Margarita's Soul: The Romantic Recollections of a Man of FiftyBacon, Josephine Daskam
General
Margarita's Soul: The Romantic Recollections of a Man of Fifty
Bacon, Josephine Daskam
Fiction
I thought that chapter ended, and was startled and not a little shaken
by the thick letter that found me planning my lonely summer early in
June. It was from Harriet, a curious, incoherent screed; tiresomely
detailed as to her plans, painfully brief as to important issues. She
had found a letter from Mr. Bradley awaiting her arrival, she had
followed his suggestions and interested Miss Sarah Bradley, his
cousin, in her schemes, with the result that the Episcopal
organisation had sent a deaconess for a year to work under Harriet's
direction and a contribution toward fitting out the little hospital.
She had gone to see Roger and thank him personally and found him on an
island, with Mrs. Bradley in sudden and acute need of both nurse and
physician, the former with a broken leg, the latter gone to New York
for the day, as his prospective patient was supposed to be in no
immediate need of him. She had hastily set the nurse's leg,
telegraphed for the doctor, then devoted herself to Mrs. Bradley, who,
though beautifully strong and well, developed sudden complications and
gave her quite a little trouble. Things were rather doubtful and hard
for five or six hours, but fortunately the doctor had left full
supplies for the occasion and the other nurse was able to give the
anaesthetic--she was dragged on a sofa by a deaf and dumb man, who ran
five miles to the village just before. It ended triumphantly at dawn
and Mrs. Bradley had a lovely little girl--the image of her father.
Both were doing well.
Mr. Bradley had overestimated her services, and as she could not dream
of accepting the fee he offered her, he had insisted upon paying a
salary for three years to a young physician (selected by the doctor,
who arrived at noon) who was to give his entire time and strength to
the mountain hospital and superintend the affair, now grown into a
real institution, since Mr. Elder had volunteered to supply a young
fellow from his club, anxious to act as orderly and assistant for the
sake of the training, and Mrs. Paynter, a friend of Mr. Bradley's, had
managed to get a full dispensary supply at cost prices from
connections of hers in the wholesale drug line.
"And it all comes from you, Mr. Jerrolds," the letter ended, "all
owing to your wonderful, your noble interest, in this work! You told
Mr. Bradley, and though he is not justified in thinking I saved her
life, it is perfectly true that those cases give us a great deal of
trouble sometimes, and I was very fortunate in having had a great deal
of maternity work in the mountains, when I had to act all alone and do
rather daring things. But I got the practice there, and so if I did
save your friend's life (or the baby's, which is nearer the truth, I
confess to you, Mr. Jerrolds!) you have amply rewarded the cause that
gave me the training to do what I did!
"Your grateful
"HARRIET BUXTON."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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