Margaret Busbee Shipp

“ The honest reproach in his voice was the best emphasis.
“He does love to help people,” thought the girl. “The chronic invalid might be a very happy one, on those days when he remembered her name.”
The next day Staples brought the book on leprosy, and explained the technical terms to her. She was surprised to learn that statistics, carefully compiled through many years, support the claim of dermatologists that leprosy is but slightly contagious. Certain high authorities contend that the disease cannot be transmitted by touch, breath or even inoculation. ”

“ I hope you slept well.” said Cecilia. “I am your nurse.”
Though the words were forced and mechanical nothing could alter the sweetness of her voice.
“Ain’t there some mistake?” asked the patient wonderingly. “It don’t seem natural for a fine lady like you to be waitin’ on the likes of me. I should think you’d get hired somewheres else.”
“I hope she won’t,” said Staples, entering. “She is the best of nurses, so don’t you persuade her into some other work, Mrs. Long.” ”

“ Just a year ago she had given up her social career, to her mother’s despair and her father’s amazement.
“Why on earth had you rather wait on strange sick folks than have a dozen fine young Kentuckians waiting on you?”
“Let me try!” she pleaded. “The work has always seemed to call me.” ”

“ She remembered how one of the doctors, a Kentuckian whom she had known at home, had characterized Staples:
“He’s the hundredth man, a man of his own peculiar kind. Professionally, I don’t know a man of his years who has done such brilliant work. ”

“ There is nothing surer of itself than young idealism, and Col. Castleton’s consent was won on the same principle that he gave Cecilia fruit cake when she was two and a pony at five, “because she wanted it.”
There was a knock at the door, and Cecilia opened it to admit Nannie Despard.
“Dearest. We have only ten minutes before our lights are out. I heard that you were put on the leper case, and I went to the superintendent. I told her that I was just crazy to have that case from a professional point of view, and I begged to be allowed to exchange with whoever had it. ”