The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-21

NuACtkiS LuFHeu GT1IuSOu anu
reached quickly for the blankets,
whipping them off IN great haste,
all in a bundle.
'Tu-tu-tchut! You know better
then that" Miss Alberta flounced
the blankets back to the mattress
and very carefully showed the
proper form Of stripping bed.
She went through the whole
elaborate process Of .unmaking and
making. Each blanket seemed to
have q ritual of it's own. Then
she said: Now"
Chickie watched carefully but
her first move was wrong. She
went hastily to correct it: to lay
the folded spread precisely over
the backs Of two chairs. In her
: nervousness she dropped it on
the floor. H..
Miss Alberta gave a long sue
cession. of "tuchuts" that made
her mouth a very feature of dis
gust.
Chickie was almost in tears.
She stopped over the sheet, trying
vaIantly to make the corners atay
square, trying to remember
VVAAt-4A 0lAAAA0k W0Ut ulluGE tnO
mattress and which was free.
suddenly the whole Of them
were snatched from her, the bed
unWade again. Miss Alberta said
briefly, Now, try 1t again"
But she was too hot with en-
barrassment, too unnerved by the
shaking experience Of the last
hour. She began to make the
bed swiftly, with no ceremony
whatever, but just as she had
made her own all her life.
Miss Alberta's eyes, heavy with
authority, bla2ed. Are you mere
ly stupid, Miss Bryce, because
then III show you again. Or
don't you wish to learn?'
Chickie didn't answer She
gave the blanket an impatient
yanlt, biting her lips. She pound
ed it into place with a furious
little fist. 49, n
THE, instructress moved from
the bed. That's your attitude?
I've seen nurses who were stupid
succeed because. of their willing.
ness. Miss Bryce. I've seen 9TH
ers who had an III viii succeed
because of their brilliance. But a
nurse who is both stupid and un-
willing is a detriment to the pro-
feSsionr'
Chickie managed to keep her
lips straight. but her throat
swelled so that she couldn't swaI-
low. Never in all her business
experience had she encountered
or even heard of an attack 50
personal as this. She managed to
say. I'm not unwilling
Miss Alberta was WALKING from
the room She said. wen see''
Chickie waited till the foot
steps grew faint She went
blinking. holding her lips hard
between her teeth, down the
stairs.
She should have gone back to
the ward. But she went to her
room. She waited there. She
would be dismissed now.
Thinking this. she was ready ia.
rush back and ask for another
chance. Would they send her oft
for one blunder? But she was
both stupid and unwilling Sc
Standing at that window, trac-
ing the hills lined dark against
the sky, she felt with a sinking
terror the breaking of her life
1t would be the end
She heard Myrtle coming into
the room. Swiftly she put on her
hat and her coat. for she
had grown used to solitude; used
to long walks with a dog.
She missed the mute yet elo.
quent companion who understood
so much; who had a fine, delicate
sympathy. Without deliberate
intention she started down
Twenty-second street. Then she
got on the car, and in a few
monents she was running up the
back steps. bursting upon them
as they sat down to the table in
the kitchen.
She took Wildie's head in her
hands, laughing at him. pretend
ing not to see Jonathan or
Jennie.
Dog, first-eh-Chickie girl. do
you wear the uniform to bed?"
"Of course"
You like it just as we'll"
This very timidly from Jennie.
"Oh-it'S wonderful-You see SO
much--I can only stay a little
while" And she sat down and
ate with them and talked with
blithest gayety. But finally. be-
cause her heart was full of it,
she told Of Mrs. Quinn, and she
cried, showing them the little
brass pin.
Not all for Mrs. Quinn were
the tears. -,
She said: Jennie, ole love. i've
come out to teach you how. to
make a bed"
And she made Jennie. follow her
into her room. She put the two
chairs together, and, pretending
to teach, began to practice again
and again
Jennie was frightened. do
you mean to make such a fuss
as that over every little thing,
Chickie dear?''
t'Ah-that's the science of it.
mother darling. You, don't sleep
right till you crawl between
sheets so corneredw
And, finally. she could have
made the bed with her eyes
closed.
Jonathan insisted on driving her
back to the hospital. Are vow
happy in this work, Chickie grip"
"Yes-but II should fail"
"Shucks! A bright girl like you!
You've worked before, and were a
shining light, weren't your
"This is different. I'm a,yfullv
stupid. Don't tell it to Jennie
but I am ."
Jonathan laughed. Don't yol
believe that. Chickie girl! Just up
with your chin, now"
.''Oh, my, yesr' She pulled her
fathers head down and kissed
him. She ran through the gate.
giving her name to the keeper,
She said to herself. hystericallv:
IT may be running out again.
pretty quick!'