The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-07-19

mead IN sleepy
indecision, but ready for any turn.
1.-THE hot-water bottle" quiyeringly,
drawing the covers about her as she
sat hunched up in bed.
With Tapping, heelless slippers,
Warren shuffled into the bathroom, re-
appearing with the unwiped, air-puffed
bag which Helen, too sick TO be criti-
cal, huddled against her.
"Oh-oh," at another gripping pain.
"Oh. do, you think it's appendicitis"
"WeIl have the doctor and find out, "
turning with anxious determination to
the phone.
Even in her conyulsiye pains Helen
speculated worriedly over the double
fee of a midnight call.
Doctor Kelly?-This is Mr.. Curtis"
Helen stopped her moaning to listen.
Mrs. Curtis is suffering with violent
cramps.-No, we dined at home
Mono fish nor clams.-As soon as
you can.-An ice bag?'-
"Oh, is he coming?" in the throes of
another cramp.
"Soon as he can get here. Wherell I
find the ice bag?"
1--WE haven't any," her teeth a-chat-
ter.
Grumbling about the things you ought
to have in case of sickness, Warren
stumbled out to the kitchen.
The sound of a hacking ice pick,
and he returned with some cracked ice
clumsily wrapped In a red-selvaged
towel
"Oh. that's a tea towel" walled
Helen.
"Now, never mind about that. There,
how does that feel?'
ooh, Warren, those shades" SILVER
ing under the icy application. "They
can see right inT
"Nobody's up, anyway" glancing at
the darkened windows opposite as he
jerked down the shades.
ITS getting the bed wet" lifting off
the ice compress. Get a bath towel
that's thicker. Oh-oh," writhing I'M
der another attack. "They're growing
worse! Oh, why doesn't he Gomez?
ut won't be long nOw-he's on the
way" putting q comforting arm about
her.
"Oh, I can't stand this-I can't! It's
appendicitis. know it is"
Sitting on the bed, Warren made her
lean against him while he smOothed
her moist hair. But the pain. was too
great. Even his encircling arms
could not soothe her. and she drew
away with feverish:
Cant you do something? Why
doesn't he come-why doesn't he
Gomez"
Hell he here now in a few mo-
ments," Warren kept assuring her.
But there was an anguished half
hour before the clamorous bell an
nounced the doctors arrival.
With professional solicitude he bent
over the bed. A hurried examination,
thrust of a hypodermic. and almost
at once the sharp pains succumbed to
the soothing influence of the morphine.
"Oh. will l need a nurse?" Helen
caught their murmured comments.
Doctor thinks we'd better have one
for a few days" soothed Warren.
ITS not appendicitis? excitedly. 81
won't have an operation%
That's what we want to avoid" pa !
Gifted the doctor. "Now don't talk. 1
want you to try to Sleep"
A nurse-a trained nurse Helen's |
drugged thoughts were cropping with /
the difficulties and expense. Would |
there be enough clean linen? All nurses |
were wastefully extravagant with tow
els and bedclothes.
They would have to send for Mrs.
O'Grady-Dora could not do all the |
washing. Where would the nurse
sleep? Oh, they were not fixed for
nurse or for sickness.
Aroused from her broodings. she
stared up at Warren with an anxious, |
HAS the doctor gomez"
mo. he's 'phoned for a nurseries,
waiting till she ccmes."
Yielding to the languor of the drug,
Helen lapsed into a drowsy stupor on
~ to be startled by another ring,
alarmiHgly loud in the early stiffness.
Warren stayed beside her; it was
the doctor who answered the door.
Again that low-volced murmuring in
the hall.
Miss Saunders'll be with you in a
the doctor returned to the
bedside.
Had the purse gone into her dress
ing room? Was It much disOrdered?
Helen tried to remember what she had
left lying about.
A rustic of skirts and the white
CARRIED nurse appeared. One apprais-
ing glance and with swift intuition
'Ielen knew she would not like her.
She was about thirty, tall, dark, with
a strongly assertive air CHANGING down
At Helen with a patronizing smile, she
gave her entire attention to the doctor
They had stepped into the next room,
and again that maddening low-voiced
"I'll be back about noon" in slight :
Y louder tone. "Have those prescrip- !
ions filled soon as the drug store |
opens. 1 want her to have the first
lose at eight"
The doctor gone, Warren again took
Up his post by the bed.
"Is 1t appendicitis" Helen chung to
IFS hand with feverish intensity. "Wiil
n IN, y q,