Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-05-22
could touch him with the button Of
her foil.

low IL,
"The doctor be hanged. he's not here
to stop It,"
Phllippa made several inoffensive
thrusts, rather endeavoring not to
touch the patient than to do so.
"See here, young man." cried Bur.
ton; do you call that fencing? want
you to do your best to put the button
there" and he tapped his left breast
with his finger
Philippa, seeing that nothing would
satisfy him except her doing her best
set to work to touch the spot Indicated
but found 1t impossible. Although re-
duced by illness, he was too quick for
her.
NOW, I'll try you" he said, but my
hand Is not as steady as It should be,
and I'm afraid I'll hurt you. Youll
find mask In the closet. Bring 1t
out"
Philippa brought the mask. and he
told her to put It on. She did 30 and,
again taking up her foil, placed her
self on the defensive Barton had no
difficulty in getting behind her guard
and placing the button Of his foil
wherever he liked. They were In the
midst OF lunges and parties when the
door opened and Mrs. Hough ushered
In the doctor Philippa turned quick
ly, lowered the point of her foil to the
floor, bent her head and stood like a
culprit ready to receive n reprlmand.
$50 this is the nurse you have pro
vided for your SOM" said the doctor TO
Mrs. Hough.
Hes dandyp said the patient.
II don't believe he ever took lesson
III his life, and yet he came very near
pinlilng me several times"
But the doctor refused TO be pa-
Gated
MADAM" he said to the mother, as
this young man a professional nurseT
"He is"
Discharge him at once"
mot on your life" cried the patient
"Any educated nurse" continued the
doctor, KNOWS better than to risk n
patients life by permitting him to take
such violent exercise"
"Permlttlngp sneered Barton. do
you think that STRIPPING could lord II
over me2 Not much"
EITHER discharge the nurse" said
the doctor resolutely, "or shall with
draw from the case"
"'rhe nurse won't be discharged" re-
piled Barton. Whereupon the doctor
left the room, followed by the fond
mother, who was quite beside herself
at the trouble she had made In giving
her son man nurse She made no
attempt at an explanation to the doc
tor, being too agitated and not know
Ing what to do. She went back to the
slckroom, to find the nurse had va
Gated It. while her son was evidently
no worse for his exercise.
Mother" he said, "let old sawbOnes
go. like this little chnp you've given
me- and before he goes away III make
n man OF him"
"Oh. dear" cried the mother which
under the circumstances was az ap.
propriate as anything she could say.
Send Philip back TO me-" Burton
went on. Hes bit cut up Mt being
blamed"
Mrs. Hough was ready TO do any
thing In her power and. going out.
came back dragging Phlllppn with
her.
Come here" said Barton to his
nurse.
Phllippa went to him and. taking her
hand, the patient said kindly:
4 Al. -
con said. You're nice little fellow,
only bit too delicate for n boy. but
I'll take that out OF you Mother.
want him to stay with me TN | get
well ! feel better already."
SO Pbillppn continued her attend
ance, and the patient continued to
improve. As much cannot he said for
PbIllppa. As the patient grew strong
or he Increased his efforts 10 take the
effemlnacy out OF her, and she was
forced to suffer some pretty hard
knocks A crisis came when Barton
was able to get out OF bed and stand
on his feet. Then one dny Mrs. Bar
ton heard sounds above, followed by
a thud. Running upstairs, she found
her son lifting Phllippa, unconscious,
from the floor. Both had boxing
gloves on their hands
"For heavens sake Barton" cried
the mother, have you killed herr'
"Kllled herr You mean him"
"Ob, my dear boy, she is a grip
Barton laid PhIllppa on lounge
and begged his mother TO go for re
storatlyes While the old lady was
gone Phillppn opened her eyes, meet.
ing another pair OF frightened eyes
that showed relief, but still anxiety.
"Thnnk heaven ] haven't killed yOng'
he said
mo, no. II Is nothing. The VIC
lence Of the exercise overcame me.
am all right now"
"FOrgive me. sweetheart mean IT.
tie girl. / didn't know
~ should not have entered upon
such a deception" the girl monncd.
81 didn't want TO do 80, but was over
persuaded Your mothers offer wns
tempting, and ! yielded despite my
better judgment. But didn't know
] would be expected 10 play mans
part except as n man nurse"
When Mrs. Hough returned to the
room armed with smelling salts her son
was bending over his nurse 10 lntently
that he was not aware Of his mothers
presence. But PhllIppa's color had
suddenly returned In measure. In
deed, there was something like blush
on her cheeks rs she listened 10 the
plendlngs " the young man for for.
giveness. The good lady withdrew.
and II was not many weeks before she
WIS rewarded by her son announcing