Little Falls herald., 1914-07-10
could toucAa him With ths button e

could touci him Vii. 5the BUTTON 9
her foil.
Don't you think. sir," she protest.
ed, that It would be better for me TO
read to your .sss .s.i.3}...
''No; It's your business to amuse me,
and you must amuse me; not bore me"
.'But the doctor: he wouldn't IL
low IT,
'sThe doctor be hanged; he's not here
to stop 4" s
Philippe made several ino6ensiv@
thrusts. rather endeavoring not to
touch the patient than to do 50.
"See here, young man." cried Bur
ton; do you call that fencing7 1want
you to do your best to put the button
there" and he tapped his left breast
with his finger. ,.. i.
Philippa, seeing that nothing would
satisfy him except her doing her best,
set to work to touch the spot indicated,
but found It 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. You'll
find a mask in the closet. Bring it
out" =
Philippa brought the mask, and he
told her to put it on. She did so 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
", lowered the point, Of her foil to the
floor, bent her head and stood like a
culprit ready to receive a reprimand.
$50 this is the nurse you have pro-
vided for your SOM" said the doctor to
Mrs. Hough. -:::.t:
Hes dandyw said the patient.
Il don't believe he ever took a lesson
in his life, and yet he came very near
pinking me several times"
But the doctor refused to be pla-
Gated.
MADAM" he said to the mother. els
this young man q professional nurse?"
"He is."
discharge him at once"
''Not on your life!" cried the patient
"Any educated nurse" continued the
doctor, "knows better than to risk
patients life by permitting him to take
such violent exercise" --
"Permitting!' sneered Barton. "Do
you think that STRIPPING could lord it
over me? Not much"
"Either discharge the nurse" said
the doctor resolutely, cor shall with
draw from the case."
'"The nurse won't be discharged" re-
piled Barton. Whereup0n 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
sickroom. 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. 1 like this little chap you've given
me, and before he goes away Ill make
man Of him."
"Oh, dear" cried the mother, which
under the circumstances was as ap-
propriate as anything she could say.
"Send Philip back to me- Barton
went on. "He's bit cut up at being
blamed" @
Mrs. Hough was ready to do any
thing in her power and, going out,
came back dragging Philippa with
her.
"Come here" said Barton to- his
nurse. ...
Philippa went to him and, taking her
hand, the patient said kindly:
"Don't mind what the old curmudg-
con said. You're nice little fellow,
only bit too delicate for a boy, but
I'll take that out of you. Mother,
want him to stay with me till get
well. feel better already"
So Philippa continued her attend
ance, and the patient continued to
improve. AS much cannot be said for
Philippa. As the patient grew strong
er he increased his efforts to take the
efeminacy 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 day Mrs. Bar
ton heard sounds above, followed by
thud. Running upstairs, she found
her son lifting Philippa, unconscious,
from the floor. Both had boxing
gloves on their hands.
"For heavens sake, Barton" cried
the mother, 'shave you killed herY
"Killed her? You mean him."
"Oh, ysdear boy, she is girlv'
Barton laid Philippa on a lounge
and begged his mother to go for re-
storatives. While the old lady was
gone Philippa opened her eyes, meet
ing another pair Of frightened eyes
that showed relief, but still anxiety.
Thank heaven ] haven't killed your