The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-06-19
THE NURSES PARADOX


senior inferno, were In love with each
other. Some OF the nurses prophesied
that they would get married when
the doctor started his private prac-
tice In the fall. l was not 80 sure.
was watching them narrowly-you
know how one falls into the habit of
being interested In the others of the
personnel. in little hospitals. / had
seen the romance flame out. remain
for one brief and glorious week. and
come crashing to earth.
was wondering what had come
between them when / played the
eavesdropper unintentionally that
night in May. 1t was the sort of night
that poets sing about, all lilac scented,
with young moon and an inviting
darkness in the recesses of the hos.
pital garden. don't know what took
me toward the summer house, but |
heard them talking at the door, and
dared not stir for fear of letting them
know they we're overheard.
IF you had told me, Miriam!" I
heard the doctor say.
THAT am married." she answered
so that you need not have fallen
In love with me, ! suppose!'
mo, Miriam! Heaven knows never
could have prevented that But at
least should have lived In no fools
paradise. You can divorce him. DEAR"
heard her weeping in his arms.
and knew that her response was
negative one. She was a Catholic;
divorce did not exist for her church.
heard her say they could never
marry, l heard his passionate declara'
tion, his reluctant acquiescence- and
then l managed to sip away as they
came out Of the little place together.
1t would be two months till Doctor
Raymond left us. Nurse Joyce con
templated remaining indefinitely.
never saw two people look 80
miserable as they did during those
two months. Only week remained
when something occurred that neither
could have foreseep.
/ was on duty among the outpa.
tients. and had perceived the dissi
pated-looking man In the corner. and
Nurse Joyce look in and disappear
with startled expression. had car
ried back some bottles to the dispen
sary when saw Nurse Joyce there.
weeping in Doctor Raymond's arms.
He is my husband" she was sob
bing "Dear-dear-if you want
me-"
Later / learned that the man had
recognized his wife and was to under
go an operation. He had come In
quite by chance. 1t was serious, and
might be extremely SO. but there was
probability that he would live
through it.
The next morning 1t was Nurse Joyce
who administered the ether. l never
saw a woman SO calm. The poor.
pathetic, trembling wreck upon the
table was gradually lulled into obli-
won. And 80 he fell asleep and was
wheeled into the operating room.
And as Doctor Raymond proceeded
with his work. and Nurse Joyce sat
at the head, dropping ether quietly
upon the cone, seemed all at once
to see right into their hearts.
II the patient recovered. knew
that Nurse Joyce was resolved to get
her divorce just the same and commit
sin. as she thought. in marrying while
her husband lived. And 1t seemed
to me then that this had come as
test. If Nurse Joyce were resolute
not to violate her conscience, but to
send Doctor Raymond from her, then
the man would die. But SO long as
she was bent on marrying Raymond
he would get WELL
l don't know how I came to reason
out this singular paradox. But
knew 1t by sort of intuition.
prayed that the wreck might die, II
she didn't change her decision. But
he passed through the operation well.
and in a few hours he was on the
mend. The next day he was declared
out of danger, and he lay on his bed.
following her with looks of dumb
gratitude as she passed.
l saw her talking to Raymond out
side the door the second night. MY
ears are sharp-a nurses have to be.
Anyway. heard what they were say
Ing.
You will como with me as soon as
he is out of danger, then," whispered
Raymond.
saw her shake her head and place
aer hand on his shoulder.
Il can't, DEAR" she answered.
His eyes hardened his lips we're
compressed tightly. "Why?" he de-
manded.
Because | have watched him who
was my husband once. and is still.
lying in the bed, watching. me in
turn" she answered. His eyes are
like the eyes of dumb animal. Harry.
Have you not seen them? And cant
lit breaks my heart. but can't
said that it had come as test to
her had felt confident that her hus-
bands useless life served no other
purpose now but to develop the high
est In her And she had risen to 1t
nobly. felt quite sure the man would