Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-01-21
Hospital Room
No. ID
By WILL T. AMES


vs.. 1870. BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)
Miss McClintock, the busincsslike
Canadian supervisor. found Nurse Pad
get coming out of the diet kitchen with
2 breakfast tray destined for room ii.
Nurse said the supervisor in her
lmpersonal military manner, "you are
relieved. Go to the dormiiory now
and ut seven report to Night Super
visor Henry. You are to take Nurse
Bourdette's place in the women's free
ward; she is called home by the sud
den Illness Of her mother. I will take
the tray-who is it for?'
Room II. Very we'll, supervisor"
SuperfluouS conversation between
nurses and superors was discouraged
IN the hospital. particularly any dis
cussion OF explicit orders. So Nurse
Fndget, surrcndcring the naplsin-cov-
cred tray, marched like n soldier down
the long corridor and the long stair
way and straight to her tiny room
In the detached dormitory.
Evelyn ladget was in the last year
or her training course. AS she sat ut
her window abstractedly gazing out
over the city. spread clean In the morn
Ing light on three sides Of Hospital
Hill, 1t occurred to her that her new
detail carried with 1t something very
like an honor, for Mazda Bourdctte was
head nurse ip the woman's free ward.
and two-year graduate-and never
before since Evelyn had been in the
hospital had trainer been left In
charge Of any ward, even In any erner-
gency. .
II suppose I ought to be grateful to
old McCllntock," SoliloQuized the girl.
Then she proceeded to demonstrate
her delight by doing something that
three-year trainers are supposed to
be all through with-she began to cry,
quietly but earnestly.
For ten days Nurse Padget hsd been
takfng care Of Hugh Norris, otherwise
and professionally designated as room
IA. Hugh had brought back from
France, n silver of shrapnel mixed up
with the muscles Of his neck.
Lately the silver had been acting
queerly. and. Norris doctor had decid-
ed that 1t had best come out Of that
| ex-sOiders vertebrae. So there had
been an operation, with much subse-
quent fussing with bandages, ETC., and
with the collateral hunger for cod
ding which every big boy marooned
| on bed Of convalescence experiences.
Ten days is not long in the view
| point OF geologist or Of ON anti
quarian society. But In the st. Mi
| hiel salient, or in the life Of lad
and lass. 1t Gun work stupendous
changes. Yesterday Room Fourteen
! had said:
Nurse, do you know whom you re.
mind me Of? Well, It's my mother
her picture when she was n girl" and
he had been very serious and earnest
about 1t. too. though as a matter Of
fact Evelyn resembied that long-gone
mother not at all.
Evclyn's heart had jumped right up
into her throat when Room Fourteen
said that, for the girl doesn't live who
| can't anaiyZe the meaning Of This par
ticular compliment She had laughed
lightly and replied: "Does that mean
YOU want sugar on your bread and but
| tNi "ch' you uuNe Ut Unless,
the doctor says so ~
And she got herself quickly out OF
the room with the luncheon things
but in the long, deserted corridor she
hastily kissed the corner CT the nap
kin he had wiped his lips with.
| And now Room Fourteen would he
| going out. certainly inside Of a week
and what chance was there Of BO,Ir-
dettcs returning within that time 7
None, Of course. She would not he
able to see him again. The rigid hos
pital discipline would prevent that
and even If this were not so. how
could "seff-respecting girl go 'thnw-
Ing herself In patients way without
| genuine reasons In the Tine of duty?
IF oniy Mazda Bourdette's mother had
taken some other time TO he M!
At this thought Evelyn sat IN very
suddenly and very straight. Mazda had
| no motlcr! She was an orphan and
| herself hnd told Evelyn that she had
not been on speaking terms with her
| stepmotfcr for two years. There was
something queer. then, about this sud
den absence Of Nurse Bourdette.
| Nurse Padget's little head all ut once
became perfect whirl Of exciting
speculniions, as the result Of which.
after she had thought and thought till
! almost noon. Evelyn took her courage
in her hand and went to see the super.
visor.
At one O'clock Miss McClirtock wired
n certain Mrs. Georgana Boardette in
q neighboriRg state: SIS your illness
serious enough to require presence OF
daughter7" At -four came this reply:
"Have no Daughter. Wouldnx let Ida
b. touch me IL j was dying"
| A. .2n Miec hfcfukotootS ,&a-,, 49,,