Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-01-10
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
The hot August days dragged on.
MercileSs sunlight beat in through the
Slated shutters of ward windows. At
night, from the roof to which the
nurses retired after prayers for a
breath of air, lower surrounding roofs
were seen to be covered with sleepers.
Children dozed precariously on the
edge of eternity; men and women
sprawled in the grotesque pOstures of
sleep.
There was a sort of feverish irrita-
bility in the air. Even the nurses, stO-
ically unmindful of bodily discomfort
spoke CURLY or not ut all. Miss Dana,
in Sidney's ward, went down with a
low fever, and for a day or so Sidney
and Miss Grange got along as best
they could. Sidney worked like two or
more, performed marvels of bed max
ing, learned to give alcohol baths for
fever with the maximum of result and
rounds with members of the staff and
came through creditably.
DIR. Ed Wilson had sent a woman pa
tient into the ward, and his visits
were the breath of life to the girl.
How're they treating you" he
asked her, one day, abruptly.
Every we'll"
'Look at me squarely. You're pref
ty aud you're young. Some of them
will try to take it out of you. That's hui
man nature. Has anyone tried it yet?'
Sidney looked distressed.
Positively, no. It's been hot, and
Of course it's troublesome to tell me
everything. II think they're all
very kind
He reached out square, competent
hand, and put it over k"rs.
1--WE miss you in the Street." he
said. Its all sort of dead there since
you left"
He went out and down the corridor
He had known Sidney all his life.
During the lonely times when Max
was at college and in Europe he had
watched her grow from a child to a
young girl. He did not suspect for
a moment that in that secret heart of
hers he sat newly enthrOned, in q
glow of white light. as Max'S brother;
that the mere thought that he lived
in Max's house lit was, of course, Max's
house to her), sat at Max's breakfast
table, could see him whenever he
wished, made the touch of his hand on
hers a benediction and a caress.
Carlottd Harrison, back from her
vacation, reported for duty and was
assigned to Il ward. which was Sid
ney's. She gave Sidney a curt li,tle
nod, and proceeded to change the en-
tire routine with the thorouci4css of
a Central American rev .utionary
president. Sidney. who had yet to
learn that with some people authority
can only assert itself by Change,
found herself confused, at sea, half
resentful. She got the worst off-duty
of the day, or nCne. SNAIL .milia-
tions were hers: late meals, disagrs
able duties, endless and often unnec-
essary tasks. Ignorant of the cause
of her persecution, she wei. steadilr
on her way.
AID she was gainlri, every day. Her
mind was forming. She was ,earning
to think for herself. On the whole,
the world was good. she found. And,
of II the good things in it, tb& best
YES service. True there were hot
days and restless nights, weary feet,
and now and then a heartacha. There
was Miss Harrison, too. But to offset
these there wCs the sound of Doctor
Max step in the corridor, and his
smiling no. from the door; there was
a "G0d bless you" now and then for
the comfort she gave; there were
wonderful nights on the roof under
the stars, until KS little watch
warned he' to bed.
X. was having his own troubles In
those days. Late st night. when Anna
and Harriet had retired, he sat on
the balcony and thought of many
things. Anna Page vas not well. He
had noticed hat her lips were rather
blue, and hal called in Doctor Ed. II
was valvular heart disease. Anna
was not to be told, or Sidney. 1t was
Hafriets ruling.
"'idney can't help any" said Har-
riet, "and for heavens sake let her
have her chance. Anna may live for
years. You know her as well as /
20. If you tell her anything at all,
she'll have Sidney herr, waiting on
her hand and foot"
and lie Moyne. fearful Of urging too
mucn because his own heart was cry
ing OFT to have the girl back, assented.
Then, K. was anxious about Joe.
The boy did not seem to get over the
thing the way he should. Now and