The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1921-07-14
Plain Nurse
Gregory
D. HAZEL BLAIR

"M,s Grcgoryr' said the man IN
the bed petulantly.
Nurse Gregory approached her ia.
tient. Patients always were petulant.
even the best Of them. the day after
an operation. especially when. as In
this case. there vas only u small hope
hat the eyesigM would ever he re-
gained. Thirty i've years old and
blind She shuddercd TO think -
this strong man perhaps condemned
10 a life of inactivity and wrctched
ness.
you want some orange Juice?" she
sskcd
No. ] want to talk to you. nurse.
You know. during the two weeks that
I've been here. before my operation.
never seeing the light. and hardly hop
Ing to. rve-well. you've become sort
Of necessary TO me-"
Nurse Gregory smiled softly II
was nice to be necessary To anyone
She was necessary TO non. except
for the sake II her skilled hands and
shrewd intelligence And this man
Arthur .rahsm-hsi none TO care for
him. He had lived = single life. ab-
sorhed In has work as a painter of
stained glass. until the explosion 81
chemicals that wrecked his studio aud
blinded him.
do you think III ever recover my
eyesixhtf" asked IN. patient
we hope so The doctor says there
IL n lighting chance. Hen know when
the bandagcs are removed next Tues
day"
"Mayn't ! rails. them ever - slight
ly. nurse, ] want TO see what you
look Ike"
NO" she cried In alarm
Nurse Gregory sat down by his bed
slide. "suppO>. ! talk to you instead, .
she said
When she had left III. hospital
and gone to her room In Oh. nurses
hoane, she wcpt bitterly. She had
grown To- care for this patient Of hers
more than for any man sh. had ever
known. and she I'D not want him 10
regain his sight.
Ne. she wanted him always 10 be
blind. 80 that he could n. dependent
on her. aud - that he should never
know IL was III. worst thought that
ever came To- her. She fell on her
knees
Dear God forgiy. my sinful wish
and make him we'll again" she prayed.
Even though mus; lose hlm-yes
even though must lose him"
Plain Nurse Gregory. they called
her at the hospital. and. for tt~ mat
ter Of thxt. everywhere She was one
soul
The days passed The man on the
bed Was well there was only the for
mality OF raising the bandsge 10 be
gone through the next day.
"Nurs~." said the man on the eve
ming before. sit down a moment.
want TO tell YOU something I'm In
loye-in loy. with you. /"
IF yeu talk like that I shall leave
you" said Nurse Gregory quietly,
though her heart Was nuttering.
hut the uan only laughed. and then.
stretching out his hand suddenly. he
found Nurse Gregory's and took II
In both his and raised IL 20 his lips.
"NurSe." he said. do YOU know
what will be the FIRST thing that I
shall do when am welli II Will he
TO ask you" he held her hand tight.
ly In his-"to ask YOU to be my wife "
When on ne following morning the
doctors had assembled IN Graham's
room Nurse Gregory was ~ serene n
ever. The patirnt sat In his chair
toward the light. his head upturn.d .
only she clrnchlng of his fingers show.
ell IN. tension Of his nerves. Al the
doctors bidding Nurse Gregory un.
fastened the handagcs. one turn
another-a other. and they fell from
his eyes. and the man lcap.d up and
stretched out his hands Ia the sun.
Hight.
The miracle had occurred
"Iiut why wont You 10 back In.
dulred the doctor half an hour later.
"IIe il calling for you You won't re-
fuse TO say eSd-hy to himf thought
you got along 81 well together"
With shaking knees Snrs. Gregory
went back into the room. Graham was
standing. his baggage packed. ready Ia
leave. Very miserably she held out
her hand.
"Goodby." she whispered.
lie cnugh, her In his arms and
pressed her cheek To- his. MY love y
he whispered. 'iIow beautiful you
arew