_The Undertow_
Nona’s absorption in her work of nursing Lieutenant Martin had
naturally separated her from any complete knowledge of what was taking
place outside the hospital during the time.
In a half-way fashion she was aware that Barbara Thornton was spending
a good many hours away from her nursing duties and was tremendously
interested in the entertainment for the American soldiers which she had
in charge.
Mildred Thornton spoke of this once or twice to Nona, saying that she
hoped Barbara would not over-fatigue herself, as she seemed to be a
little nervous and restless. But of course Barbara had not been working
for some time and had gotten out of the discipline. Mildred even
discussed writing her brother Dick to come to see Barbara for a short
time if it were possible. Then she changed her mind in regard to this,
knowing that Dick was doing ambulance work in a part of France where at
this time his services were most necessary.
Moreover, Barbara had insisted, not once, but half a dozen times, that
no matter what happened, she would not interfere with her husband’s
work. She had promised him this and had promised herself.
Besides, Barbara was slightly irritated by her sister-in-law’s
suggestion that she was not perfectly herself. In fact, she had
never been more interested in anything in her life than her present
occupation. The entertainment which she was engineering was to be the
most successful one any soldiers’ camp had ever enjoyed.
Nona also asked Mildred as a special favor that she would not mention
to Eugenia any nervousness she might feel concerning her, as Eugenia
had given her consent to the entertainment and Barbara did not wish it
withdrawn.
Barbara had been in correspondence with a number of prominent persons
in Paris, and a distinguished French actress, Madame Renane, had
promised to come all the way to camp to give a recitation for the
American soldiers. Madame Renane was to remain over night at the
hospital as Madame Castaigne’s guest.
Berthe Bonnèt was also to recite. Berthe had known Madame Renane in
Paris and was anxious to have the great lady become interested in her
ability.
Then Lieutenant Kelley had been permitted to waive his dignity as
an officer sufficiently to assist in the training of a fine chorus
of the American soldiers. Two or three of the men were found to be
professional singers and were to take part.
At one moment Mollie Drew solemnly agreed that she would sing the few
old Irish ballads which had entertained the soldiers on less important
occasions, yet the next she was apt to say that no power upon earth
could induce her to appear.
So, Barbara was apparently going through the trials which beset the
theatrical manager before an important production and had at least
this reason for her nervousness. Moreover, what she was pleased to
call rehearsals took a great deal of time and strength. As these
rehearsals could only be held in the evenings, Barbara had finally
managed to persuade Mildred Thornton, whenever she was free, to play
the accompaniments for a number of the singers, as Mildred was an
exceptionally well-trained pianist.
She had also induced Eugenia to purchase a piano, insisting that
nothing would give greater and more innocent pleasure to the American
soldiers in their vicinity.
So, Barbara could scarcely be accused of idleness, even if she had
altered the nature of her Red Cross duties. Nor was there a girl in
the hospital excepting Nona Davis, perhaps, who did not, in a small
measure, share in Barbara’s plans.
Eugenia thought of this fact one day, as she observed Nona going
through the hall on her way to Lieutenant Martin’s room.
Madame Castaigne would not have felt it loyalty to discuss the matter
with herself, but in a way Nona Davis was her present favorite among
the original group of Red Cross girls. She was devoted to Mildred
Thornton and had seen more of her than of Nona or Barbara. But Mildred
was undemonstrative, and her deep affections were given to her own
family and to the Russian General to whom she had become engaged during
her fine work as a war nurse in Russia.
At one time Eugenia may have considered that she was especially
attached to Barbara. But although she was not supposed to have noticed,
she, too, had seen that Barbara Thornton had changed since her marriage
and not for the better. Yet there must be some hidden reason for
Barbara’s present restlessness. Eugenia hoped that her work outside
the hospital might be an outlet and that she would buckle down to more
serious work later, else her coming abroad for the Red Cross was a
decided mistake.
But now Eugenia decided that Nona looked a little tired and wondered
if more work was being put upon her than the other nurses. She did not
wish this. Lieutenant Martin had been a trying patient, not because he
had been so ill, but because his nerves had been so overstrained by
the severe demands he made upon himself in camp.
However, he was growing better and Eugenia had several times thought of
removing Nona from the case. Yet Lieutenant Martin had begged so hard,
had promised such impossible improvement and reformation that she had
been turned aside.
Moreover, Eugenia liked the young officer with his stern sense of duty,
his strong will and high temper. With these traits of character there
were other far more appealing ones, and he was one of the finest types
of a soldier. Besides, Eugenia was amused by Nona’s present softening
influence upon him. Eugenia knew she could reduce him to whatever terms
she desired by threatening to change his nurse.
So she said nothing to Nona at the moment of seeing her in the hall,
only smiled at her in a fashion which had the most surprising influence
upon the people working under her. Eugenia’s approval seemed to make
all the cogs in the wheel run smoother.
Madame Castaigne was on her way to a small room which was reserved as
a kind of reception room at the front of the hospital. Someone had sent
up a card asking to see her and she always saw people when this did not
interfere with her work.
Ten minutes later she stopped by Lieutenant Martin’s room and after
knocking Nona admitted her.
Nona was now on duty a part of each day, as her patient did not require
a special night nurse.
The room looked very clean and comfortable, with its white bed and
white walls, and some few photographs which Nona had discovered and
placed around. And the patient appeared extremely cheerful and handsome.
The bandage had been removed from his head and Eugenia thought she had
seldom seen anyone reveal breeding more distinctly.
He and Nona had been laughing over something the moment before she
entered and Lieutenant Jack Martin’s gray eyes were still so filled
with amusement, his whole expression had changed.
“Miss Davis is a great bully. You would not guess it from looking at
her, would you, Madame Castaigne?”
Eugenia shook her head. “Well, if she is I am just coming to relieve
you of her--oh, only for a little while.”
And Eugenia’s sudden understanding made the young man flush.
“Nona, someone named Philip Dawson has just been seeing me and says he
knows you and if you are free, will you take a walk with him? I told
him I rather thought it might do you good to get out of doors more. He
is waiting for your answer.”
Nona hesitated an instant.
“You don’t mean that fellow Dawson has presumed to come here to the
hospital to call upon you?” a masculine voice growled.
“Do you know anything against Mr. Dawson, Lieutenant Martin?” Eugenia
inquired. “I was under the impression that he was one of the most
brilliant of the newspaper men who are to follow the fortunes of our
American army in France. I believe also the correspondents are to be
accredited as officers without special rank. But is there anything that
is personal?”
Lieutenant Martin looked very much as if he wished to answer “yes;”
nevertheless he shook his head.
“No, it is simply that I don’t like him. I presume he is clever enough.
But if Miss Davis does not mind, I am not sufficiently well for her to
leave me this afternoon. Tomorrow perhaps--”
“Nonsense, Lieutenant,” Eugenia laughed. “I’ll see that you are not
neglected. Go on, Nona dear, and decide when you talk with Mr. Dawson.
I found him very agreeable. He is in the reception room.”
More than an hour later Nona and Philip Dawson sat down in an orchard
several miles from the American hospital. They were under one of many
peach trees now covered with ripening fruit, as it was late summer.
“I am glad you have liked our walk, Miss Davis. Yes, I have explored
this French countryside for many miles. Is it not splendid, whenever
there has been the least chance, the French have gone on cultivating
their orchards and gardens with their wonderful, patient thrift? I
am going to find you some fruit, then, later, when you have rested,
perhaps you will walk up with me to the little French farmhouse over
there, as I should rather pay for it. The French people will probably
refuse, so you must help me. But one never knows how many people they
may be trying to support from one of these small farms.”
Nona allowed Philip Dawson to sacrifice his handkerchief and to
peel her a great number of peaches which she ate with the deepest
satisfaction.
She had just had a charming afternoon. Her companion had been gay and
agreeable and had told her many interesting facts. Unlike the greater
number of the members of his profession, he seemed to have but little
personal vanity and seldom figured as the hero of his own stories.
She had been right, during their one brief former meeting, in thinking
she would like him. She had already forgotten any peculiarities in his
personal appearance. His hat was on the ground at this moment and his
high forehead and humorous eyes, his fine mouth, made his face too
interesting to be ugly.
“Do you know I have been envying Lieutenant Martin recently, Miss
Davis? I have been to the hospital to find you several times since my
first walk with you, but always before you and Madame Castaigne have
been too busy to see me.”
“Then you have heard about Lieutenant Martin?” Nona answered. “I
thought the matter had been hushed up. But he should hear you say you
were envious of him. Of all the impatient, bored invalids I have ever
nursed, he is almost the worst. But I _am_ sorry for him. He is not
interested in anything apparently except his soldiering, and is so
afraid the men in his unit will be ordered into the trenches before he
is able to join them.”
Philip Dawson took out a cigarette.
“Do you mind my smoking?” he queried. Then, when Nona shook her head,
he went on:
“Yes, I heard about Martin soon after the trouble. The truth is, I
have been quietly trying to find out the reason for the difficulty
ever since it occurred. You see, newspaper men often do a kind of
detective work, since they have rather exceptional opportunities for
investigating and are a kind of unofficial intelligence bureau, and we
have all the same mania these days.”
Philip Dawson smoked a moment or two in silence.
“Miss Davis, I wonder if I should tell you something disagreeable. I
hate dreadfully to make you uncomfortable and yet, perhaps, it is just
as well for you to be on your guard. You may be able to help.”
“Please don’t talk in riddles,” Nona returned with some irritation.
“Besides, I wish you would not spoil our afternoon.”
Philip Dawson smiled.
“It may not be so bad as that. The truth is, I suppose you may have
guessed this yourself. Most of us who are interested in finding out
who is responsible for the injury to Lieutenant Martin, believe the
man who struck him had a personal reason for getting Martin away from
camp for a certain length of time. So far we don’t know the man and we
don’t know the reason. It may have been personal spite or it may have
been due to his great diligence in investigating the German spy menace.
There are two or three of our own men under suspicion, yet so far there
is nothing sufficiently definite for any accusation. It is abominable,
isn’t it?”
Nona nodded sympathetically.
“Yes, it does spoil my afternoon in a way to have to think there may
be traitors in our own American camp. But I really don’t see why I
should be on my guard, or what I can do to help, except perhaps to warn
Lieutenant Martin, and he hates to discuss the subject, says he prefers
anything to a scandal in camp. Besides, I am not the proper person to
talk of it.”
“No,” Philip Dawson agreed. “When Martin is well enough his superior
officer will discuss the situation with him. Martin is one of the
favorite officers of the Colonel of his regiment. But the truth is, I
might as well tell you frankly, one of the suspicions is that there is
a woman who is also concerned in the trouble. As I said before, the
information is far too uncertain to take seriously, yet there is just
one chance in a hundred she may be someone whom you know.”
“Someone whom I know,” Nona repeated rather stupidly. “But that is out
of the question. I only know the dozen or more nurses who are at our
American hospital, and Madame Bonnèt and Berthe. I have met no one else
since I came to France this time, and I don’t see why I should so often
be involved in suspicions of this kind. Please let us go on back.”
Philip Dawson got up instantly. He was one of the agreeable persons who
did not dispute small matters.
“Just as you like, only come first to the little French farmhouse. You
may find it sufficiently interesting to forgive my being annoying.”