The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-03-09
The Mistake of
Nurse Phyllis
BY CLARA DELAFIELD
lllIlliilIlIiiIii.IilIIliliIIliI


20. 1922. Western Newspaper Union)
Nurse Phyllis was sure that Doctor
Parkes, the house surgeon, loved her.
That was according to the tradition,
and Nurse Phyllis was the latest ac-
QUESTION of the North Manhattan hos
pital. She had become a probationer
after a long and not very successful
career as stenographer.
Nurse Phyllis was twenty eight. Is
that too old for romance? Nurse
Phyllis was romantic
She loved Doctor Parkes, and hated
Nurse Marian, who was trying to
take him away from her.
II Doctor Parkes seldom spoke to
her, Nurse Phyllis knew that the rea-
son was his uncertainty, his fear Of
his love being incorporated. The
hospital was harder work than Myers
& Co., but oh, how much pleasanter
than the office, especially with Doctor
Parkes in mind.
"Come back when you want a job"
old Myers had told her.
"What a job - Nurse Phyllis was
devoted to her work. Even when off
duty she would steal into the wards
to lay her calm hand on the fevered
brow of some restless sufferer.
There was little Billy, a boy like
On angel, who had been run over.
Nurse Phyllis sat beside him for near
ly half an hour. while he tossed rest
lessly in his delirium.
Nurse, / wish you'd keep out of
the ward when you're off duty" said
Nurse Marian GROSSLY. "That kid
Billy didn't have chance to sleep
last night, with you fussing about
him."
Ca" thought Nurse Phyllis. She
knew that Nurse Marian was mad
with jealousy about Doctor Parkes.
The climax came in the case of
young Mr.. Alonzo Kent. Young Mr..
Kent was the victim of an auto ac-
cident. He was also the victim of
dIpsomania- self-induced. Young Mr..
Kent's father was one of the Wall
street crowd.
oh, to redeem that still Innocent
looking boy from dissipation Nurse |
Phyllis sat by his side, smoothing his
fevered brow-why do fevered brows
require smoothing gland. laying her
cool palm upon his .forehead-which
really amounts to the same thing
Young Mr. Kent tossed on his bed
of pain. He opened his eyes.
"Oh, Lord, I've got such headi'
he groaned
Nurse Phyllis sped lightly across
the -room--to the cupboard where the
were kept. A little alcohol
upon. young Mr. Kent's forehead
would soothe him with its cool appli-
cation. She snatched up q bottle and
let the contents flow upon her hand
kerchief, which smellcd delicately of
lilac. She hurried back to young Mr.
kent's bed, which was IN screened
OF corner of the ward. Young Mr..
Kent had been brought ip on emer-
sency, and there was no vacant room | |
o be allotted him,
Young Mr.. Kent lay grooming. his
Eyes wide open, staring into the I'M
;een.
Nurse Phyllis laid cool hand upon
lis brow. poor boyl !" she said. ap- r
~ ms thS iiunuheTCi lei. Inc LIQUID h
rickled down yorng Mr.. Kent's
orehead, down the corners of his
lose.
Young Mr.. Kent sat up with fiendish S
elbows that startle every occupant
I the ward. The lords that flowed H.
rom Young Mr.. Kent's lips were hor-
ible. In the midst of her piteous
Nurse Phyllis shuddered
My poor boy" she began. b
Nurse Marian came hurrying up
Nurse Phyllisl" she cried. 81 must
SIX you-what, what have you been 10
Ding to that poor boy on the bed?" b
Shed killed me, d--n herr Young
Ir. Kent beloved. screwing up his n,
yes
Nurse Phyllis, I must ask you TO
ct out of this ward irnmediatelylo II
lid Marian.
Nurse Phyllis, casting her q look of
'mplete indifference. obeyed. After
II, Nurse Marian could not help her
mutations. She was always Jealous