Middletown transcript., 1911-03-18

Ialllng sympathy ana UNDER
standing. AS she came back
from the phone, she found
Newell waiting for her. It was
after twelve, aud her eyes we're
brilliant with dark shadows
around them.
I want TO speak to you, nurse,
he said Don't wear yourself
out You look tired. It's about
the lady in II. She is very low.
Amy's head lifted, and she
looked him in the eyes fearlessly.
I will take every care Of her,
Doctor Newell. Shall call you
if there is a change for the worse
-or better?
Ishall not leave her tonight.
She does not rally from the
effects of the ether, and I want
to be there when she does to see
if she will know me.
Amy's hand pressed the white
collar at her throat. She tried
to speak and could not. The
tears, that always came when
she was sorely tried, rose to her
eyes, and he saw them. Before
she could stop him or guess his
intention, he caught her two
wrists and held them firmly.
Amy, Amy, don't. You must
not let these cases affect you.
Listen to me, dear.
Will you let me go? she whispered, try
ing to draw her wrists away. Somebody
was coming rapidly along the passage.
He bent bis head and kissed her fingers
tenderly, reverently. And she turned to
face the private nurse from II.
Will you come at once, doctor? she
exclaimed. Mrs. Newell ID conscious and
spoke your name.
After they had left her, Amy stood, her
hands covering her face. She loved him,
had loved him for months, thinking him
unmarried, and now bis vile was lying
there, calling for him, calling for him
from the very valley of the shadow Of
death, while his kiss still burned on her
cool fingeI-tips. 1t was like some
terrible, shocking nightmare. She turned
with quick, desperate idea of calling the
head nurse and leaving, getting another
nurse to take her place, anything to let
her escape from the chance Of meeting
him again.
As she hurried along the corridor to
the phone, she heard the little girl calling
her softly.
Nursie, nursie, come here, please.
Yes, dear. She stepped to the door
quickly. What is ii?
Can you see the pretty light from the
window she tried to raise herself on one |
elbow, but fell weakly back. The glow
made my room all red minute ago.
Amy went to the window and lifted the |
curtain. There was courtyard around /
the hospital and stretch of green sward
near the outer railing. The next build.
ing was on fire. From the third story /
window where she stood she could see
the smoke pouring from the upper
windows and see the flames darting out
here and there at the lower castings, as
they ate their way through. Yet her
tone was calm and soothing as she lower
ed the curtain again.
It is pretty, she said. I think there is
a searchIight out toward the river, dear
just go to sleep and forget about it. |
will come in again in a few ninntes.
There was not an instant to lose. Walk
ing softly quickly down the hail 60 as not
to alarm any one. she reached the
telephone and called up the Office. Tell
ing what she had seen, she asked that the
other nurses be reused at once aud sent
to their posts throughout the building,
that somebody be despatched to ring the
alarm, and it must be a stil alarm. She
met the nurses calmly as they hurried
through the halls, directing, iHstructing
each what to do, TO close the windows
noiselessly, to lower all shades, to quiet
any suspicious, above all to stand ready
for any emergency.
Oh, Miss Lowering. what il We had a
panic, exclaimed the head nurse, half
cIinging to her arm. You have never
beeu through one. was nearly suf-
located in a FIRE rush at the old city hos.
pital.
Be quiet. You only alarm yourself,
said Amy gently. suppose it is awful,
but we must think Of the poor patients
first. If We are ordered to leave the
building, think We can do SO safely.
Rouse the interns and servants, and have
hem ready with stretchers at the north
hallway, on each floor, and ambulances
down on the side street, and you had
better send up to the other hospitals for
extra ambulances, for they will have to
lake our patients. Let the nurses go
with the worst cases.
And the head nurse obeyed orders. In
every ward, at every staircase STOOD silent
watchers. AT every street door ambu- 1
ances were lined up, waiting, while the
engines drew up outside, without the
usual mad clamor and disturbance, and
Srestled with the fire. AMI quietly,
nnknoWingly, the patients slept, uncon.
,cious Of the danger or excitement.
II was after two before the last hose I
,art went down the street, and nearly
lalf an 6onr later before the wars were
cleared. me head nurse found Amy
sneeling beside the bed Of the little girl
n Number II, her face hidden in her
lands. The older woman embraced her
ind kissed the waves Of soft, dark hair.
A. a.ar ya1 have nrnvad Pnurzelf |