The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-01-04
"Good'Dy--and God bless YOU
She went out, and he closed the door
softly behind her.
CHAPTER VIll.

they were chaotic enough at first. |
Ihcrc were uniformed young women
coming ana going, efficient, coOl-eycd, |
low of voice. There were long Wis
las OF shining floors and lines of beds. |
There were brisk intcrncS with duck
clothes and brass buttons, who eyed
her with friendly. pntronizing glanccs
There were bandngcS and dressings. |
ana great white screens. behind which |
were played little or big dramas. |
baths or deaths. as the case might be. |
And over all broodrd the mysterious |
authority of the superintendent of the
training school, dubbed The Head. for
short.
Twelve hours day. from seven to
seven, with the oIf-duiy intcrmiSSion.
sidney labOrcd III tasks which rrvoltrh |
her soul. She swept and busted the
wards. cleaned closets. folded sheets |
and towels. rolled hnn,lagrS-tlid ev- |
rry,hing but nurse the sick, which was |
what She had come to do.
At night she did not 20 home. She |.
SAT on the rdg" "i her narrow, white
bed ana soaked her aching feet in hot
water and witch-huZrl. and practicrd |
taking pulses on her own slender wrist |
with KS little watch
Out of all tho long hot DAYS. two
! periods stood out clearly, to be waited
! for and cherished. One was when.
early In the afternoon, with the ward
In SpotlcSs order, the shades drawn
against the August sun. the tables COW
crcd with their rcd covers and the
Only sound the 'drOnc Of the bundugr-
machine as Sidney steadily turned 1t.
Doctor Max passed the door on his
way TO the surgical ward beyond ard
gave her cherry greeting. At these
times Sidncys heart beat almost in
time with the ticking Of the little
) watch.
The other hour was at twilight.
whom work over for the day. the night
nurse, with her rlbhcrsolr shoes and
tired eyes and ianglng keys. having
reported and received tho night orders.
the nurses gathered in their small par
Tor for prayers. 1t was months before
Sidney got over the cXaltation of that
twilight hour. and never did it cease
I" bring her healing and peace. In a
way, ii cryStnliZcd for her what the
days work meant: charity and its sis
ter service. the promise OF rest and
peace. Into the little purlOr filed the
nurses and knclt, folding their tired
hands.
"'rhr Lord is my shepherd" read the
Head out Of hcr worn Bible; 81 shall
not want"
And the nurses: Gle makcth me to
lie down in green pastures: he lcadpth
me beside the still waters"
And SO on through the psalm to the
assurance at the end, "And will dwell
in the house Of the Lord forever"
Now and then there was death be-
hind one Of the white screens 1t
caused little change in the routine of
the ward. a nurse stayed behind the
screen, and her work was done by the
others. When everything was over,
the time was recorded exactly on the
record, and the body was taken away.
At first it seemed to Sidney that she
could not stand this ncnrn,ss to DEATH
She thought the nurses hard because
they took it quietly. Then she found
that 1t was only St0iciSm, resignation.
that they had learned. These things
must be. and the work must go on.
Their philosophy made them no less
tender. Some such patient detachment
must be that Of the angels who keep
the Great Record.
+ On her first Sunday halfholiday. size
| was free in the morning, and went to
church With her mother, going back to
I | the hospital after The service. SO ii
| was two weeks before she saw lie
, Aloync again. Even then, 1t was only
, Tor short time. Christine and Palmer
. Howe came in - sec her ana to IN
/ Sprci the balcony. now finished.
j. But Sidney and LIE Moync had few
. "ordS together first.
There was a change in Sidney. lie
. Moyne was quick TO see II. She was Il
: tr1lc snbducd With Il puzzled look in
: her blue eyes Her mouth was tender,
:. rs always, but he thought 1t dropped.
! There was a new atmosphere of visit
L iulncsS about the girl that made his
f heart ache.
They were alone in the little parlor
g With It's brown lamp and blue SILK
$ shade. Il. never smoked in the parlor,
hut by sheer force OF habit he held
he pipe In his teeth. sA,