The Winslow mail., 1913-01-25

TSSdIuluS u0T ability DIS d
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 it should have
been, and two months after her en-
gagement she was .aken i'll with
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, l was sent to
nurse a patient by the name of Leo
nora Trefusis. She was girl of nine
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
Il
pletely prostrated 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, ! 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-five,
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 atsthe same
time feared him, for he was asSilent
cold sort of individual whose manner
repelled one When he became en-
gagged to Leonora l 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 and shook
her head. Il do not she said slowly
II 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
shall be married to DIR. Herslet in
two months from now. You will stay
with me until the wedding is over.
will you not, nurse?"
| readily promised, for l had grown
to love the girl we'll. On 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.
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 ] replied. "Leonora Is
Letter, but she is still dependent on
me-
"Neverthe1ess,' he returned coldly,
you will come to my house tomor-
row evening The operation will take
place on the following morning. l
am going to trephfne. If | am not
successful, the patient will go mad
trephining is the only chance for him.
7 will arrange the matter with Miss
Trefusis.''
That evening Lenora came to me.
"You will have to leave me, nurse.
she said Il feel terribly sad at the
LnOugnL OF losing you, OUT LII, I1el Sltt
Is insistent and must have his way,
When he becomes emphatic l 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 Gifford's photograph
I followed her to her room and she
handed me the photograph of a re-
markably fine-looking. pleasant-faced
man.
"It is a good face" said, after
had examined the picture, the coun
tenance of brave man. | am sorry
for you. Leonora.'
Toward 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
given some refreshment, servant
came to ask me if | wished to see my
patient. l assented, and in my pro