The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-12-27
In His
Deliriurn
By JOHN PALMER
%. 1893. Western NeWspaler Union.)


20. 1893. Western Newspaper Union-)
OHE'S very low, nurse" The agi-
= tated wife led the stout, placid
middle-aged nurse into the sick room.
"Oh, save him If you canl" she cried.
"He has chance. the doctor says.
Hes everything In the world to me.
He's never had thought for anybody
but me-"
The nurse looked at the sick man, and
she repressed herself admirably. He
looked very white and wan. in the
third week Of the typhoid.
She busted herself about the sick
room. An admirable nurse, the doctor
said when he called. The sick man.
however. knew nothing. and cared
nothing. for he was lying unconscious
All that night the nurse watched
him, pouring a few drops Of brandy
down his throat from time to time to
keep up the Tagging heart. It was to-
ward morning that the sick man be-
gan to talk.
'Who are your know who you are
You are not my wife; you are nurse.
I used to know another nurse once,
long ago."
He was half-delirious as he looked
at her. He knew her for his nurse, but
he was confusing her and reality with
the figments of his brain.
Listen, Nurse l know I'm dying,
and there's nobody can trust. My
wife doesn't suspect-couldn't suspect.
She doesn't guess how hate her,"
Flush. lie STILL" said the nurse.
You don't know what you're saying"
II hate her. I've always hated her.
l don't know what made me marry
her. I've only loved one woman in my
life. She was nurse, like you. We
lived together years ago, but didn't
marry her. was afraid to, because
my father would have disinherited me.
There was a child, a boy. I didn't
know about II till I'd left her after we
quarreled."
you don't know what you're say
Ing" the nurse repeated.
Yes. l know very well. Now listen
to me. You must do this for me. be-
ing. All this was years ago. nearly
thirty years, but l know where she
lives. I've always wanted to do some
thing for her. Bring me my check
book from the table,"
The nurse hesitated. then obeyed.
"Now my pen!"
She gave him the pen, because she
saw 1t was only by humoring him she
could get him to sleep again. He turned
upon his side and began painfully
filling out check.
1.-Two thousand dollars" he said.
handing 1t to her. "A poor return, but
that's all I can do for her. Still. it's
better than nothing, and she'll under
stand haven't forgotten her and still
wish to do right, though it's thirty
years since we met
The nurse took the check and held
It in her hand while he rambled on.
"The address is 400 North Vincent
avenue, Coatesville. Very near here.
Isn't It? And yet we've never met.
Never shall this side of the grave. But
I'm dying. Now, listen carefully. AS
soon as I'm dead you'll 90 to that ad
dress-you remember it?" and explain
who you are and hand her that check.
VIII your"
The nurse promised. to humor him.
"Swear!"
To humor him the nurse swore. One
must always humor delirious patients
She put the check In her pocket. The
sick man fell back exhausted upon his
pillows, and she began measuring out
the brandy again. All night she tended
him as he lay unconscious. When
morning came the doctor drove up.
why, he's much better, Nurse" he
said. "He really looks as If he's going
to pull through"
~ think he will" answered the
nurse.
BY the next day there was no doubt
of It, The sick man was sitting up in
bed.
Have 1 ever seen you beforer" he
asked the nurse.
Never" she answered.
He hesitated. did I talk any non
sense while was dellrlous?" he in
quired.
"Oh. you rambled a bit about your
business, but didn't listen to 1t. 1
couldn't have made head or tail of It,"
"Nothing but business?"
Nothing else" answered the nurse,
putting her hand into her pocket
I'm glad that's all. was afraid
oh, well, guess 1t doesn't matter.
What's that you're tearing up, nurse7"
"Only an old prescription"