The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-21

strongly assertive air. CHANGING down
at Helen with patroniz.ng smile, she
gave her entire attention to the doctor.
| they had stepped into the next room,
and again that maddening low-voiced
humble.
I'll be back about noon," in slight
~ louder tone. "Have those prescrip-
tons filled soon as the drug store
opens. want her to have the first
dose at eight"
The doctor gone, Warren again took
up his post by the bed.
us 1t appendicitis" Helen chung to
his hand with feverish intensity. "WilI
there have to be an operation? Oh,
tell me what he saidw
HE thinks you'll be all right-if you
keep perfectly quiet. Now I'm going
out for those prescriptions" glancing
at is watch.
"OG. must you go?" clinging to him.
"Can't yUu send messenger"
mo, we want some other things--a
couple of ice bags and absorbent cot
ton. won't be long-the nurse is
right here"
With an unreasoning depression,
Helen heard the docr close after him.
"The first thing we'll have some air
in here" announced the nurse with dis
concerning briskness, as she threw UP
the shades and opened both the win.
dows.
ooh, leave the shades down." pro-
tested Helen weakly. "They can see
right in"
"Not with this out" switching off the
light by the bed.
But Helen shrank from the cheerless
morning light. She wanted the becom-
ing glow of the rose lamp by the bed.
She resented the intin,ation that the
room was not we'll aired. for both VIM
dows were down from the top.
"No--no, you can't turn on your
side! You must keep that ice in place.
That towels wet--wheYe will find tho
clean towels?'
Sin the hall closet-the third shelf
from the bottom" mltrmured Helen,
with a growing antag0Hism for this
nurses assertive personality.
ooh, cat How it frightened me?
1 Oh, no, you can't have her on the bed
cats are most insanitary." And with
4 firm authority, unheeding Helen's pro-
4 test, she drove Pussy Purr-Mew from
the room.
1t was a trivial thing, but it con-
tributed to Helen's increasing aversion.
Her drug-distorted thoughts were in
famed with animosity. There was also
childish desire to have her own way,
to be humored and INDUCED, desire
always paramount when she was ill.
With tremulous relief she welcomed
the slamming door and Warren's quick
step in the hall
"More painT Giving the packages to
the nurse, he stopped over her.
Helen shook her head. Then as Miss
Saunders disappeared into the bath
room she whispered duivering:
ooh, I don't like haf can't bear
her! If / must have a nurse-I don't
want her."
''Now none of that" with q note Of
sternness. "You mustn't get any Of
your foolish prejudices."
81 can't help it--she antagonfzed me
the moment she camA into the room,"
and with sick, childish resentment
Helen sobbed out thu incident Of the
shades.
"Thats easy" Warren rose, pulled
down the shades ami turned on the
light by the bed. "Hstterw Then as
the nurse came in. "Mrs. Curtis prefers
the shades down."
| Miss Saunders, benSing over, adjust
ed the ice bags withnt1t comment, but
Helen saw the obstinate set of her
mouth. When she agSin left the room,
Warren, pushing up the lace sleeve of
Helen's gown, rubbed her soft white
inner arm with an anxious:
| SNOW, Kitten, you're not going to be
difficult, are you? Your jobs to lie
quiet and get well. Never mind about
the nurse. You don't have to like her
but don't give way to any foolish
| prejudices. That'll make 1t hard for
everybody"
| sob, you know don't want to make
| 1t hard-but I can't help"
Eyes, you can" as he stopped to kiss
her. snow don't talk-doctor wants
you to sleep. That pillow too hight"
To be looked after and waited on by
Warren was a sensation deliciously
new. The very warmth and security of
his hand on her arm held a magnetic
soothing. Her attitude toward the
nurse seemed suddenly small and
childish.
"Oh, dear, I'll not even think of the
nurse!"
"That's the stuff" as he smootned
her hair. you're not 10 worry about
anything. Just remember-Tm right
here on the job"
Useful in Electrical Work.