South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-24
REVELATIONS OF Il WIFE
BY Adele Carlson

Through my pity for the nurse.
my disInay at the responsibility thus
anew thrust upon me, ran z little
thread Of triumph. Ny husband s
mother had demanded a trained
nurse. putting aside nay services as
OF no account, and here she was
putting herself back voluntarily un-
der my care,
II never was treated SO out
rageously ina my life"
With flashing eyes and flushed
cheeks the trained nurse whom my
mother-in-law had ordered from
her room confronted DIR. Petit. lie
had come IN most oppOrtunely Just
after the embarrassing little scene
I'm the bedroom. Dicky and ]. look
ing and feeling like cuiprits, though
really innocent. stood near the tail
young physician, trusting in his abil-
ity TO deal with the difficult situa-
ton properly.
Am TO understand that YOU
would like TO give up the case If an
other nurse can be secured The
calm. grave tones OF d.. Petit
calmed the woman. and she was
more composed as she answered:
eyes. indeed but I wish TO pro-
test against this being counted
against my record"
ct do not think you need 70 fear
that" The physicians tone was re-
assuring. unless. of course, Mr.. and
Mrs. Graham have any complaint
10 make"
ooh, none at all, Dr. Petit said
Dicky heartily, and ! was glad he
had spoken for both of US. / could
not truthfuuy say the woman was
satisfactory as nurse. and yet /
hated TO injure her 10y saying any
thiUg against her.
"Then there remains nothing but
your remuneration and the securing
of another nurse" Dr.. Petit re-
joined.
"How much do owe you?" Dicky
addressed the nurse.
Five dollars"
7 think Dicky was surprised. /
know L was. I stole a glance at DR..
Petit. fancied that his face show
ed displeasure. but ne only said
quietly:
you are within your rights, Ger
tainly, but"
He evidently thought better OF
gnishing the sentence. If he had
originally intended 10 qualify his
statement and walked into the bed
room. Dicl1y drew a So bill from
his pocket and handed it to the
nurse. She folded il and put it in
her purse. She had already dressed
for the street.
at probably seems q big sum for
a short stay" she said, with an air
at once apologize and defiant, but
our rates are S25 a week or 50 a
day If we are out a day or por-
ton OF a day. You see, I may miss
a long case by being out today
"Oh. that's all right" said Dicly
easily, but my thrifty soul was vex-
ed at the injustice Of paying 50 for
the privilege Of seeing a tactless
woman given an exhibition or her
bad taste and poor judgment
Dicky. however. looked Ut the
matter from another angle His
eyes followed the woman as she
suIkily went out Of the room.
Poor devil" he said, as the door
closed behind her, that's dogs
life. having your bread and butter
depend upon the caprice OF some
sick person"
"If she does as little for her
money in other places as she did
here. her life ought not TO be very
strenuous" / retorted.
Gee. how these women do love
each other" Dicky commented mis-
chievously.
Ny resentment at his unjust in
depreciation OF my remark was
doubled when / looked mp and saw
that DR.. Petit had heard what
Dicky said. Our eyes met, and be
fore mine fell, embarrassed, / read
both sympathy and mild curiosity
IN the gray eyes of the tall young
physician.
There was no trace Of either. how
ever. in his manner when he spoke.
HAS the patient had her medi-
cine promptly he asked gravely.
Absolutely on time" I answered.
..The last dose she refused 10 take
from the nurse and / gave IL 20
her myself"
els she worse. DOCTOR Dicky
asked anxiously. seeming something
ominous in the physicians manner.
(To be continued)