Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-06-15
GRAADAD's NURSE
ny LOUISE OLIVER.

white bIossom-covsred trees. Mr.. Cal
vim Wickham and his grandson were
reading the morning papers.
The wide lawn stretched over to
q low iron fence. and there began an
other wide spreading lawn and then
house. On the porch OF this hou5e
woman in white appeared, and with
head thrown back to take In the fresh
morning air. she started 10 promenade
the gravel walk. Up and down she
went. until Mr.. Wickham looked up
with irritation.
Look at that trained nurse over at
Patterson'sl Why can't she sit down
ard be quiet?s
The younger man, also keenly alive
to the presence next door. but with
different emotions. looked up casu-
ally. Who? Oh. Miss TaylorI Whyl
! suppose she's out for exercise. she's
kept shut up pretty close, / suppose.
Nice looking girliv
Nice looking! Perfect doll babyl
I've no time for your so-caIled profess
sional nurses, always doIled up in
white caps and white dresses and
aprons and things. It's only q pose.
How could anyone do any real work
in get-up like that7y
They do 1t. just the same" de-
clared Frank stoutly.
They pick out the part they want
to do all right. take temperatures. dab
'em with alcohol out OF bottle and
keep chart. while the family hustles
TO do the other things. Whenever |
see the old.fashioned kind with her
sleeves rolled up down In the kitchen
cooking soups and things 70 make EN-
well ! say to myself, Now. there's
nurse!'r
Frank laughed. But you don't UNI
derstand. grandad. II you want q
cook you hire onc. and n you want
a parior maid you hire one. The
Pattersons are devoted to Laura
Taylor"
so you know her name. do your
Seems TO me you're getting pretty well
acquainted"
4 met her the other night when
the family had her out for a ride In
the car" explained Prank. Il heard
one Of the girls call her Laura. 1
think she's relative"
Coming home from church, Frank
found himself walking with Muriei
Patterson. Laura 10 leaving tonight"
she said In her gay little chatterbox
manner. Mamma IL Just about as
wen as ever | 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 tho invitation with
alacrity.
That night, under the soft light OF
the candles, Frank thought that
Laura Taylor. unofiIcialIy clad in a
dress OF sheer pale pink, looked like
an angel on the wrong side OF heaven.
He couldn't take his eyes on her. and
after tea. when the others repaired to
tho library TO hear something new OF
Homer's on the graphophone. he Wits
pered request which she hesitntingiy
granted. walk with him In the gar.
den.
A light was burning In the wickham
house. "Grandad hasn't gone 10 bed
yeti" remarked Frank, That's un-
usual"
4 must watch the time" finally an
nounced his companion. my train
goes at eleven and have to change
my dress. BY the way. do you know
anything about the trains on the z. d.
and l., road7 ! have 10 change cars
at Roxton and the Pattersons have
lost their schedule"
I have one az tho house." returned
Frank. 1T win just take me an In
slant TO get II, Suppose you walk over
with mel"
All right. | won't go In, though. l
can walt ON the yerandR"
And so they turned their steps in
that direction. Frank went into the
library, and in an instant returned In
panic. Grandchildren" he cried, Il
think he's dead Come quickl"
And 80 they few TO the old man, who
sat still and white in his chair by the
table. Laura had his wrist In sec
ond. NO. not dead" She spoke huF-
rledly. 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.
No, don't touch him." said the
nurse, in quiet, firm voice Frank
scarcely knew. Il want a glass of wa
ter" she added. Quietly and quickly
she opened the bag, got little black
box and dissolved some tablets. Then
she rolled back the old mans sleeve
and went to work. His hearti" she
explained. This is strychnial"
Her hand went again 10 HIS pulse
and stayed there. Now please let
us get him to the couch---very easy,
now"
And so old Mr.. Wickham got well.
Laura didn't take the eleven O'Clock
train, but stayed 70 nurse him. and
during her two weeks stay the old
man would scarcely let her out Of his
sight.
One day be called Frank In. Son. !"
he said, If you want to do me IA
vor in my old age. try to persuade
Laura Taylor TO marry you. She's
the finest, smartest woman in the
world
Good advice. grandad, Dut a little
late" laughed Frank shes already
promised me that very thingl"
Copyright. by the Mcclure Nawnpapar
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