The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-10-17
CHAPTER II-Continued

Her life was as unsOphiSticated and
as simple, and she was so unacquaint-
ed with the conditions and circum-
stances of existence that her dismissal
seemed to her an irreparable disaster.
She had won good opinions. she had
been praised. and 1t seemed monstrous
that her faintness at critical moment
should have ruined her whole life
prospects. What made the tragedy
the less tolerable was the admixture
of the farcical. There was simple
and absurd explanation. Mrs. Webb's
colored cook, Amanda, had Quarreled
with her mistress that morning. and
Joan had had to 60 to the hospital
without her breakfast.
She got UP and walked slowly home
ward without having resolved her
problem. Inside the boarding house
the air was like furnace, and the
smell of cooking was triumphant and
dominant.
Inside the kitchen, seen through the
2 open door, was Amanda. the cook, and
Mrs. Webb. the landlady.
Here's Amanda again! !" Mrs. Webb
called to Joan. MY dear, the idea
Of your running away without your
breakfast this morning! Now you sit
right down and have your lunch, Miss
Wentworth"
Joan was not hungry. but 1t was Inn
possible to oppose the resolute insist
ence of Mrs. Webb. backed by the
penitent cook, whose black face. as
she fitted from the kitchen to the
dining room. radiated remorse and
good Intentions.
zone can't get along without the
proper food at the proper times" said
Mrs. Webb as she set down the
dishes before Joan. "But call it real
sensible Of you to have come home
early. Some girls wouldn't have
tifought Of that"
Joan choked suddenly, and Mrs.
webb perceived her distress. She
bent over her and placed kitchen
roughened hand upon her shoulder.
aMy dear. what is it? What is the
matter? Something Agone wrong at
that old hospital?" she asked. Tell
me now. honey"
1T isn't anything. Mrs. Webb" said
Joan, striving valiantly TO keep back
her tears well, then. Pm-I'm dis
charged.
placed It upon one hip, bringing the
other into corresponding position. She
glared at Joan, as the convenient
focus Of her Indignation.
81 never heard of such thing!" she
cried. who's dared to discharge you,
Miss Wentworth? Why. it was only
yesterday Miss Gray was saying you
were the only one in the hospital that
attended to her work instead of trying
to make dates with the doctors! I've
had the nurses two years now. Miss
Wentworth. and they amt snap bet
ter than the salesladieS used to keep.
A pack of featherheads! If some of
them had been discharged 'twould
serve them right. But not you. my
dear. It's that old Doctor Lancaster"
1T was. and l think he was right.
felt faint from the smell Of ether"
''Of course you did" cried Mrs.
Webb: Il always knew the day would
come when you would. Those smells
make my head 60 round and round
whenever take the short cut that
side of the park. always said you
weren't cut out for that sort of work.
It's all right for them strong he-horse
girls that's made for 1t, but what you
need is to marry some good man who
can take care of you. not to go nurs-
ing lot of dock-hands and seeing
peoples insides opened up. It's my
belief that when the Lord put our in
sides inside and our outsides outside
he meant 'em to stay there" snorted
Mrs. Webb.
'Well," said Joan YEARLY. tits end
going to do"
'But / say 1t isn't ended!" cried
mrs Webb, concentrating all her in
dignation against Lancaster in ven
omous glare at Joan. tits only just
begun. If that old Doctor Lancaster
dares to discharge you, I'm going to
tell everything | know about him.
Miss Wentworth. that mans no more
fit to be at the head of a hospital, with
ladies under him, than he's fit to fly.
What Is he? Nothing but fast liver
and a common drunkard."
Never mind, Mrs. Webb"
"But do mind To think of a man
like that. who went about with q
gang of common tramps for years
Miss Wentworth, just breaking away
from his job and hoboing it up and
down the country and then coming
back and getting his job again and
acting as ne does All that say Is
common knowledge. Five years after