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

Mabel Herbert Urnef SCrdpCtiluS his
head in sleepy
andecision, but ready for any turn.
"The hot-water bottle" quiveringly,
drawing the covers about her as she
sat hunched up in bed.
With Tapping, heelless slippers,
Warren shuffled into the bathroom, re-
appearing with the unwiped, air-puffed
bag, which Helen, too sick to be criti-
cal, huddled against her.
"Oh-oh," at another gripping pain.
s'Oh, do, you think it's appendicitis"
"We'll have the doctor and find out"
turning with anxious determination to
the phone.
Even i'll her convulsive pains Helen
speculated worriedly over the double
fee of a midnight call.
Doctor Kelly ?-This is Mr.. Curtis"
Helen stopped her moaning to listen.
.Mrs. Curtis is suffering with violent
cramps. No, we dined at home
Mono fish nor clams.-As soon as
you can.--An ice bag?"-
"Oh, is he comingY" in the throes of
another cramp.
',Soon as he can get here. Where'll I
lind the ice bag?"
"We haven't any," her teeth a-chat-
ter
Crumbling about the things you ought
to have in case of sickness, Warren
stumbled out to the kitchen.
III n'he sound of hacking ice pick,
and he returned with some cracked ice
clumsily wrapped in red-selvaged
towel.
aOh, that's tea towel" walled
Helen.
Snow, never mind about that. There,
how does that feel?'
ooh, Warren, those shades" SILVER
---iiiffss-dlR der The icy application. "They
: can see right IMP
"Nobody's up, anyway" glancing at
the darkened windows opposite as he
jerked down the shades.
"It's getting the bed wet" lifting off
the ice compress. "Ges bath towel
that's thicker. Oh-oh," writhing I'M
dev another attack. 'They're growing
wcrse Oh, why doesn't he comef'
ut won't be long now--he's on the
way" putting comforting arm about
her.
ooh, I can't stand this-I can't! It's
appendicitis, I know 1t Is"
Sitting on the bed, Warren made her
lean against him wE!le he smoothed
her moist hair. But the pain was too
great. Even his sncircling arms
could not soothe he-, and she drew
away with feverish:
"Can't you do something? Why
doesn't he come-why doesn't he
Gomez"
Hell be here now in a few mo-
ments," Warren kept assuring her.
But there was an anguished half
hour before the claihorous bell an
nounced the Doctors arrival.
With professional sclicitude he bent
over the bed. A hurried examination,
a thrust of a hypodernic, and almost
at once the sharp pains succumbed to
the soothing influence Of the morphine.
ooh, will need nurseT Helen
caught their murmured comments.
"Doctor thinks we'd better have one
for few days." soothed Warren.
'It's not appendicitis" excitedly. y
won't have an operationW
sThats what we want to avoid" pa
Gifted the doctor. "Now don't talk.
want you to try to Sleep"
A nurse-a trained nurse! Helens
drugged thoughts were cropping WIN
the difficulties and expense. Would
there be enough clean linen? All nurses
were wastefully extravagant with tow
els and bedclothes.
They would have to send for mrs
O'Grady-Dora could not do all the
washing. Where would the nurse
sleep? Oh, they were not liked Tor 9
nurse or for sickness.
Aroused from her broodings, she
stared up at Warren with an anxious
elias the doctor goneT'
mo, he's 'phoned LOT Hufse h0 $
waiting till she comes" I
Yielding to the languor OF the drug
Helen lapsed into drowsy stupor on
ly to be startled by another ring
alarmingly loud in the early Stiffness
Warren stayed beside her; 1t was
the doctor who answered the door
Again that low-voiced murmuring IL
the hall.
miss Saunders'll be with YOU IN
moment" the doctor returned TO the
} bedside.
Had the nurse gone into her dress
ing room? Was it much disordered
Helen tried to remember what she haf
left lying about. 9gt
A rustic of skirts and the white
CARRIED nurse appeared One appraiss
ing glnncc and with swift intuition
Helen knew she world not like her.
She was about thirty, tnl'. aark' WIZ