The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-11-18

ton, or even TO break his engagement Win
Rose Lougford.
Aware Of the weakness OF his mothers
character, and aiiribuiIng her present con.
duct 10 what be trusted would be the short
lived influence of her companion, Henry
did not apprise either Mr.. Longford or Rose
of Mrs. Walsingham's wishes, and his mar.
rage with the latter took place within a
year after the death Of his father. Soon
after ths event, he wrote TO his mother OF.
ienng her visit, and begging that she
would not attribute his conduc, TO any want
Of respect or affection for herself. This
letter would have sofened his parents
heart, had il not been for the baleful iuilu-
ence Of Miss Thornton who, 10 addition TO
the morcenaIy and selfish motises which
had originally prompted her conduct, was
now aninHted by malignant desire 10 be
re7enged on hin who had scorned her alli.
'aueo. BY this time, she had acquired such
an ascendancy over the weak mind o! Mrs.
Wasingham, that the latter was actually
afraid to act without consulting her wishes,
aud obtaining her approval. Henry was
accordingly forbidden to enter bis Pa.ernal
mansion, and the mother and SOP ceased to
have the sligbles. Intercourse with each
other.
In lofty bed chamber, surrounded By all
the appliances Of wealth and luxury, lay
Mrs. Walsngbam attended only by 70,
male slave, and apparently suffering under
severe illness. A slight noise was heard
at the door, aud the physician entered the
apartment. He advanced 20 the bedside,
felt the pulse Of the patient, and after con
versiuG for snort time in low voice, with
the attendant, he left the room, and descended
TO the parlour. Here he found Hiss Thorn.
ton, whose pale and agi,a,ed counienance
indicated the anxiety of her mind.
"Well, Doctor" she said, how do you
find my poor friend n
Very Ill, ma am; and unless she be bet
ter cared for, and my directions more strIot.
ly observed, | canno. answer for the result. "
But, Doctor, you do not think her dis
ease contagious, do youF
Il fear il is, ma'am.'
Miss Throutou's pale cheek assumed q
still more liYld hue, and her voice ,rembled
as she requested the physician 10 assist her
10 procuring a conveyance TO the neishbor
ing town. The doctor fixed on her a look
OF surprise, net unmixed with horror, as BIO
replied,
Why ma'au, you surely would not
think Of leaving your friend, in this sliua'
lion, TO care Of menials ?
Alb, my dea, sir, self preservation you
know, is our first duty. Besides, have
other friends. and owe it 10 them 10 take
care Of my health
/ thought, madam, had heard you say
TO Mrs. Walsingham thai you had no frienl
in the world bat her. However, have nc
right 10 interfere with your arrangements
except so far as deem i; my duly 10 tell
you that The life Of my patient depends on
the strict observance Of my directions, aud
the doctor quilted the room, leaving Miss
Thornton TO manage her departure from
The infected mansion, as she best could.
Dr.. Bland was sitting alone in his office
or the evening Of The day be had VISITED
Mrs. Walsingham, medItating on her siiua
ton. and endeayorng 10 devise some meau
oil procuring tia, attendance which he knew
, TO b. necessary, for the preservation Of he
life. lie was an old ffieud Of the Walsing
ham family, aud his feeling we're mucI
, interested IN behalf of the desolesc woman
who, in the midst Of affiIence, was left with
. ont a friend to minister TO her necessity
Il was impossible TO procure nurse; 70
the fever by which Mrs. Waisingbam ha
been attacked, had spread through Ih
: neighborhood, and created universal cor
2leruation.
III The good physician was rumlnaiing owe
= all these dscouraglng circumstances, whe
:, the sound of carriage wheels arrested b
: attention. They stopped at bis own doc
: and be has,ened to receive the visitors
:, These consisted Of lady and gentleman
the latter of whom was apparently we
= known TO the worthy doctor, for he shoe
J" him heartily by the hand. Aiter half q
= hour Of private conversation, the gen,lema
: departed, leaving bis female companIo
; under the charge Of DR.. Bland.
?. When the worthy physician paid his I'M
y visit iha, day at tie Walsingham grove. i
\ was accompanied BY a young female, whoi
/. he introduced 10 Tue donestics as nurs
Al sho had cone to take care OF their mi
). tress. He found Mrs, Va,zngham Wuc
!. worse, indeed 10 state which forbade Il
y indulgence of hope. Having, however, Q
N ,ablished the new nurse by the bedside
4. bis patlent, and gwen particular direction
respecting her treatment, toe doctor retur
., ed to his other patieu,s, satisfied that, |
- matters result as they might, his duty b;
y been performed.
j. The night was dark ard stormy, and Il
ID little light which was admitted into the sic
10 chamber, served only TO make its gloom o
N parent The patient tossed resllessly
9. and fro, and il was with difficulty that Ii
as young nurse could administer the restor
pt tYes which had been prescribed.
r Her soothing voice, however, seemed
" have some Influence with the sick woma
r. and towards morning her resilessness alb
in ted and she sunk into perturbed sIumbe