Holbrook argus., 1912-10-15
Sfran6e Experiences fn fbe LJfe
 0E Doctor.
Copyright. by W. G. Chapman.)
By A. T. MEAD

eral of LOndOn'S foremost physicians regarding her ability as a graduate nurse. I 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 ab- .solutely trustworthy, and I 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 .aken i'll with form of nervous malady. I treated her successfully, and she acknowledg- ed that, as I suspected, she had suf- fered from the ailment formerly, and this was second attack of the old trouble. It was then that she related to me a rather singular story, which I 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 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 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
 
 pletely prostrated the young girl. The nervous breakdown which required my services took place. I 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, I heard of her engagement to Dr. Herslet, one of the cleverest surgeons in Harley street. I had nursed patients for Dr. Herslet, and never imagined that he was a marry ing man. He was hard and dry in appearance, not more than thirty-f1ve, but looking considerably older. Hers- let was brain specialist, and no man living had studied the anatomy of the brain more thoroughly. All that mod ern science knew he had acquired. l respected Herslet, but at the same time feared him, for he was 8 silent, cold sort of individual whose manner repelled one. When he became en- gagged to Leonora I felt sorry for the girl. Once ventured to speak to my patient on the subject.
 ssDa you the going to marry?" I asked.
 She looked at me sadly and shook her head. ''I do not" she said slowly. "I am going to marry Dr. Herslet sim. ply because my father wishes 1t. Yet he knows that all my love Is given to the man who lies in an unknown grave. Dr. Herslet understands that if such an impossible thing happened as that Dick Clifford should come back I could not marry him. Dick will never come back, of course, and I 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?"
 I readily promised, for had grown to love the girl well. On a certain day not long after this conversation I happened to be alone, when the door of the room I was in opened and Dr. Herslet came in.
 T have a very critical case in my hospital just now, nurse," said he. "I want your assistance, as the case is one of life or death. You must leave Miss Trefusis tomorrow and come to me-
 T cannot" replied. 'Leonora is better, but she is still dependent on me-"
 Nevertheless" he returned coldly, you will come to my house tomor- row evening. The operation will take place on the following morning. am going to treph1ne. If I am not successful, the patient will go mad; trephining is the only chance for him. will arrange the matter with Miss Trefusis."
 That evening Lenora came to me. You will have to leave me, nurse," she said. ''I feel terribly sad at the thought of losing you, but Dr. Herslet Is insistent and must have his way. When He becomes emphatic I have to obey him. But I want you to come to my room; I wish to show you some thing you have never yet seen-Cap- tain Gifford's photograph
 followed her to her room and she handed me the photograph of a re- markedly fine-looking, pleasant-faced man.
 Tt is good face,'' l said, after ho6 I,4 ,.fak tenance of brave man. I am sorry for you. Leonora."
 Toward the evening of the next day l went to Dr. Herslet's hospital which was next door to his own house. Having been taken to my room and given some refreshment. a servant