The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-12-06

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Der till the lrhl of morning, now rellec-
ted from heaps Of dazzling snow brought
with it the fem It. who was to relieve
guard at the bed of misery.
The following morning nurse went IL
the house ol the physician WHO hnd en-
gagged her, with the determination oil
giving upthe task in which she was en-
ployed. She felt uneasy AT the thoughts
of retaining il as she had never been
simiarl sllnnted before she always had
somc companion To speak IL, IT WIS n
least employed in an inhabited house
but besides, size was MOI by any means
comfortable in tie visits oi the sphtly
stranger. She was disappointed, how
ever, 10y not finding him al home, aud
was directed Ia return Al n certain hour,
but as she 10y down to rest IN the mean
time, she did not awake TIL that hour
was long past. Nothing then remained
but To return for another night and give
warning of her intention ON the morrow
and with heavy scoaonted heart
she repaired To tho gloomy apartment
The physician " $ already there when
she arrived, and received her notice
with regret; but was rather surprised
when she informed him of the attentions
Of the strange lady, and the manner in
which She had been prevented from per
forming her duty : he, however, treated
II as common place occurrence, and
suggested thai il was some allectionaie
relative or friend OF the patient of whose
connexions he knew nothing. At ast
he took his leave, aud Nurse arranged
her chair and seated herself 10 watch
not merely The departure, but, the arri-
val of her fair friend. As she had not,
however, appeared on the former occa-
SONS till the night was FAR advanced, SHE
did not expect her sooner and endeav-
ored to occupy her attention till that
time by some other means. But it was
all in vain, she could only think Of the
one mysterious circumstance, fix her
dim gaze on the bldCkened trellls- work
OF the ceiling, and start NJ every triilIne
sound, which was now doubly audible,
Is all without was huShed by the nose
less snow IN winch the streets were I'M
bedded. Again, however, her, vigil
anco was clnded, and rs, wearied with
thought, she raised her head, with a long
drawn sigh aud yawn ol fatigue, she
encountered the green garments OF
unsolicited companion. Angry with
herself, aud at the some time unwilling
10 accuse herself of remIssnass, she de-
termlned once again that she should not
csc pc unuoticef There hung a feel
ling of awe abound her whenever sheaap-
proachod this singular being, aud when
as before, the lady retired 10 another
quarter Of The room as she approached
the bed, she had not courage to follow
her. Again the same distressing scene
OF suffering in her unfortunate charge
ensued he gaspcd aud heaved ill the
noise OF his agony made the heart sick
en- within her when she drew near his
bed, his cofpso like features were con-
yalsed WI. feeling which seemed 10
twist thei Taxed nerves INTO he most
fearful expression, while his CHASTITY eyes
were stralnlng from their Snnken sock
cts. She spoke, but he answered not
she touched him, but he was cold with
terror " unconscious OF any object save
the one mysterious beng whom his
glance followed with steady fixed ~
tcnsity. | have often heard my moth
er say that Nurse WIS naturally a wo-
man of every strong feelings, but here
she was totally BESIDE herself with anyie-
Ity. She thought that the Young genlle-
man W usl expiring, and preparing 10
leave the room, III search ol farther as
sist nee when she saw the lady again
move towards III. bed Oi.the DYING man !:
she bent above him for moment whilst
his writings were indcscrbabo:s she then
moved stately towards the door. \ w
was the moment Nurse advanced 1t
the Same time, laid her one band on the
latch, whilst with the other she attcm-
pied 10 raise the veil of the stranger and
IN the next Instant fell llieless on the
floor. As she glanced on the face Of
the lady she saw that d llieless head fill
Ell the bonnet It's vacant sockets and
CHASTITY teeth were all that could be seen
beneath the veil. Daylight was break
( lug the following morning when the o.
Their attendant arrived aud found the
, poor old woman cold aud bcnumbed,
str~tched upon the beside the passage
, d when SHE looked upon floor the bed
OF the invalid, he lay stiflencd g. ileiess
as If many hours had elapsed since his
: spirit had shaken of its mortal coil. One
| hand was thrown across his eyes, as II
to shade them from some object on
! which he feared to lock and the other
grnsped the coverlt with conyulsive
/ In mIlGSS.
> The remains Of the mysterious stu
don't unrn ininrrnd In thn old Caltnn