Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-02-18
The Invalid
He Was Very Hard
to Nurse
BY F. A. mitchell

fill he was eighteen, universities till
no was twenty-six and taken post
graduate courses till he was twenty
nine. his mother thought it time that
he returned to America.
II Is not to be inferred that Mr..
Hough came out with great knowledge
from all this training. He had become
accustomed to European life and re-
manned in the universities for the pur-
nose of prolonging it. The only thing
IN which he had become proficient was
the use of the small sword, which he
learned at a German university.
However, when he had finished his
last postgraduate course he concluded
TO take rest in Paris, where he re.
NAMED year. Then his father died,
and he felt 1t incumbent upon him to
90 home. He found his mother very
lonely. and she begged him to stay
with her. He promised to do so, but
before long it became apparent that
he was signing for those places where
people work few hours day or not
at all and enjoy themselves the rest of
the time.
In order to get her son chained down
she desired that he should marry. Un-
fortunately for this plan Barton's fem
mime associates abroad had not been
such as to inspire confidence in wom-
en-. He had been much pleased at one
time with Russian countess. But
she turned out to be an adventures
and the sweet intercourse between
them had turned to bitterness. An
English girl. Lady Angela Courtney.
had been his next fame, but she had
married a nobleman of her own coun-
try, leaving the American in the lurch.
Mr.. Hough, forgetting that zone
swallow does not make summer
or two in his case-came to consider all
women bereft Of any sense of honor.
and he would have nothing to do with
them, or rather. he would trust none
of them. As to marrying, that was
out of the question.
One day Barton fell i'll. His mother
was not strong enough to nurse him.
but he would have no one else. Final
" when wornout she suggested a
trained nurse. The young man was
so enraged at the suggestion that his
mother desisted. Finally in order to
relieve her he consented that she might
bring in a man to help her.
Mrs. Hough knew young woman
who had become trained nurse. This
girl, Adele Trevor, the good lady sent
for, and on her arrival said to her:
"Philippa, my son is i'll and l must
have some one to take care of him.
What salary do you usually get?"
twenty-five dollars a week"
~ will pay you double that sum, but
] have a requirement to make of you.
You must personate man."
The girl hesitated, but she needed
money. and $50 week was tempta-
ton to her. Besides it was understood
that her duties would be rather to en-
terrain the patient than to nurse him.
She accepted the position and Mrs.
Hough sent her to tailor to be out
fitted. 1t became necessary to cut
off wealth of hair, but her employer
gave her substantial check to cover
the loss. When all was ready the
nurse was introduced to the patient
by Mrs. Hough.
why, mother" he said. 81 thought
you We're to get man, not boyr
"You don't need person of strength.
The butler will do everything for you.
Philip is simply to be with you when
you are lonely. to give you your medi-
cine, and read to you"
VERY well, let him begin at once"
What kind of reading do you like,
sir!' asked the nurse, very meekly.
Barton smiled. you must be pretty
young. Your voice hasn't changed
yet" he said; then added in contrast
Ing tones, 81 want a blood and thun-
der story"
Philippa went out of the room with
Mrs. Hough for book and returned
win history of the buccaneers of
tne Spanish main. Drawing chair
beside the invalids couch she seated
herself and began to read. She had
not read long before Barton stopped
her.
Ihats no voice with which to read
ABOUT pirates. No pirate would ever
.eii anybody to walk the plank like
tnat Put 1t this way''-and in as
stehtorian voice as he could COM
tnand in his weak condition he re-
peated:
Out there-every one of your"
MY voice isn't very strong yet.
suppose it will be stronger when l am
oiuer, said the nurse.
You need developing Look in the
e,oset and you'll find a couple of foils.
them"
fhiiippa closed the book, laid it aside
nu' going to the closet, found the
LUIS standing in corner She brought
.uem to the invalid. who took one.
'eaving the other with her.
IN, NOW stand off there" he said, land
give you lesson in fencing"
=, out sir: are you strong enough