CHAPTER FIFTEEN
PARTING
The nurses made quite a festive occasion out of the Fourth of July.Although it was midwinter, Northern Australia was close enough to theequator for the weather to be like midsummer at home. Nancy as chairmanof the program committee, started weeks ahead trying to collect flagsand bunting to decorate the wards. Miss Anna Darien and the Red Crossworkers back in Sydney sent her boxes that were real gold mines for herpurpose.
Their hospital was not far from a camp of negro soldiers from thestates. These colored men were primarily employed in pushing convoysthrough northern Australia. Nancy, knowing how beautifully some of themsang, suggested that Major Reed invite a group over to entertain thewounded on their American holiday.
Nancy feared rain might spoil their program, which was to be outdoors,but she took chances on having the bandstand arranged in the middle ofthe street within view of most of the buildings. Though they hadsloshed through enough rain to float a transport the last weeks, thesky actually cleared a few hours before time for their program.
For a change the nurses all donned their white uniforms, and in spiteof the heat the medical officers put on coats and ties. Theconvalescents, still in pajamas, were supplied with benches around thebandstand. Everyone seemed excited at the prospect of a littlediversion.
"Say, but you look like an angel in that white uniform," Bruceexclaimed when he saw Nancy.
He could walk almost erect now, without bending to the pain in hisside. He had been given new clothes, which he wore for the first timethat day, and Nancy thought him even more handsome than ever in hislieutenant's uniform.
"You're not bad-looking yourself," she told him.
"For the forty-ninth time, do I look good enough to be your husband?"
"Now, Bruce," she began severely, "I have to keep my mind on thisprogram and can't think of the future just now."
"All right! All right!" he said and grinned impishly. "I won't ask youagain today, but I make no promises for tomorrow."
"I have a surprise for you," she said, when she was about to leave himon one of the seats. "Hope you'll like it."
"I like anything you do," he assured her.
"I'm not so sure," she retorted. "Remember, I'm from Georgia and youfrom New York state."
"I can't imagine what difference that would ever make."
"Just wait and see."
The convalescents' band led off with _The Star Spangled Banner_. ThoughNancy had stood at attention a thousand times or more she stillthrilled to the stirring music, and her heart swelled with pride thatshe was now an essential part of these great armies, intent uponkeeping their own flags waving over all the lands of the free and homesof the brave.
After the national anthem Lieutenant Hauser led the nurses in singing_America the Beautiful_. Then the negro chorus stepped forward to givethem a program of spirituals in sonorous, harmonizing voices. Firstthey chanted _I'm Goin' Down De River o' Jordan_. Then their choirleader sang a solo with a group behind him humming an accompaniment,soft and sweet as any deep-toned organ. They finished off their firstgroup with _Swing Low, Sweet Chariot_, which brought such storms ofapplause the spiritual had to be repeated.
When the hospital band struck up a march a group of nurses stepped out,bearing flags of the Allied Nations, and took a snappy turn around theflagpole. Every spectator, down to the last crippled convalescent,sprang to his feet and stood at salute. Then suddenly Sousa's marchblended into the lilting strains of _Dixie_. As the gallant music rangthrough the Australian bush, Nancy, who carried the American flag inthe center of the group of nations, suddenly unfurled a smallConfederate flag beneath the Stars and Stripes.
Bruce Williams and Pat Walden, standing on the sidelines, were thefirst to notice the battle-scarred Stars and Bars, and startedcheering. The colored troops caught their enthusiasm and began to singwith the band. A moment later every spectator was singing the old songwith all the zest possible. When the band crashed out the last notesthe marching group broke up amid much clapping and cheers.
"You made a real hit with that, Nancy," said Major Reed when Nancy wentback to the grandstand where he sat.
The Major gave a brief talk on the cause for which they were fighting.He praised the fine courage of the men who had already paid so great aprice, and spoke words of commendation for the nurses and doctors whowere serving them so faithfully.
After the outdoor program Nancy and Miss Hauser went into the wardswith the negro chorus which was glad to sing the familiar songs overand over so that all might hear.
When they had finished Nancy and Miss Hauser were thanking the singerswhen Nancy said to Sam Turner, leader of the chorus, "There's surelysomething very familiar about your face, Sam."
Sam's wide mouth spread in a grin, "Reckon so. Plenty people seen dismug, Miss. I used to be porter on de Dixie Flyer--dat special 'tweenNew York and Miami."
"Oh, then maybe I've seen you there. I used to catch that train northsometimes."
"Dem wus de days," said Sam, rolling his eyes. "Many's de time I pickup fifty dollar in tips on de way down." He grinned knowingly. "Dey wusneber quite so flush comin' back from Florida in de spring."
"That's all a thing of the past now, Sam--till we get this big jobdone," said Nancy.
"Yas'm, sho is, Miss. I'se mighty glad to see y'all folks from downhome he'pin' wid it."
When the singers had driven away, Nancy's superior officer turned toher and said, "We have you to thank for a wonderful program, Nancy. Ihad no idea you could get up anything so nice."
"Thanks," said Nancy happily. "It really went off more smoothly than Iexpected. But I never could have done it without Miss Anna Darien, andthe Red Cross back in Sydney. They got me the colors for decorations,and the flags of the different countries."
"Not the confederate flag?" questioned Lieutenant Hauser, and smiledreminiscently at the hurrah it had created.
Nancy lowered her eyes self-consciously. "I was a little nervous as tohow they might receive that," she admitted.
"You made quite a hit. I'm sure I never felt such a wave of enthusiasmas they put into _Dixie_."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_"There's Something Familiar About Your Face, Sam."_]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So many of the boys here at the hospital are southern boys," Nancyexplained. "And I knew the negroes would love it."
"But where did you get the flag?" persisted Miss Hauser.
"I brought it over with me," Nancy confessed. "You see it's the samelittle flag that my great-grandfather Dale carried all through theCivil War. Dad gave it to me just before I left. He said it had broughtGrand-dad through his campaigns safely, and he thought it might bringme good luck."
"I suppose there's still a lot of sentiment in the south about that oldflag," said Miss Hauser.
"Yes, there is. It would be hard for anyone else to understand how wefeel about the lost cause. Not that we would change things as they arenow. But we have a lot of respect and love for those old fellows whofought and suffered so much for what they thought was right. There weresome marvelous military leaders among them, you know."
"Indeed there were," agreed Lieutenant Hauser. "Our men study themilitary tactics of Lee, Jackson and the others."
"I didn't know that," said Nancy, "but I'm glad to hear it."
When they were about to separate, Miss Hauser said, "Oh, I almostforgot--Major Reed has asked to see you when your work is finished."
Nancy lifted her eyebrows slightly, wondering what was brewing."Thanks," she said. "I'll go now."
She found Major Reed in his office. He had already discarded his coatand tie and was drinking a coke.
"I'll have one sent in for you," he said, as he motioned Nancy to achair beside his desk. Chairs were luxuries and Nancy sat downgratefully, for she suddenly felt very tired.
> "A fresh supply just came in from the States," Major Reed explained ashe opened her bottle.
"My, that tastes like the corner drugstore at home," said Nancy.
He studied her a moment, then asked, "Homesick?"
"Oh, no. I'm having a wonderful time."
His face relaxed. "I was afraid you were homesick."
"Of course I'd like better than anything else to see Mom and Dad, andhave a peep at all the folks back home, but I'd want to be right herethe next day."
"You wouldn't mind going even deeper into it?" he asked.
She sent him a speculative glance. "Oh, Major Reed, are we going to getout to the islands?"
"You guessed right."
For a moment Nancy felt as uplifted as she had been on the night shetook her Florence Nightingale pledge so long ago. Major Reed wasopening the door to the goal for which she had worked so long.
"You've been such a good scout, Nancy, and put on such a splendidprogram today this was the only reward I could offer you right now--totell you a little ahead of the others that we're soon going out intothe Pacific. I fear the work here will seem like play compared withwhat we'll meet there."
"I'm ready and eager to go," she assured him. "When do we leave?"
"Shortly. But you are not to mention it until it's officiallyannounced."
The general announcement was made sooner than Nancy dared hope--threeevenings later. They had to be ready to leave the following morning.The new nursing unit was expected in that night to take over.
Before Nancy started packing she went to find Bruce Williams and tellhim good-bye. He was genuinely distressed.
"I was afraid it was too much good luck, having you here even thislong," he said.
"But you won't be here much longer either," she told him. She leanedacross the table in the recreation room where he had been reading."I'll tell you something if you won't mention it."
"Oh, jimminy! Nancy, are you really going to marry me?"
"Don't be silly!" she exclaimed. "We've got a war to win first. I wasgoing to tell you that you're going to be sent home with the next bunchthat goes out from here."
"Say, but that _is_ great!"
"See, if I hadn't been sent out first, I'd be the one left behind."
"Seems as if it can't be true--going home at last. For so long I gaveup hopes of ever seeing the folks, as you call them down south."
He caught her hand and looked pleadingly into her eyes. "But Nancy,when you come home, too, will you promise to think seriously about whatI've been asking you every day?"
For the first time she took him seriously and said, "I surely will,Bruce. And you won't forget to pray that somehow Tommy will get back tous?"
"You bet I won't, Nancy."
When she stood up to leave he started to rise also, but she pressed herhand on his shoulder, holding him down firmly, for it was stilldifficult for him to get up and down.
"Don't stand," she said. "I must run along."
Suddenly she bent and kissed him lightly on the forehead, then hurriedaway before he could come after her, making their parting harder. Nancyfound that the most trying aspect of her work was making friends, thenhaving to leave them behind.
------------------------------------------------------------------------