American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-02-14
In Times
Like These
By GERALD ST. ETIENNE


Leonore surveyed herself In the long
mirror and smiled with qualification.
She was going TO make a very pretty
nurse. The blue of the uniform was
especially becoming to her style OF
beauty and matched her eyes wonder
fully. The white starched collars and
cuffs made her look "just too stunning
for anything"-there was no use trying |
to tell herself that they didn't. Just
wait until she had passed the proba-
toner term and won the right to wear
a cap wouldn't she make the other
nurses fade into oblivionY What the
uniform lacked In headgear she en-
deavered to make UP for In crimps 70
her pretty blond hair. AT last, when
everything was satisfactorily adjusted,
she started the corridor with a
bring on-your-mmionaires" look in her
face.
Leonore was iust like lots of other
girls. She had entered the hospital to
take n course of training with the
thought that oil was sunshine and
pretty uniforms. Although she would
not have confessed IL, uppermost In
her mind had been the thought that
after about the first month she would
be instrumental In saving the life or
some handsome soung millionaire, who
In gratitude would throw his fortune
and his heart at her feet. 1t required
the first day to take all those silly no
ions out of her head.
"rake those crimps out of your hair
Don't let the superintendent see you
with those. 1t is positively against
the rules" one of the nurses warned
Leonore before. she had a chance to
report to the head nurse for duty.
With a pout on her lips she hurried
back to her room and nnttened out the
crlmps with a pint of water.
81 don't know how to take tempera-
tures,' I,eonore announced to the head
nurse the first thing, expecting OF
course TO be put in charge of a patient
at once.
Certainly you don't" the head
nurse smiled, not unklndly, "and you
won't be permitted to learn for some
time, either. S%crubbing out the oper-
ating room is the first thing you Will
do"
Poor Leonorel Never had she work
ed so hard as she did the first week.
Every night she went 10 bed too tired
to be homeslck, but by the end Of the
week she was taken Ill. In bed, of
duty, she had n chance to think. She
hadn't as much as seen a patient and
she had been there seven whole days.
She had scrubbed everything scrub
able in the place, though, she was sure
Of IL. The smell OF soap and warm
!, water was ever with her. Her hands
: that had once been lily white were
swollen and red. Her arms were
> chafed right up TO the elbows, and her
best uniform was ruined. She wasn't
a nurse, she was a charwoman. She
Just would not stay. The people al
= home couldn't expect her TO. The
thought of home brought the tears
that mad been trying to come forth
for hours. After an hour OF weeplnl
she felt better, but the resolve to ~
: home was still with her. She hated {,
: let the head nurse know that she hat
been beaten by the work, though. She
: would Just tell them she was golnl
: home for a few days.
"Why, we are so short Of nurses ",
can't possibly spare you" the super
: intendent said when LeonOre inter
: Viewed her.
g IL can't help It; ! am going anyway
= even II l can't come. back" Leonor
: started to sob. She hoped the note o
rebellion In her tone would win he
= Instant dismissal, but probationer
= were too scarce for such indulgence
on the part OF the superintendent.
- "Come back as soon as you are bel
ter" the superintendent gave In. Blu
when Leonore was gone she was a
most sure she would not see her agar
There was no one to meet Leonor
n at the station. by the time sh
n, reached home she was tired and wor
- out, but not too tired to sob out th
whole miserable tale in her mother
arms.
20 "I knew 1t was too much for yol
II darling" her mother comforted. "Yo
don't have to go back to that horrl
hospital"
Have you seen Gerald this week
II LeoEore asked as soon az she wa
rested. Hasn't he been In every day
"He was In last evening" her moth'
answered, but the poor, dear be
looks so worn out"
How does he look In uniform
stunning, wonderful-doesn't her"
III "He does look fine" her motb'
= smiled, "for Gerald Is a handsom
boy"
yes" Leonore agreed, and he mu.
r. be having a ripping time. A soldier
- life II the life, mother. ! wish I coui
10 have stayed. until he got In uniforr
y ! am going out to the camp this vci
- afternoon"
Three O'Clock found Leonore in u
n car on the way 10 the soldiers tral
rs ing camp. Her cheeks were dushs
with the expectation Of the WELDON