The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-01
PALLADIIJArS MAGAZINE AND HOME PAGE
A BACHELORS DIARY
BY MAX.
UGUST III have dec

n tween the trained nurse and
49, the unskilled nurse is the
salary and the uniform. Richards, who
was a green country girl when | en-
ployed her to serve as nursemaid for
Elizabeth and Manette, and whose
only knowledge of illness was gained
through their childish complaints, is
just as skillful i'll her care of me as
the uniformed nurse and infinitely
more patient.
Not that | would accuse the trained
nurse of being impatient; she is never
that, but somehow her patience is
purely mechanical. 1t is set by ma
chinery, and when a certain amount
of attention has been clipped off for
me, the machinery comes to a dead
stop. And | know then that it is time
for her to take her morning or after
noon hour off
"If | were dying" l said to her
this morning and the clock struck
three, what would you do?"
Put on my hat and go for my
walk" she replied very professionally.
Il owe it to myself to take care of my.
self Besides, | have seen too many
persons die to be interested"
Does it distress you?" The subject
had always Interested me.
NO, only bOthers me. The manner
in which the living take on is trying
to my nerves"
Then you have no personal feeling
for your PATIENT"
Sometimes. When they are million
aires like you, and unmarried, there
Is always the chance of the helpless
man falling in love with his nurse and
marrying her. That is the real incen-
tive that leads many women to adopt
the profession
THE SCRUTINY.
Come around here where / can
look at you," | commanded. eff that is
the motive that actuated you in put
ting on the uniform, | want to get
square look at you so that l can see
what am up against"
"She laughed, and, evidently not
afraid the bright light would injure
her chances, threw up the blind be-
fore she took a seat beside my bed I
saw a red-cheeked, blue-eyed blonde;
the bluest eyes, and the reddest
cheeks and mouth. Her hair had just
enough curl to it to be tantalizing, and
when | raised my hand and brushed
back a lock that had strayed out from
under her cap. she smiled. ITS natur-
ally curly" she said.
How about this?" l asked, pinch
ing her cheek.
'The color is natural, too"
You are good looking woman" I
announced in the manner of one who
has taken an inventory; 81 don't see
what the doctor meant by ordering me
a pretty attendant like you"
She laughed. would you prefer that
/ went away?"
mo-" grasping her hands. Il want
you to stay. There is something about
your hands l like. They are so strong
and so firm. | rather like to hold them
In the night, but | don't want to mar
ry you"
MOI" with pretty eyebrows raised.
NO" ! replied, Il don't. 1t vii be
interesting to smash tradition by re-
fusing to fall in love. Your beauty
doesn't attract me. and my wealth
doesn't attract you"
"Of course not" another laugh mo
mans wealth ever attracted a wom-
an
"You are saying that in sarcasm"
I replied, slipping my arm around her
aeck that she might lift me to a more
comfortable position. THE truth is. it
is the lodestar of every woman's life"
She had lifted me higher on the pill
lows, but I did not remove my arm
from around her neck
Now, / said, that we understand
each other, l don't see why we can't
be very good friends. You are not to
fall in love with me. and I won't fall
In love with you
won't your" with her blue eyes
close to mine.
mo. "stubbornly, shutting my eyes
tight, 81 won't"
Wont you?" her face little near
er.
NO" trying to turn my head. 81
won't"
"It must be fine I added, when she
had slipped my arm from her neck and
had taken her seat by the bed, and l
had gotten my rather riotous nerves
under control, ito be a poor man and
find woman whose love doesn't de-
pend on his bank account"
There is no such thing" Fastening
to give me my medicine for the hour
had come.
81 don't know what that is you are
giving me-" holding her hand with the
spoon away from my mouth, but it
ought to be for fever. You are a fine
nurse, you are, throwing a patient in
to a fever like this. | shall complain
to the doctor about it,
Il am not afraid" putting the spoon