The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-07-13
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| NURSE AND PATIENT
BY ROSE DAVIDSON
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IS. 1922, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
The more Leon Ashley looked into
the lights opposite the more like grin
ming face they seemed, until the whole
thing got on his nerves. lie pressed
his hands to his burning forehead.
"Why did they move me out hereT he
muttered.
one by one the whte-garbed nurses
rose from the benches where they had
been sitting, all taking what they be-
lieved to be the last look at the strange
man whose identity was still unknown
to them, yet whom they had all learned
to reverence. They were leaving him
alone TO stare out at the city lights
the city that belonged to his people
and to him.
once he had held himself erect at
the thought of the royal blood he pos.
sessed, but now, somehow, after Twin.
close to his fellow-men in bitches and
dugouts, he felt that he was going 10
share that pulsng life, that an ordered
existence was going to make him what
he had been, just puppet Of the peo-
pie, who must act, year in and year
out. as his royal family had done, and
the nerves Of his face achod with in-
tolerable agony as he thought Of the
happiness within his reach, the love
that might have been part Of his life.
From the room opposite there came
the faint strains Of a song, which
stopped altogether as the singer
pushed the door open wide and crossed
the balcony to where the stranger was
sitting "Come. come, Is this the way
you celebrate your release7' the little
nurse exclaimed.
The man continued to gaze straight
out before hlm-not at her, for he felt
that II he looked at her all his forth
tude would give way.
She drew chair close to his. II
didn't mean to make light of your de-
parture," she said softly.
And still the soldier sat, moodlly and
taciturn. He was handsome, ms the
men of the royal family had always
been, with a bearing which caused men
and women to follow him with their
eyes.
The little nurse leaned closer TO him.
"There seems nothing to say except
'Good-by,'" she said softly.
Leon Ashley turned quickly. Helen,
don't want TO leave you," he ex-
claimed.
a flush suTused her face at his
words,
"Forgiye me-" he said. There was
sob in his throat as he spoke.
FOR what?" she asked, and as she
spoke she put her hand on his brown
hair as n mother might have done. Her
voice was infinitely sad and tender,
"Forglve you for caringf" she asked.
"Oh, but you do not understand This
Is the end for us"
She grew suddenly pale.
81 wanted you to love me-" he con-
tinued. II wanted it from the first,
but knew that when left here every
thing would be over for us. knew I
was a contemplate cad to encourage
your friendship, but as time passed ]
learned to care so much that l thought
OF nothing else"
The little nurse looked INTO his eyes.
81 believe YOU" she said slowly, "and
II makes me happy, Please do not
pity me. have known all along.
recognized you the first day when you
were brought in so very ILL.," She
stopped suddenly and sat very still.
He reached his arms toward her, but
she drew back.
4 "Its such a wonderful thing to live
simply as have done during this war;"
he went on finally; "such wonnerfm
thing to be loved for oneself alone. I
can never really live again-it will be
like acting part in play-rislng in
my fathers kingdom, marrying one
whom the family selects, no doubt, and
always dreaming of you, Helen, and
that life and love I might have had"
"Ah, don't she cried, putting out
her hand as though to ward off blow.
Don't say It, don't even think it. Sor-
row is no new thing to me, though
am young, but do not question it. I
shall never regret having known and
loved you" She paused a moment.
"When there is some terrible thing in
life to do. it is best to do 1t quickly.
Good-by,Y she said putting out her
hand.
81 could not touch your hand. If
did. could not let you co. she heard
him saying softly.
The little nurse turned and left him,
walking quickly along the narrow
halls. The feeling Of death was upon
her. She hurried on TO her room in
the house opposite. She had given
him great honesty always, she would
give II to him until the end. He knew
that she suffered, but she desired him
TO know as well that she was brave,
that her spirit was unconquered, that
she would do something rather than
weakly suffer in Intellectual rebellion,
She lighted small candle as she
had done for many weeks and, holding
It in the window, with her head held