The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1912-08-17

regarding her ability as a graduate
nurse. | availed myself of her serv.
Ices In my private hospital, and she
justified the good impression she
made upon me at our first interview.
She was clever, painstaking and alb
solutely trustworthy, and learned to
rely upon her In the handling of the
most difficult cases. Her health, how.
ever, was not all that 1t should have
been, and two months after her en-.
gagement she was aiken i'll with
form of nervous malady. treated
her successfully. and she acknowledge
ed that, as | suspected, she had SUI.
fered from the ailment formerly, and
this was a second attack of the old
trouble. II was then that she related
to me a rather singular story, which
l have endeavored to set down as fol,
lows, as nearly as possible in her own
words:
Early in the winter of last year,
when living in London, ! was sent to
nurse a patient by the name of Leo.
nora Trefusis She was a girl of nine.
teen. and the victim Of nerve distress
in an acute form. The illness was
brought on by an unfortunate love
affair. Two years before she had
been engaged to a Captain Clifford
of the British army. Then the news
reached Leonora that her lover had
been killed during an encounter with
tribesmen in India. His body was
never recovered. and the blow com.
pletely Frustrated the young girl. The
nervous breakdown which required
my services took place. got her to
confide her SORROWS to me, and she
often spoke of Captain Clifford and Of
the love she still bore him
BY and by Leonora began to get
well, and soon afterward to my aston.
ishment, | heard of her engagement
to DR.. Herslet, one OF the cleverest
surgeons in Harley street had
nursed patients for DR.. Herslet, and
never imagined that he was marry.
ing man. He was hard and dry in
appearance, not more than thirty-ivS,
but looking considerably older. Hers
let was a brain specialist, and no man
living had studied the anatomy of the
brain more thoroughly. All that mod
ern science knew he had acquired.
/ respected Herslet, but at the same
time feared him. for he was Il silent,
cold sort of individual whose manner
repealed one. When lie became en-,
gagged to Leonora felt sorry for the
girl. once | ventured to speak TO my
patient on the subject.
DO you really love this man whom
you the going to marry" | asked.
She looked at me sadly und SHOOK
her head. 81 do not" she said slowly
81 am going TO marry DR.. Horslot sim
ply because my father wishes &c. Yet
he knows that all my love Is given Ia
the man who lies In an unknown
grave. DR.. Herslet understands that
II such an impossible thing happened
as that Dick Clifford should come back
| could not marry him. Dick will
never come back, Of course, and
shall be married to DR.. Herslet IN
two months from now. You will stay
with me until the wedding is over
will you not, nurse?'
| readily promised, for | had grown
TO love the girl well. On certain
day not long after this conversation
happened to be alone, when the door
of the room | was in opened and DR.
Herslet came In.
IL have a very critical case In my
hospital just now, nurse" said he. u
want your assistance. as the case Il
one'of life or death. You must leave
Miss Trefusis tomorrow and come tC
me-"
81 cannot" / replied. "Leonora Is
better, but she is still dependent OF
NO."
Nevertheless" he returned coldly
"you will come to my house tomor
row evening. The operation viii take
place on the following morning.
am going to trephine. If | am no
successful, the patient will go mad
trephlnlng is the only chance for him
! will arrange the matter with Mis-
Trefusls."
That evening Lenora came to me
"You will have to leave me, nurse,
she said. IL feel terribly sad at th'
thought of losing you, but DR. Hersle
is insistent and must have his way
When he becomes emphatic ! have Il
obey him. But / want you to come Il
my room; | wish to show you some
thing you have never yet seen-Car
tain Chords photograph"
| followed her to her room and sh
handed me the photograph OF r.
markably fine-looking, pleasant'iac'
man.
1T is a good face ! said, after
had examined the picture, the cour
tenance of a brave man. ! am sorr
Cor you. Leonora."
Toward the evening OF the next da
I went to DR. Herslets hospita
which was Aext door to his own house
Having been taken to my room an
given some refreshment, servan
came TO ask me If wished to see m
patient. assented. and in my pre-
fessional cap and uniform followe
the girl to the door OF room on tn
arst floor. knocked, voice bad
ne enter, and ] stepped inside,
AWTA