El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-02
The Diary of a Bachelor
By Max

r HAVE decided that the chief diff
ference between the trained nurse
Il and the unframed nurse is the !
salary and the uniform. Richards who /
was a green country girl when EN-
pIoyed her to serve as nursema1d Tor !
Elizabeth and Manette, and whose only ]
knowledge Of illness was gained
through their childish complaints, IS /
lust as skilful in her care of me as {
the uniformed nurse ana lhIlHlIely /
Not that I would accuse the trained !
nurse of being impatient; she IS never 4
that but somehow her patience IS !
purely mechanical 1t is set Dy ma 4
cbfnerv and when a certain amount |
of attention has been clipped of Tor !
me the machinery comes TO oedu
stop. And I know then that 1t IS !
time for her to take her morning /
or afternoon hour off
Is Not Interested.
eff I were dying" 1 said to her
this morning, and the CLOCK slruch
three, what would you do?"
put on my hat and go for my
walk" she replied very professional
". Il owe II to myself 10 take care
OF myself Besides I have seen too
many persons die to be Interested
Does it distress your The SUD-
iect had always interested me-
No; only bOthers me. The manner
in which the living take on is trying
to my nerves ...,;-
for your patient2
Sometimes. When they are mil
lionaries like you and unmarried,
there is always the chance OF the
helpless man falling in love with MS
nurse and marrying her. That IS the
real incentive that leads many women
to adopt the profession
The Scrutiny.
Come around here where / can look
at you" I commanded If that is the
motive that actuated you in putting
on the uniform, I want to get square
look at you so that L can see WhaI
am Up against"
Her hair had Just enough of curl
to it to be tantalizing, and when L
raised my hand and brushed back a
lock that had strayed out from under
her cap she smiled. IT'S naturally
curly" she said
How about this?" asked. pinching
her cheek
''The color is natural. too"
''You are a good looking woman, L
announced in the manner OF one VINO
has taken an inventory; Il don't see
what the doctor meant by ordering
me a pretty attendant like you
She laughed. Would you prefer
that I went away2"
you to stay There is something
about your hands I like They are so
strong and so firm 1 rather like to
hold them in the night but L don't
want to marry you
mo" I replied Il don't It will be
interesting to smash tradition by re-
fusing to fall in love Your beauty
doesn't attract me-. and my wealth
cot course not" another laugh. '.No
mans wealth ever attracted
woman
You are saying that in sarcasm"
I replied, slipping my arm around her
neck that she might lift me to a more
comfortable position. The truth IS,
1t is the Iodestar Of every woman's
She had lifted me higher on the pill
lows, but I did not remove my arm
from around her neck.
'NOw." I said, that we understand
each other, I don't see why we can't
be very good friends. You are not 10
fall in love with me, and won't falI
in love with you"
No stubbornly shutting my eyes
Wont you?" her face a little
NO" trying to turn my head 'T
1T must be fine" I added. when she
had slipped my arm from her neck
and had taken her seat by the bed,
and I had gotten my rather riotous
nerves under control, ito be a poor
man and find woman whose love
doesn't depend on his bank account"
There is no such thing" Fastening
to give me my medicine. for the hour
had come.
'I don't know what that is you are
giving me-" holding her hand with the
spoon away from my mouth. but 1t
ought to be for fever You are a fine
nurse, you are, throwing a patient into
a fever like this. I shall complain to
the doctor about it"
Il am not afraid" putting the spoon
/ at my lips. that you VIII tell any one
I You see" quickly handing me a glass
\ OF water, Il know all about the men,"
| How did you learn?" suspiciously.
els there a special treatment prescribed
/ for my sex at your training schOOl?'
! T have read all about you" with
| another laugh, Gin the doctor books"
/ Then she bathed my face, remarking
| color was better, lowered my pillows
/ much against my will, smOothed the
/ coverlid, pulled down the blinds and
! ordered me to take a nap.
a Beginning.
Il will sit outside on the veranda
| within call" she announced "and il
/ you need me YOU can touch the bell"
She had reached the veranda. I
| heard Mrs. Allen ask her If I had
her reply. I rang the bell.
In another minute she was beside
| me. You said to ring If I needed you
! I need you to sit right here by me till
I fan asleep"
But you will not fall asleep with
'T am so very tired" a little YEARLY.
/ and holding tight to her hand as IL to
dismiss the argument that am sure
And I did. And dreamed-well.
won't tell you Diary, what
collection Of dry paper leaves and
I wouldn't understand