The Washington herald., 1914-11-22
(Copyrishs, Hl.l

Republic sent Sam Ward to cover the
story, and with him Redding to take
photographs. 1t was a crisp, beautful
day in October, full Of sunshine and the
joy of living, and from the great lawn
in front of the Home you could see hall
over Connecticut and across the waters
of the sound to Oyster Bay.
Upon Sam Ward, however, the beauties
of nature were wasted. When, the night
previous he had been given the assign
ment he had sulked, and he was still
suIkIng. Only a year before he had
graduated into New York from a small
upstate college and small upstate
newspaper, but already he was star
man, and Hewitt, the city editor, humor-
ed him go"
when was reporter" declared the
city editor, IT used to be glad to get a
day In the country"
Because you'd never lived IN the coun-
try" returned Sam. IF you'd wasted
twenty-six years in the backwoods,- as
did, you'd know that every minute you
spend outside of New York you're rob-
bing yourself" ."
The city editor sighed. How young
you are"' he exclaimed. go
Sam Ward sat at the outer edge OF
the crowd Of overdressed females and
overfed men, and, with a sardonic smile,
listened TO Flagg telling his assembled
friends and sycophants how glad he was
they were there to see him give away a
million dollars.
Aren't you going to get his speech?''
asked Redding, the stan photographer.
Get his speech|' said Sam. ''They
have Pinkertons all over the grounds to
see that you don't escape with less than
three copies. I'm waiting to hear the
ritual they always have, and then I'm
going to sprint for the first train back
to the center Of civilization"
There's going to be fine Iunch,' said
Redding, "and reporters are expected. I
asked the policeman If we were, and he
said We were"
Sam rose, shook his trousers into place,
stuck his stick under his armpit and
smoothed his yellow gloves. He was
very thoughtful of his clothes and al
ways treated them with courtesy.
You can have my share" he said. 'T
cannot forget that am fifty-five min
utes from Broadway. And even If I were
starving I would rather have a club
sandwich in New York than a Thanks
giving turkey dinner in New Rochelle"
He nodded and with eager athletic
strides started toward the iron gates;
but he did not reach the iron gates, for
the instant trouble barred his way
Trouble came to him wearing the blue
cambric uniform of nursing sister, with
red cross on her arm, with a white COL
lar turned down, white cuffs turned back
and a tiny black velvet bonnet A bow
of white lawn chucked her impudentIy
under the chin. She had hair like goI-
denrOd and eyes as blue as flax and a
complexion of such health and cleanli-
ness and dewiness as blooms only on
trained nurses.
She was so lovely that Redding swung
his hooded camera at her as swiftly as a
cowboy could have covered her with his
gun. -"
Other men. on being confronted by Sis
ter Anne, which was the official title OF
the nursing sister, would have fallen
backward, or swooned. or gazed at her
with soulful worshipful eyes; or, were
they that sort of beast would have
ogled her with impertinent approval
Now Sam, because he was a star re-
porter, observed that the lady before him
was the most beautiful young woman he
had ever seen: but no one would have
guessed that he observed that-least OF
all Sister Ammo. He stood in her way and
lifted his hat, and even looked into the
ly as though she were his great-Runt-as
though his heart was not beating so fast
that it choked him.
Il am from the Republic" he said
Everybody is so busy here today that
I am rot able to get what need about
the Home. It seems a pity" he added
disappOintedly, because it's so well done
that people ought to know about it" He
frowned at the big hospital buildings. It
was apparent that the ignorance OF the
public concerning their excellence greatly
annoyed him..
When again he looked at Sister Anne
she was regarding him in alarm-obvi-
ously she was upon the point Of instant
flight.
Some people like to place themselves in
the hands Of a reporter because they
hope he will print their names in black
letters; a few others-only reporters know
how few-would as soon place themselves
in the hands Of a dentist.
"a reporter from the Republic" re-
peated Sam.
But why ask me?" demanded Sister
Anne. -"
"I am sorry" said Sam. ST mistook
YOU for one of the nurses here; and, as
you didn't seem busy. thought you might
give me some statistics about the Home
not really statistics, you know, but
local color"
Sister Anne returned his look with one
as steady as his own. Apparently She
was weighing his statement. She seemed
70 disbelieve it. InwarGly he was ask
ing himself what could be the dark secret
in the past OF this young woman that at
the mere approach of a reporter-even
OF such nice-lookinE reporter as himself
she should shake and shudder.
IF that's what you really want to
Know Sblu oLHltT ANNE II
try and help you; but" she added. look
ing at him as one who issues an ultima
tum. you must not say anything about
mel" ."
Sister Anne fell into step beside him
and led him through the wards Of the
hospital He found that it existed for
and revolved entirely about one person
He found that a million dollars and some
acres of buildings, containing sun-rooms
and hundreds of rigid white beds had
been donated by Spencer Flagg only to
provide a background for Sister Anne
only TO exhibit the depth of her charity |
the kindness Of her heart, the unseIish- |
ness Of her nature.
do you really scrub the fioors?" he |
demanded-'I mean you yourself-down |
on your knees with a pail and water and |
scrubbing brush?"
Sister Anne raised her beautiful eye
brows and laughed at him.
We do that when we first come here"
she said-''When We are probationers; is |
there a newer way Of scrubbing foors?"
And these awful paSents," demanded |
Sam-"do you wait on them? Do you
have TO submit to their complaints and
winnings and ingratitude?" He glared at |
the unhappy convalescents as though by |
that glance he would annihilate them. |
Its not fairI" exclaimed Sam. ITS rid |
iouious. I'd like to choke themr d"
''One must live" said she.
They had passed through the last cor |
rido-, between the last rows OF rigid |
white cots, and had come out into the |
sunshine Below them stretched Com