The Topeka state journal., 1916-05-04
The Euenine Story
Grandad's Nurse.
(By Louise Oliver. }

other wide spreading lawn and then
house. On the porch of this house,
a woman in white appeared, and with
head thrown back to take in the fresh
morning air, she started to prone
made the gravel walk. Up and down
she went, until Mr.. Wickham looked
up with irritation.
Look at that trained nurse over at
Patterson's! Why can't she sit down
and be quiet?''
The younger man, also keenly alive
to the presence next door, but with
different emotions, looked up casual
1y. Who? Oh, Miss Taylor! Whyi
suppose she's out for exercise. She's
kept shut up pretty close, I suppose
Nice looking girl!'
Nice looking! Perfect doll baby!
I've no time for your so-called pro-
fessional nurses, always dolled up in
white caps and white dresses and
aprons and things. It's only a pose
How could any one do any real work
in a get-up like that?''
They do it just the same" de-
clared Frank stoutly.
They pick out the part they want
to do all right, takes temperatures,
dab 'em with alcohol out of a bottle
and keep chart, while the family
hustles to do the other things. When
ever see the old-fashioned kind, with
her sleeves rolled up, down in the
make 'em well I say to myself, Now,
there's a nurSen'
Frank laughed. But you don't un-
derstand, grandad. If you want a cook
you hire one, and if you want a parlor
maid you hire one. Why, when peo-
pie engage nurses, do they expect them
not only to take care of the SICK but
to cover the whole category of house
hold help besides? The Pattersons are
devoted to Laura Taylor"
SO you know her name, do you ?"
Seems to me you're getting pretty well
acquainted And just then the nurse
came to the point of te path nearest
the fence and nodded brightly to her
acquaintance in the swing
I met her the other night when the
family had her out for a ride in the
car, explained Frank They had a
blowout, SO I stopped and helped
heard one of the girls call her Laura.
think she's a relative"
The older man looked after the re-
treating figure critically. "She looks
$40. worth of work a week; that's all
I've got to say. Besides, she's too
darned pretty for a nurse. I'll bet her
looking-glass works overtime
Not deeming this remark worthy of
reply, Frank was silent. Later, the
two men went indoors to get ready
for church
Coming home, Frank found himself
waking with Murlel Patterson. Laura
| is leaving tonight" she said in her gay
little chatterbox manner. Mamma is
| just about as well as ever. 1 thought
maybe you could come over to tea
We'd love to have you, and I'll dig
| up one or two others
| Frank accepted the invitation with
alacrity, although there was regret in
his tone as he remarked: Miss Tay-
lor going? That's too bad! You will
miss her, 1 know!''
will nd
really she saved mamma's life. She's
a wonder and the dearest thing in the
world"
| That night, under the soft light of
the candles, Frank thought that Laura
Taylor, unofficially clad in a dress of
sheer pale pink, looked like an angel
| on the wrong side of heaven. He
couldn't take his eyes off her. and aft
library to hear something new of
Homer's on the Victrola, he whispered
a request which she hesitatingly grcnt-
| ed, a walk with him in the garden.
She threw something fleecy around
her shoulders, and under soft young
moon they wandered, talking of any
little nothing that came into their
heads.
A light was burning in the Wick
ham house. "Grandad hasn't gone to
bed yeti" remarked Frank. That's
unusual Sunday night he usually re-
tires with the chickens He could
| not help wondering what the old man
| would say if he knew that his grand
| son was wandering about in the moon
| light with the doll baby next door.
| And as If to echo his thoughts Laura
said: Your grandfather doesn't like
me and I'm sorry. l can tell by the
| ing my stock in trade and wondering
| if I'm worth very much. So many
older people are prejudiced against
/ trained nurses!"
| f1o
and turned the conversation into other
| channels.
sT must watch the time" finally
/ announced his companion. My train
goes at eleven and I have to change
INV dress BY the way, do you know
ANYTHING about the trains on the E. D.
& L. road? I have to change cars at
| Roxton and the Pattersons have lost
their schedule
| 81 have one at the house." returned
Frank. 1T will just take me an IN
slant to get it. Suppose you walk over
with mei
"AlI right I won't go in, though. I
can wait on the veranda-"
And so they turned their steps in
that direction. Frank went into the
| library and in an instant returned in
| a panic. Grandfather" he cried. II
think he's dead. Come quicki"
| And so they flew to the old man,
who sat still and white in his chair by
| the table Laura hao ms Wrlsl IN d
| second mo. not dead." She spoke
| h hurriedly Run over, please, and get
my bag It's in the lower hall by the
| clock
| In three minutes Frank was back,
with the entire family at his heels.
| WED better carry him upstairs,
suggested Mr.. Patterson.
mo, don't touch him." said the
nurse in a quiet, firm voice Frank
| scarcely knew. ''I want a glass of
water she added. Quietly and quick
| ly she opened the bag. got a little
| black box and dissolved some tablets.
Then she rolled back the old mans
sleeve and went to work. His hearth
| the explained. This is strychniai''
, Her hand went again to his pulse