Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1923-03-26
ONE ANGEL


For some time Arthur Griffwell had
been aware OF an angels presence.
On the eighth day of his illness,
however, a doubt assailed him.
"Who are your he inquired.
II am Miss Williams. your nurse, =
answered the white-clad one.
He stared unbeIievingly. 81 thought
you were an angel" and added, his
voice trailing a little, because you're
so beautiful-and good"
angels are beautiful and good" she
said. but I'm not beautiful at all
and not so very good. Take this,
please. and 90 to sleep" And she be-
gan feeding him some broth.
He took the broth submissively, be-
cause the angel told him to. ats
good" he said. Let me hold your
hand again. angel" And clutching II
tightly he fell into delicious sIumber.
When he awoke the angel was seat
ed In chair, reading. and he saw that
though she had pleasant brown eyes
she wasn't really an angel. and that
she wasn't at all beautiful.
Angel" said he, wanly, little
later will you kindly tell me how you
happen to be here and also-if you
don't mind-how got here7 The last
knew about myself was In Canada.
And now I'm In my own home-in my
own room. being treated like baby"
You exposed yourself to cold and
damp weather. Mr.. Griffwell, and
caught chill which developed into
pneumonia. We barely saved you"
"Ah. yes. remember. My wife
had gone to visit her mother-in Can
ada. I followed. got stuck in the snow
with my machine and walked 80 miles
before i came to a railway station"
Arthur Griffwell paused moment and
lay back YEARLY on HIS pillows. "Oh,
angel, what fools we mOrtals bet"
Miss Williams was silent She knew
more than he realized. In his delirium
Arthur Griffwell had withheld aoth-
ing. She knew of his wife's extrava-
gance. her wild caprices her indis-
criminate friendships, her sudden de-
termination to leave Griffwell, and his
desire TO bring her back and preserve
the sanctity of his home at all costs.
The next morning Griffwell's brain
was clearer. He got some toast and
egg for breakfast, and regarded Miss
Williams afterward with a puzzled
frown.
did I babble whole lot--in my III
ness?'
You were delirious," said the angel
He tried to pierce her serene. i'm
penetrable gaze, but she only smiled
and began Strengthening his room
1 Nurses know whole lot about peo-
pies affairs, don't they?" he asked.
"The sanctity Of the sickroom is In
violable. You need not fear"
He nodded. 81 seem to have been
an awful baby. Queer have a rec
objection of asking you to hold my
hand"
"Sick people always do" said the
angel, placidly. ave nurses care for
you-pamper you--like babies. You
love US madly-until you get well.
Then you pay us and we GO" And
she smiled again, the serene, tranquil
smile that made Griffwell feel at peace
with the world.
He looked earnestly at the plain,
quiet face. How does one attain calm
quiet self-possession such as yours? II
is priceless gift"
Shy doing useful work, thereby
bringing peace to the SOUL" she an
swered, simply.
He pondered this for some time. =
The following week the angel was
paid and dismissed. Returning to her
boarding house. Miss Williams seated
herself before the mirror In her room
and scrutinized her reflection crit.
ically.
II ought" she told her homely
image In the glass, ito be content with
nursing for the rest of my life. 1 am
good nurse. People speak well OF
me. II do not miss the love of men
am NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.! do not
miss Arthur Griffwell. I will forget
him. 1 must forget him! 1 will
WILL wlllw
And though she began the process Of
forgetting by throwing herself face
downward on the bed and weeping un
I'll she fell asleep, Miss Williams sue
ceeded-perhans not in forgetting hel
erstwhile patient, but at least in lock
ing the memory OF him in a remote
corner of her brain. Therefore when
year later. she was Informed that {
gentleman was calling on her, she wa.
more than little confused to find, OF
entering the little parlor. that 1t wa,
occupied by Arthur Griffwell
She stammered In her surprise. HI
gave her no time to think. however
but took her two hands in his.
angel" said he, ''for you will al
ways be that to me. I've been wantin,
to come for ever so long. but though
it best to walt. for both our sakes
You see, my wife died. eight months
ago."
| She stared.
Don't you see? Oh, angel, witt
the kind. kind eyes. love you! Low,
you for your sweet serenity, for tn
1 kfoe~ol 1,,R,k 49, .-o.,