly cured
"Oh! And has he remained cured?'
II lost sight of him after a year; but
during that time he could not bear the
sight or smell of alcohol"
Mr.. Bellamy laughed bitterly. Il,
too, have gone year hating the sight
and smell of alcohol, but the demon
has reappeared and taken possession OF
me again. But sometimes I've thought
that II there had only been any one
who would have helped me"
He paused, his head raised slightly,
his eyes staring out of the window be-
fore him. his voice husky with emo
ton.
Bridget, I've thought that if there
were a brave, true woman who cared
enough for me to stand by so despica-
BILE a thing, then no foul fiend would
have power to seize me, for her protect
ing arms would be my defense and
shield. And yet how can
dare hope? Fate has no such joy for
me-"
He pressed his lips wildly to her
hand. There was silence, and then
Bridget said quietly:
"Will you do your share? VIII you
not give this cure a chancellor your
own sake-for the sake of your
friends?"
mo! If not for the sake of the
woman whose love would mean life and
heaven to me, then not for my own or
any others sake Once more it shall be
single-handed fight with the devil,
and if 1 fail-well, I've made up my
mind You shall never see me second I
time as you did when first you came '
a beast-a debased creature. I'm COW I
cred with shame at the thought of
what you found" ,
"Oh, not a thing to cry shame upon,
any more than on many another sorely
beset creature. We nurses know what :
that means" Nurse Bridget cried. ST
found a moor sick mana man of noble