The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-12

the younger nurse should remain
on the case every day.
"You look just like Nellie Dean
said Bill, as he watched the red
haired nurse preparing the bedside
stand before the doctors visit.
They called you Sister Helen" l
have about made up my mind that
you are Nellie Dean after all"
Would you be happier II you
knew I was Nellie Dean?"
Would II" exclaimed the pa
tient, sitting upright and Selling
her hand in spite OF instructions to
remain quiet. "Why. l have been
dreaming Of little Nellie Dean since
il was a boy. I knew I'd find her,"
The younger nurse withdrew her
hand gently and gently forced her
patient back OF his pillow. "You
may call me Nellie Dean then"
II knew it from the first" Bill
assured her. BE prepared. I've
had my mind made UP to marry
you when I found you, Nellie. ever
since that day you slapped my face
back in the old house."
Tho next day was Christmas and
! the only detail that marred BIll's
perfect Christmas happiness was
the fact that there were tears OF
disappointment in Nellic's soft
brown eyes when she came to his
room IN the morning. A few days
later Bill, being entirely restored
his normal condition, was carried
home by his doting mother, while
Nellie Dean seemed to fit out Of
his existence as quietly as she had
! slipped in. She was OF duty when
fhis mother camo to get him aud no
one seemed to be able to find her.
A week or so later Bill called at
the nurses home in search Of Nell
lie Dean, but her name seemed to
DO unknown. Then he inquired for
Sister Helen. "Wns she a pToba-
tioner?" asked the nurse at the
desk .":She wore no cap" said Bill.
"Ier uniform was blue and she
wore a white band on her sleeve"
Then she vas one OF the volHn-
teers, not q real nurse at all Is it
very important TINT you should find
her?"'
About as important as anything
In tho woruld could be-" smiled Bill
"she was a little red haired girl.
with"
"Why that is Helen Van Cort.
landt, DR.. Van C~ortIandt's daugh-
ter"
Bill wasted no time In arriving
at the residence of DR.. Van Cort-
landt, whom he knew by reputation
as one OF the leading surgeons III
the city. Finding Helen alone in
the drawing room OF the old house,
he acted in Characteristic manner.
proposed to her fir1@ and sought
explanations later.
Helen accepted definitely and
without delay. During the last day
oB so at tho hospital Bill had gone
through the preliminaries, so she
could not plead surprise.
"You see, l belonged to the Hos
pital Aids. Some OF tho girls In
our set took ii the work because
OF the shortage Of nurses. We Just
help out, pass trays and wash fnces
In the wards and that sort OF thing
when they need us. I happened to
be helping in TIE private corridor
that night when you came. I vas
only pledged for two hours work.
when you insisted on having me
there was nothing to do but stay.
I wanted to get out Of It. but father
who looks on nursing and doctor
ing as the most sacred profession
in the world, wouldn't let me-.
That's why I was crying-but I'm
glad I stayed"
"And why did you let me call you
Nellie Dean?"
"I guess It was Just a woman's
curiosity 'said Helen with n flash
from her brown eyes, II wanted TO
see what would happen"