Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-08-10

"Not until you rinse off that Their
mometer."
''Then I'm to tell the doctor you re-
fuse To let me take your tempera-
ture?"
You can tell him anything you
choose"
Sick. unstrung. her heart beating
in her throat and arms. Helen lay in
feverish. consuming hatred, as the
nurse swept out.
Her head ached. the pillow was
too low. The glass Of water was just
beyond her thirsty reach-but she
would wait until Dora came.
When the girl, with eager but clumsy
sOlicitude. was ministering 10 her
wants. Warren. without his usual her
aiding of heavy footsteps, tiptoed
noiselessly into the room.
"Why, where's the nurSeT frOwn-
ing at Dora's awkward attentions.
"Oh-oh. I'm so glad you've come!
7 don't want her-I don't want her
ever to touch me again." And Helen
burst into a hysterical account of the
mornings happenings.
"NOw you're getting yourself all
worked up over nothing. If she wasn't
good nurSe-dOctor wouldn't nave
her here. You've got one of your fool
ish prejudices. and you can't"
Warren, il isn't prejudice! l tell
Won she doesn't follow the doctors or
ders. She hates her Work-she isn't
fitted for the nurse. If you won't tell
| him about that thermOmeter-I will
| No conscientious nurse would"
"Oh. all right" yielding with frown-
ing reluctance. "Fll speak to him"
Dear. don't think | am unreason-
able. If you'd only believe me! You're
not here all day-you don't know what
she does"
"Now, we won't talk about it any
more. You quiet down-Or you'll send
up your fever. I'll stay here till the
doctor comes"
Weak with eXhausting emotions
Helen lay back with closed eyes. The
sense of Injustice ranked sorely. II
was useless to combat Warren's belief
i'm the nurse. for when either he or the
doctor was present she was always so
licitously attentive.
II was after one when the doctor
came. Helen. listening tensely. heard
Warren take him into the library
where she could catch only the mum
BILE of their lowered voices.
After an interminable wait the dool
swung open and the doctor came II
followed nv Miss Saunders, her face
flushed and set.
"Well. how is our patient today?'
with professional cheerfulness.
Not trusting herself to speak. Heller
shaded her eyes with her arm, but hel
lips uulvered betrayingly.
Drawing a chair to the bed, he tool
her hand with a soothing:
Were making change in you
nurse. Miss Saunders has n Sigh
cold. and we can't risk your catchin;
it. She'll stay with you until five. thel
Miss Reeves will relieve her"
Her ewes still shaded. Helen onl.
nodded. hut the lace Of her gown ros
with a smothered sob of relief.
The doctor gone. she lay in relaxing
quiet. How cleverly he had done it
What had Warren said? What hat
they told Miss Saunders?
"Wen. she's fred Warren wa
alone with her now. Feel better?
"Oh. yes-yes" Then quiveringly
"Rut YOU don't believe me! You thin
) she's all right-and that I'm unreasor
able"
"No, Kitten. guess you had her nun
ber." There was a grim note in hi
voice. 'Ive just found out thing o
two myself"
Forgetful Of the doctors order:
Helen. I'm breathless inquiry. half ros
on her elbow.
"You don't have TO prove your cas-
against that femalesx eHe had risen t
close the door, "DlkA little sleuthin
on my own account bA the goods o
chart" ~
"The chart? You bean"
81 mean she didf write down
blooming thing ye&erday. Just b.
fore the doctor came*he took blan
chart. dated it ThurSday and filled
out-temperature. medicine, nOurisl
ment-the whole rigmarOle. l keI
busy with newspaper till she Wa
: through-then l started something
[ "Oh. she knows"
Z "She ought to-" with n grin. "My lal
guage was emphatic. but plain. TT
l. doctors pretty hot. too. He let III
: down easy before you, but it's the La
case she'll ever get from him. Your
> all right. Kitten-this time your hume
was the real thing"