Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-02-08
led over Grace and her kind.

lied over Grace and hef KIND.
On her first night on duty q girl
had been brought in from the Avenue.
She had taken poison-nobody knew
lust what. When the internes had
tried to find out, she had only said:
''What's the use?"
And she had died.
Sidney kept asking herself, "Why?"
those mornings when she could not get
to sleep. People were kind-men were
kind, really-and vet, for some reason
or other, those things had to be.
Why?
CarlOtta Harrison went on night
duty at the same time-her last night
service, as it was Sidney's first. She
accepted it stofcally. She had charge
of the three wards on the floor just
below Sidney, and Of the ward into
which all emergency cases were taken.
It was a difficult service, perhaps the
most difficult in the house. Carlotta
merely shrugged her shoulders.
I've always had things pretty hard
here" she commented briefly. when
I go out, I'll either be competent
enough to run a whole hospital single
handed, or I'll be carried out feet
first"
Sidney was glad to have her so near.
She knew her better than she knew
the other nurses. Small emergencies
were constantly arising and finding her
at a loss. Once at least every night
Miss Harrison would hear a soft hiss
from the back staircase that connect
ed the two floors, and, going out, would
see Sidnev's flushed face and slightlv
crooked cap bending over the stair
rail.
Tin 1readfully sorry to bother you,"
she would soy, "but so-and-So won't
have a fever bath; or, I've wolnaD
here who refuses her medicine" Then
would follow rapid que rs and
equally rapid answers. M as Car
IOtta disliked and feared thl- irl over
head, it never occurred to her to re-
fuse her assistance. Perhaps the an
gels who keep the great record will
put that tQ her credit.
Sidney saw her first death shortly
after she went on night duty. 1t was
the most terrible experience Of all her
itfe-it seemed to her that she could
not stand it. Added to all her other
new problems of living was this one
Of dying.
! She made mistakes, Of course, which
the kindly nurses forgot to report
! basins left about, errors on her rec
| Ords. She rinsed her thermometer in
| hot water one night, and startled an
| inferno by sending him word that Mary
| McGuire's temperature was 40 de-
grees. She let a delirious patient escape
from the ward another night and go
airily down the fire escape before she
discovered what had happened! Then
| she distinguished herself by flying
down the iron staircase and bringing
the runaway back single-handed,
For Christine's wedding the Street
threw off its drab attire and assumed
q wedding garment. IN the beginning
it was increduIous about some of the
details. The wedding was to be al
five o'clock. RMS, IN ltselr. ueneu al
traditions Of the Street, which was
either married in the very early morn
ing at the Catholic church or at eight
o'clock in the evening at the Presbyte
rian. There was something reckless
about five o'clock. The Street felt the
dash of it. 1t had a queer feeling that
perhaps such a marriage was not quite
legal.
The younger Wilson was to be one
of the ushers. When the newspapers
came out with the published list and
this was discovered, as well as that
Sidney was the maid of honor, there
was q distinct culver through the hos
| pitaI training school. A prObationel
was authorized To find out particulars
| It was the day Of the wedding then
and Sidney, who had not been to bee
at all, was sitting in a sunny window
in the dormitory annex, drying hel
| hair.
The probationer was distinctly IN
easy.
II just wonder" she said, eff yor
would let some Of the girls come il
to see you when you're dressedW
"Why Of course l will"
TITS awfully thrilling, isn't it? And
isn't Doctor Wilson going to be ar
usher?"
Sidney colored. 81 believe So"
The probationer had been instructed
30 find out other things; so she set t.
work with d fan at Sidney's hair.
you've known Doctor Wilson a long
time, haven't youY
ages"
Hes awfully goodIooking, isn't
he?"
Sidney considered. She was not ig
norant of the methods of the school
If this girl was pumping her
"Tu have to think that over" she
said, with CLINT of mischief in hel
eyes. when you know a person ter
ribly well, you hardly know whether
he's goOd-looking or not"
Il suppose" said the probationer
running the long strands of Sidney's
hair through her fingers, that wher
you are at home you see him often"
Sidney got off the window sill, and
taking the probriOner sAingly by the