Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-08-09
Strange Experiences 4, the Life
Of a Doctor.
(Copyrlght. by WI. G. chapman.l
By A. T. MEAD


land bearing testimonials from sew
erseBof London's foremost physicians
regarding her ability as a graduate
nurse. l 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 abb
.solutely trustworthy, and learned to
rely upon her in the handling of the
most difficult cases. Her health, how
ever. was not all that it should have
heen and two months after her en-
gagement she was .aken i'll with a
form of nervous malady. treated
her successfully, and she acknowledge
ed that, as suspected, she had suf-
fered from the ailment formerly, and
This was second attack of the old
trouble. 1t was then that she related
tn me- a rather singular story, which
T have endeavored to set down as fol.
lows. as nearly as possible in her own
words:
Early in the winter of last year,
4 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
4 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. l 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, 1 heard of her engagement
to DR.. Herslet, one of the cleverest
surgeons in Harley street. 1 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-five,
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 1 feared him, for he was silent,
cold sort Of individual whose manner
repealed one. When he became en-
gagged to Leonora 1 felt sorry for the
girl. Once 1 ventured to speak to my
patient on the subject.
do you really love this man whom
you the going to marry?" I asked.
She looked at me sadly and shook
her head. 81 do not" she said slowly.
Fl am going to marry DR.. Herslet SIM
ply because my father wishes it. 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
/ could not marry him. Dick will
never come back, Of course, and /
oAoA4 NC MAI llC0 W LIZ A1OAoAC Al
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 a certain
day not long after this conversation
happened to be alone, when the door
of the room I was in opened and DR..
Herslet came in.
Il have very critical case in my
hospital just now, nurse" said he. Il
want your assistance, as the case is
one of life or death. You must leave
Miss Trefusis tomorrow and come to
me-"
Il cannot" I 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 trephine. If / am not
successful, the patient will go mad;
trephining is the only chance for him.
viii arrange the matter with Miss
Irefusis"
That evening Lenora came to me.
You will have to leave me, nurse"
she said. 81 feel terribly sad at the
thought of losing you, but DR.. Herslet
IS lnsistent and must have his way.
When he becomes emphatic have to
oney him. But want you to come to
my roOm; wish to show you some
ming you have never yet seen-Cap-
am Gifford's photograph"
followed her to her room and she
handed me the photograph of re-
narkably fine-looking, pleasant-faced
man.
1t is good face" l said, after !
nad examined the picture, "the coun-
enance of brave man. / am sorry
or you. Leonora."
reward the evening of the next day
went to DR.. Herslet's hospital.
which was next door to his own house.
having been taken to my room and
gwen some refreshment, a servant
anne to ask me if / wished to see my