The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
Chapters From a
Woman s Life
DoREEN NURSES MRS. PAGE
By JANE PHELPS


When we reached home we found
the doctor there, Mrs. Page ill. /
sighed. 1t seemed to me that my
troubles came in doubles, like twins. /
was almost sick myself over the way
Walter had acted with Helen Raj
strom. had also resented a certain
affectionate manner George Harter
tried to adopt toward me on the way
home. 1t was not the first time he
had assumed this attitude toward me,
and it had always been when Walter
had been attentive to Helen. flushed
as L thought he took advantage of
that; perhaps he thought 1 would be
so resentfuI 1 would be willing to have
a filtration with him to get even.
L knew that Grace and George Har-
ter We're not very congenial; that he
was not true to her. 1t had been COM
mon talk for a long time, yet she never
anything out of the way. They weren't
at all affectionate, yet they were in
variably pleasant to each other. 7
envied Grace her poise, her ability to
conscious when Walter, in his careless
way. said or did things that hurt me,
even while 1 did not really doubt him
Now his mother was ill, and he
would be with Helen more than ever
perhaps-be alone with her.
You stay with me. Doreen," said
Mrs. Page, when Walter suggested
nurse. II dislike a trained nurse,
and prefer you should do what is nee
essary.
1 was surprised and had it not been
for these fears, my jealousy, 1 should
have felt a bit flattered.
She was a different person i'll. She
asked very little, seemed grateful for
any little service. But she wanted me
in the room, was uneasy when L left
her Fido lay on the bed beside her,
and she insisted his food be brought to
him there. Ihumored her, making no
objection. often cutting up his chicken
or whatever he had myself in her
presence.
Walter came often into the room,
but only for a few moments at a time,
or occasionally to sit with her while
ate. He couldn't bear seeing anyone
ill, was ndgety moving about. and she
often sent him away, saying he made
her nervous.
''send Doreen to me- she would tell
him.
'fBut, Mother" I heard him say.
"Doreenf will become i'll, too, if she
stays in so closely. She hasn't been
out of the house for a week.
shes young and healthy. 1t won't
hurt her. Mrs. Page replied fretfully.
''She can go out when L get better.
So I spent most of my time in the
sick room. For a week also slept on
a couch, so that 1 would be within call
if she needed me. After that slept in
my own room, but with the door wide
open so if she wanted me could hear
the little bell had put close to her
hand.
She gradually recovered, but slowly.
And. as is the way with many invalids,
as she regained her health, her temper
suffered.
I read TO her. often hours at time,
stopping to raise or lower a window
or a shade at her querulous COM
plants. had Jennie make tempting
dishes to- coax her appetite, then
served them to her myself; no one else
could suit her.
She was well enough to see callers
and one day Claire Gordon came in
with great bouquet of lovely flowers
Taking off her hat she said:
I'm going to sit with Mrs Page,
Doreen.- You go. out and take a
walk"
But I may need something" Mrs.
Page interposed. a frown on her face.
'If/ you do will ll-wait upon you.
Run along, Doreen,''
After a quick glance at the discon-
tented face of my mother-in-law I
hurried from the room. was tired,
fairly ached to get out AS Mrs. Page
had said: I was healthy. my care of
her had not hurt me. but felt stale.
= walked idly along toward the
studio. I had not consciously planned
to call there, had not meant to remain
away but a few moments. But as I
thought would run in for just a mo-
ment-
There was no one there, save the
Jap boy who. cleaned. 1 went in glanc-
ing idly about, when an open sheet of
paper lying on the table attracted my
attention. Idly 4 picked it up, and
with a glance saw it was a note from
Helen to Walter.
(Tomorrow-Helen Ralstrom suggests
party.)