The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-04
THE EVENING STORY
The Nurses Story.

| need some one who has imagination. -
L saw his reasons for wanting me,
| as soon as L came into the big room
| and looked at the little woman lying
| among the pillows.
The bed was SO big and she was so
I tiny that she was almost lost in all
curtains coming down from the ma
| hogany canopy, but even these gave
no color to the thin face with the big
eyes.
He doesn't love me any more"
was the statement made by the pale
| lips, as I bent over her.
| "Oh, I'm very sure he does. I said
soothingly. but he can't tell YOU
Cant he?" she asked eagerly.
| How do you known
! The fairies told me- I said, now
| you go to sleep and don't think any
| more about it."
I saw at once that she was like
child, and SO ] talked more about fair
| les, and how they always made every
| thing come out right, and at last
| saw her eyes close, and when DIR.
Hearn came she was asleep.
How did you do it?'' he demanded
''She needed comforting" I said.
rs it her husband?"
The doctor nodded. IT can't make
| it out. He seems to be perfectly de-
voted but she says that he's hiding
netting from her. And she isn't
very strong. She is in a neurasthenic
condition. and I thought your whole
som eneSS was what She needed. mat
why I got you here"
l saw the husband that night. He
was tall and dark and strong, and
when he bent over my little pale lady
and kissed her it seemed as if she
must gain help from his vivid per-
sonality.
But she turned from him. please
don t. she walled.
He drew back and I saw the des-
peration in his eyes. What shall I
Il hor - the
ton those eyes seemed to ask, though
his lips did not move.
My eyes answered his. and I gave
a little nod, which seemed to reas-
sure him. "AIl right, dearest" he
said, "but tomorrow morning I shall
come again, and then-you'n let me
kiss you?'
She looked up at him sharply.
what makes you say that?" she
asked.
I interposed. "It will be the happy
ending of the fairy tale
she put her hands over her face
and began to cry, weakly, There can
never be happy ending" she walled.
I motioned to him to go away, and
it took me an hour to get her quiet.
1 gave her an alcohol rub and a glass
around her. and still she shivered and
shook. and at last L thought I'd try
mental sugg estion. So took both
of her hands in mine and said quiet
ly. N Nv you are SOiiAS ~ SlCCP-
'How can I sleep" she cried,
when he loves some one else %
Then I saw what was troubling her
and 1 bent over her and whispered,
help him to break the charm
She sat up in bed. How can 1
help" she asked, feverishly.
you must kiss him three times in
the morning and ,,o' every time you
"And then he will be just the
same" she asked, "as he used to be
when he wasn't hiding anything from
me?"
"He will be just the same
In a little while she asleep and |
there was the faintest shadow of |
smile on her lips.
Then went to look for her f1us-
band and found him sitting in front |
of a dying fire in the library.
I sat down opposite him and asked |
abruptly What are you keeping
from her?"
For moment he stared at me. and
then he said, somewhat haughtily,
''Whv should I tell you?"
because I am here to help cure i
your wife. and I cannot cure her I'M
He gripped the arms of his chair
with tense fingers. II haven't told
a soul" he said, "but every one will
know: presently, am ruined
you mean that you have lost your
money!
yes" Il
go to her tomorrow morning. and
And kill her? She has never known
what it was to live without luxury.
And when the truth comes out, I
shan't have a cent
you have youth and strength
said.
He drew long breath, as If he
squared his shoulders to meet the fu-
"And you have love- continued.
But you won't have love long unless
you tell your wife the truth"
81 know 1 said firmly. "She loves
you too much not to suspect that you
are hiding something from her She
fancies that you have lost your love
for -her-and it is killing her."
He began to defend himself eagerly.
'But it would kill her to know the
truth. Why, she's always had every
thing she wanted. How can ask her
to share poverty-she'd better die
saw then to what a pass things
had come with him.
'sShe is going to live I said. be
cause you are going to believe he
something bstter than you think her
now She knows that you have been
worried-fhat you have shut her out
Is it any wonder that she has broken
down under the strain of doubt"
The next morning my patient was
awake early. do you think it will
really break the charm If I kiss him
three times?'' was the first question
she asked as I bent over the bed.
Surely. And now while I am
combing your hair I will tell you
She had wonderful hair. fair and !