Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-01-23
BY L. HOLLAND.

Oh, how strange and cold this new
country was-no one knew anyone
else, everyone was in such hurry, all
seemed so busy-did they ever rest!
How unlike the quiet, peaceful home
across the sea
Indignation held sway among the
nurses of the big emergency hospital,
for Miss Elton, the superintendent,
had committed crime without prece-
dent. She had received as proba-
toner Gundrun, the little dining-room
maid.
"And if she gets through her pro-
baton and Is accepted, 1 shall co.
declared the head nurse.
sand shall stay" retorted the sur
gerry nurse, for between them was
fierce rivalry and they made 1t point
never to agree with one another in
anything.
81 suppose you think we couldn't
run the place without you," sneered
the first speaker.
"Not quite so bad as that, DEAR" re-
turned the other, "but I will say, there
are nurses in this hospital whose res
ignation would be much more readily
accented than mine" This thrust
silenced her rival, who made up her
mind, however, that whatever the out
come of Gundrun's probation, she, the
head nurse, would remain if for no
other reason than to spite "that con
ceited thing" in the surgery.
The outcome was in Gundrun's fa'
vor. Quiet, gentle and thoughtful, she
proved herself in every way worthy of
the profession and ere long not' one
among that blue-and-white gowned
band of women who flitred about from
ward to ward and from bed to bed car
rying relief and comfort to suffering
humanity, but were glad to have Gun
drum their friend.
Among the patients there was not
one whose eye did not brighten as it
rested on the prettily rounded figure.
the crown of golden hair, the deep blue
eyes, so gentle and loving, and yet so
sad. At night, in the dimly lighted
halls in whose shadowy depths is
needed no abnormally imaginative
mind to cOnjure up many a gruesome
sight; in the cold, white surgery, where
in the wee, small hours of the proceed
ings of the preceding day were all too
vividly pictured on the unusually
acute sense; in the long wards with
the narrow, white beds ranged in rows
against the walls, with the dull yellow
light casting an almost death pallor
on the sleeping faces, quiet and sad
little Gundrun strangely harmonized,
as she glided silently along the dim
halls. in and out of the gloomy wards,
freshening q rumpled pillow, moisten-
ing fever-parched lips, soothing to rest
with soft, caressing hand an over
wrought brain and pausing to each
bedside to assure herself of the COM
fort of each sufferer in her care.
"Be watchful of the man in number
forty" warned the doctor as he said
good night. Hes threatened with a
high fever and 1 want to check it if
I can"
When Gundrun finished her rounds
she stole into the sickroom. On the
bed lay q tall, blond man, his flushed,
heavily bearded face but half discern
ible in the soft light.
She Strengthened the disordered bed,
cooled the hot pillow, bathed the
flushed face and burning hands, and
then, seating herself in a little, low
chair at the bedside, stroked with soft
and cooling hand the throbbing brow.
But in vain. 1t seemed as If sleep
would never again close those burning
eyes. Finally she bethought herself
of the little Norwegian song-Jan's
song-she used to sing in the dear land
she feared she would never see again.
Sweetly, yet softly, her voice rose and
fell, and as she sang her thoughts were
over the sea.
Unheeded lay the sufferer at her
Slue, ulluecutu llle SllUuO"y HILLS, Tic
dim wards, the great, strange city
itself. She wandered again in the
green fields of her dear Norway, her
Jan at her side, gazing down at her
with eyes full of love and tenderness
"Gundrun, Gundrun !"
She turned. Her heart stood still.
The song froZe on her lips. Leaning
toward her with outstretched arms,
his eyes filled with a strange, sweet
eagerness, was Jan.
Painting, trembling, she fell on her
knees at the bedside.
"Jan, MY JAM" she cried, and,
clasped in his arms, his lips pressed
TO hers, he melted into her dream.
Copyright, 1sl7, bE W. G. Chapman)