The Raymer enterprise., 1912-08-01
Strange Exper'snce1 IN the LUs
Of a Doctor.
Copyright. BY W. G. chapman.)
By A. 7. MEAD

eral OF London's foremost physicians
regarding her ability as a graduate
nurse. availed myself Of her serv.
fees 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
been, and two months after her en-
gagement she was aiken III with a
form OF nervous malady. treated
her successfully, and she acknowledg.
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
to me rather singular story. which
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 patient by the name OF Leo.
nora Trefusls. 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 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 prostrated the young girl. The
nervous breakdown which required
my services took place. | got her to
coniide 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
10 Or, Herslet, one OF the cleyerest
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-flve,
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,
1'respected Herslet, but at the same
time | feared him, for he was silent,
cold sort Of individual whose manner
repelled one. When he became en-
gagged to Leonora felt sorry for the
girl. Once ! yentured 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 and shook
her head Il do not" she said slowly.
Il am going to marry DR.. Herset 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 nm 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 we'll 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 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 Trefusls tomorrow and come to
me"
Il 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 10 trephine. II am not
successful, the patient will go mad;
trephinng is the only chance for him.
] Will arrange the matter with Miss
Trefdgls."
That evening Lenora camo to me.
you will haye to leave me, nurse"
she said. Il feel terribly sad at the
thought OF losing you. but DR.. Herslct
Ia lnsistent and must have his way.
When he becomes emphatic | have to |
obey him. But want you to come to |
my room; wish to show you some
thing you have never yet seen-Cap.
tain Giflord's photograph"
followed her to her room and she |
handed me the photograph OF n re.
malkably lne-lookIng. pleasant.faced
man.
1T is good face" | said. after | |
had examined the picture, the coun.
tenance Of u brave man. am sorry
for you. Lconora."
Toward the evening Of the next day
I went to DIR. Herslet's hospital.
which was next door to his own house.
Having been taken to my room and
given some refrcshment, a servant