The Bolivar County Democrat., 1923-11-17

when she said good-by to her guardian
on the dock, she wished that she might
sail with him, away from 1t all. There
were tears in her eyes when he kissed
her, and his hands on her shoulder
clung regretfully. God bless you," he
said, and he kissed her again before
he hurried off, up the gangplank. AL
most Immediately the ship began to
move, and there was great confusion
of getting under way. Ann looked up
and saw Mr.. Cortlandt leaning over
the rail on the upper deck, waving
down to her.. :. 1t seemed to her but
moment when the figures on board
the Great Eastern became indefinite
and merged into the general bulk Of
the ship. q. There was nothing for
her to do but return to Washington
square.
There Ann found herself facing new
obligations. Mrs. Cortlandt and her
daughter came to live with her while
her guardian was away, and Fanny
talked of Hendricks by the hour. Ann
had curious sensation Of being
pushed into passionate affirmation, be-
to demand it. Mrs. Cortlandt proved
herself an authority on the etiquette
of grief, and Ann submitted willingly
enough to her dictum that she should
submerge her vivid youth in Grape and
wells, for this was part Of her obll-
CATION to the Cortlandt family which
she willingly assumed, but when Mrs
Cortlandt announced that she consid-
cred it improper for her to 60 on with
her sersice at the hospital. as though
nothing had happened, Ann rebelled.
Three days after Hendricks death she
was back at her post, but the discus
sion in regard to her work arose at
every meal, insistent and acrimonious.
1t seemed to her that she could never
get away from It.
In the meantime, the Confederate
Army of Northern Virginia marched
triumphantly across Maryland, and m
to Pennsylvania, and the North awoke
to shock Of real fright. The. Army
of the Potomac, although weakened
by losses and dssensions. advanced
pluckily to meet the invading enemy
but New York was crowded with refu-
gees from Baltimore and Harrisburg
who spread the fear that Washington
might be taken. Continual engage
ments made the hospital situation
acute. Emergency tents near the
front were filled to capacity and Wash
ington had become city of the sick
but still there was not sufficient
number of beds, and in order to re-
lieve the congestion. the wounded
We're sent on to New York in great
numbers.
Ann made new acquaintance who
had just returned from field hospital
work in Virginia after Ger experi
ences there, she found New York
nursing tame, and said so. The gir
drank In her "reminiscences eagerly
and Immediately developed an ambi
tion to nurse at the front herself
She was peddling lemonade through
the wards late one afternoon wher
the doctor In charge, an old frient
who had seen her through the various
ailments of childhood, came up to hel
and took her heavy pitcher away.
II have something to tell you," hs
said. "Come outside for moment"
He led the way to the high steps Or
the building, where they might over
look the little square courtyard filled
with the white tents Of convalescents
II wonder If you 'can stand Z
shock?" he questioned.
Ann turned frightened eyes upor
him. "Not uncle?" she gasped, with
sinking memory of the tragedy, years
ago, of the Arctic.
Doctor Small shook his head. "Thi!
Is good news" he said. "or, at least, {
chance of 1t. You know that lad wht