Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-06-29
UP IN
MRS. REEDS
ROOM
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


a. by d. walsh
MD MRS. REED lay in her
mammoth black walnut bed
with the carved urns on the
headboard. Thick goose-feath-
er pillows In starched covers were un-
der her head, propping her up so she
could look over the fOOtbCard and see
what was going on. An Old-fashioned
Counterpart with a design in candle
wlckiDg covered the bed and across
her feet was a handwoyen blanket in
blue-andwhi yarn.
more comfortable bed than Mrs.
Reeds could not be ina gined, and the
rest Of the furniture in the room kept
1t company. Ponderous and heavily
carved, which had been seasoning for
a hundred years, It was worth for
tune and looked as II 1t weighed q
ton. Mrs. Reed had furnished her
room when she was married fifty years
before. She expected to die there,
though there was TO hurry about that.
The doctor said she need not worry,
she would be out in few weeks, but
injured hips must take their time.
Meanwhile Mrs. Reed lay impatient
and unresigned, angry with the whole
world and angriest with herself be
cause she had fOolishIy missed her
footing and tumbled downstairs.
Downstairs In the kitchen Mary
SpurleS kept the house. but she only
do
when she received her orders. Mary
SrarIes had said AT the beginning that
she could not be expected to fulfill
the duties Of both nurse and house.
keeper Besides. she knew nothing
about nursing. Mary had lived with
old Mrs. Reed for years and she knew
thing or two. She stuck TO her
Kitchen with purpose; she was safe
there.
TDstairs n succession OF nurses
came and went for no one OF them
suited Mrs. Reed long. Miss Crane
was there now She was staying into
The third day, but she might go any
minute. Indeed, Mrs. Reed was max
Ing up her mind to this very fact now
Reaching cautiously she got hold Of
the heavy cane that leaned against her
he'd and pounded upon the floor with
il. There was no answer She pounded
again. scOwling, and the door opened
and Miss Crane entered.
81 want the furniture moved round
Mrs. Reed ordered.
1T was moved yesterday" replied
Miss Crane Her large face flushed.
Il know It was-the day before
and the day before that But It hasn't
been moved today. And I want It
moved"
Miss Crane looked into Mrs. Reeds
compelling black eyes.
81 got a crick in my back yester-
day morning moving this heavy stuff,
she said. I'm sorry, but | can't move
1t today II is all nonsense anyway"
she added under her breath.
1T IL, is it," said old Mrs Reed. ~
heard what you said, Miss Crane, II
| am supposed to be a little deaf.
Now here's something that isn't non
sense You can pack up your buds
and 60
Miss Crane stlffened.
I'm sure I'm very willing" she
said and left the room Within fif-
teen minutes she was gone.
Mary Searles took Mrs. Reeds sup
per up to her on tray Of five O'Clock.
"FOr heavens sake, Mary" cried
Mrs. Reed in evaporation. Cant you
or the doctor get me a nurse that will
stay with me for one whole week.
Mary Searles' gray eyes twinkled.
swell, we've been pretty well over
the ground" she replied. Let's see
you hurt your hip three weeks ago
yesterday, and you've had five nurses.
trained and otherwise Is that right?"
81 guess It IT," agreed old Mrs.
Reed, reluctantly.
"There's just one more person
can think Of" Mary said And she
amt regular nurse. That's Jenny
Fuller"
There was a curious silence. Then
sJenny Fuller, eh?" said old Mrs.
Reed We'll, get your Jenny Fuller.
Get her tonight"
Mary Searles left the room.
An hour later Mrs. Reed awoke from
nap to find that she was not alone
There was a young person in the
room with her, a slight, straight girl
with red hair, softly coiled. a pointed
pale face and grave eyes. She was
dressed in limp little black dress
with white cuffs and collar and a
white apron. This young person was
trying to do something TO the lamp,
which would burn too brightly.
"Therel Let II alone!" commanded
old Mrs. Reed. ~ Ike It the way II
is. Now come and snatch this bed
into that corner I'm sick OF facing
that way"
The girl came obedently She got
behind the bedstead and hOisted and
c0axed II forward until Il arrived at
the proper position. Then she shifted
the rest OF the furniture into new
places as Mrs. Reed pointed. She
breathed heavily, but she said not a
word. Neither did the old woman
but It was evident each had her
thoughts.
"Well, did you move it," Mary
Searles asked rs Jenny was eating her
supper down stairs.
"Ies," Jenny dimly smiled.
Are you going to keep on moving
It every time she tells you tor Mary
looked skeptical.
"Yes"
Mary slipped an extra bit of chicken
upon Jenny's plate.
A week passed and Jenny shifted
the furniture every day. She seemed
strong little thing for all her slim