Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1919-01-24
In Times
Like These
g@<p
BY GERALD ST. ETIENNE

Ie0nOre surveyed nerSelI IN the long
mirror and smiled with qualification.
She was going to make 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" 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 oblivion? What the
uniform lacked in headgear she en-
deavored to make up for in crimps to
her pretty blond hair. At last, when
everything was satisfactorily adjusted,
she started out the corridor with q
bring n-your-millionaires" look in her
face.
Leonore was just like lots of other
girls. She had entered the hospital to
take a course of training with the
thought that all was sunshine and
pretty uniforms. Although she would
not have confessed 1t, uppermost in
her mind had been the thought that
after about the first month she would
be instrumental in saving the life of
some handsome young millionaire, who
In gratitude would throw his fortune
and his heart at her feet. It required
the first day to take all those silly mo-
lions out Of her head.
"Take 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 chance to
report to the head nurse for duty.
With pout on her lips she hurried
back to her room and fiattened out the
crimps with a pint of water.
Il don't know how to take tempera
lures" Leonore 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 unzindly, "and you
won't be permitted to learn for some
time, either. Scrubbing 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 to bed too tired
to be homesick but by the end Of the
week she was taken ILL., In bed, off
duty, she had a 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 it. 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 uiiform was ruined. She wasn't
a nurle, she was charwoman. She
just Fould not stay. The people at
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 weeping
she felt better, but the resolve to go
home was still with her. She hated to
let the head nurse know that she had
been beaten By the work. though. She
would just tai them she was going
home for few days.
"Why, we are so short Of nurses we
can't possibly spare you the super
intendent said when Leonore inter-
viewed her.
81 can't help it; am going anyway,
even If can't come back" Leonore
started to Sob She hoped the note Of
rebellion in her tone would win her
instant dismissal, but practitioners
were too scarce for such indulgence
on the part Of the superintendent.
"Come back as soon as you are bet
ter" the superintendent gave in. But
when Leonore was gone she was al
most sure she would not see her again.
There was no one to meet Leonore
at the atation. By the time she
reached acme she was tired and worn
out, but not too tired to sob out the
whole miserable tale in her mothers
arms.
Il knew 1t was too much for you,
darlinss" her mother comforted. 'You
don't have to go back to that horrid
hospital"
"H2ve yon seen Gerald this week?"
Leonore asked as soon as she was
rested. Hasn't he been in every iay?'
Tie was in last evening" her mother
answered. but the poor, dear boy
loobs so worn out"
"sIow does he look In Uniform
stunning, wonderful-doesn't he?"
"He Goes look fine" her mother
smiled, 'for Gerald Is handsome
boy"
Eyes" Leonore agreed, and he must
be having ripping time. soldiers
life is the life, mother. I wish could
haze stayed until he got in uniform.
ON going out to the camp this very
afternoon
Three O'Clock found Leonore In the
car on the way to the soldiers train
ing camp. Her cheeks were flushed |
with the expectation of the welcome