The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-16
:. The ::
Confessions
of a Wife
A GLIMPSE OF A SOUL

forgotten that some days back |
started in to tell you that I had
read something new in my little
nurse Alice's face, and then went
wandering off into the realm of
speculation on my own account.
l sometimes wonder what
makes nice, refined women take
up the profession Of nursing. 1t
seems to me the most terrible
thing a woman with any feeling
could do to earn her living. |
imagine that the thought of re-
lieving PAIN. Of making some
poor tortured body better able to
bear its agony, has something to
do with 1t. But to me the dealing
with people whose bodies are not
normal would be more than my
nerves would stand.
Alice has been telling me some
of her experiences, and tell you,
little book, I'd rather scrub floors
than be a nurse. =
"Of course, Mrs. Waverly," she
said, when We get case like
yours We are very happy-but
most of the time the work is
hard, monotonous and rspugnant
and repulsive."
Yes | said, rather shyly. 81
think you have improved in your
health and good looks since you
have been with me. l thought
when you were Waiting with Pat
last night that you were the pref.
tiest woman in the room" m
Alice blushed and made dep
ricative gesture, then her face
suddenly paled.
What is the matter, child?"
asked. Surely you know you are
pretty girl-and a very dear girl
"a girl whose mistakes and mis-
fortunes have made better instead
of worse"
Alice impulsively rushed for.
ward and said, "Oh, Mrs. Waiver
ly, do you really think that is
true or are you saying that tc
comfort me?"
Il think it is true, my dear
Don't misunderstood me. You
will always bear the scar on your
soul, Of your experience. You car
never have the wonderful fullness
of Joy that may come to your
more fortunate sisters, who from
being better protected, have
either resisted temptation or hat
no temptation to resist.
But there are compensations
my dear child, even in such a To-
as yours, and that makes me have
faith In life. You have grown
very sympathetic with bodily ills
and very charitable with ills O
the soul. l believe you would
try and help anyone"
II certainly would" she an
swered.
Even your whilom lover?"
whispered softly.
She hesitated and then said al
most under her breath, Kin
most of all-for he needs hell
as much as |.
After a moment she put let
ter in my hand, and said, pleas,
read it," Then she left the room
opened the sheet and read:
You must not write me an!
more, Harvey, for you should
know, as<I do, that the book IL
which your story and mine wal
written is finished. Looking bacl
oh! how hate to look back
l wonder how it was ever begun
You are a nice boy. Harvey, al
boys go, but have found that
must find a real man to love, IL
should ever love anyone.
II hear you say, Surely, Alice
you loved me?'-and I must an
swer, 4 thought l did at the time
but when you let me suffer tha'
awful disgrace for you, | began t
see that / must get over lovins
YOU
"You can get over loving, Har
vey. Love sickness is like an,
other sickness. You either die o
it, or you get we'll. / think jus
now the worst pang I have Is tina
l am over 1t. 1t seems rather
weak in me to have made the sac
rifices / did for something tina
did not last.
"In fact, paradoxical as II ma,
seem, my greatest hurt is not tina
loved you and lost you, but tina
/ now have no hurt in having los
you. 1t some way makes me fee
as though l were a woman with
out much feeling.
Strange, isn't 1t, how circum
stances can shape and control {
woman's life? expect if we hat
been married l would have been {
devoted wife to you and nevel
would have known all the sham,
and suffering. | was giving yo,
the best of love of my heart
Harvey, you killed 1t.
"As IL Is, am glad that l an
not your wife, while all the Will,
have a feeling that Ii is some
thing the world would call yer.
sinful.
"All of it, Harvey, is like a bat
dream from which 1 am nov
awake.
Goodbye, Harvey, / hope W,
will never see each other again
but If you should even work be
side me every day for the years
to come, | am sure the sight oil
you would not cause my hear
to beat a bit faster.
/ L. L.. L..