The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-20

menced upon the least motion, had subsidized
Then she got upon the floor, and stood for
a few moments, while her head seemed
reeling, and she every instant about to sink
down. In little while this dizziness went
off, but her head throbbed and ached with
aggravated violence
AT breakfast, she forced herself to swallow
small portion of food, although her sto-
mach loathed it, and then, with trembling
limbs, and feeling of faintness, she went
out in the open air, and took her way to the
store. The fresh breeze, as il fell coolingly
on her fevered forehead, revived her in a
degree; but long ere she had reached the
store her limbs were sinking under her with
excessive fatigue.
slate again, miss said her employer,
as she came in, with look Of stern re-
proof
II have not been very well, sir,n Anna
replied, lifting her pale, languid face, and
looking appealingly into the countenance Of
the store-keepcr.
"Then you should stay at home altogeth-
er, miss,'' was his cold response, as he turn
ed away, leaving her to proceed to her ac-
customed station at the counter.
| The day happening to be one of unusual
activity in business, Anna was kept SO con-
stantly busy, that she could not find mo-
ment in which to relieve the fatigue she felt
by even leaning on the counter. Customer
after customer came and went, and box after
box was taken from, and replaced again up
on the shelves, in what seemed to her an
endless round. Sometimes her head ached
SO violently, that it was with difficulty she
could see to attend correctly to her business.
And sometimes she was compelled to steady
herself by holding to the counter to prevent
sinking to the floor, from feeling Of faint
ness, suddenly passing over her. Thus she
held bravely on, under the feeble hope that
her mdisposition, as she tried mentally to
term it, would wear off,
1t was about four o'clock in the afternoon
that the fever which had been very high all
through the day, began to subside. This
symptom she noticed with an emotion of
pleasure, as indicating healthy reaction in
her system
1t was but halfan hour after, that she sunk,
fainting, to the floor, at her place beside the
counter When the fever abated, exhausted
nature gave way.
For nearly an hour she remained insens-
bic. And it was nearly two hours before
she had so far recovered as to be able to walk,
when she was suffered to 90 way unatten-
ded. Itwas seven O'Clock, when, with face
almost as white as ashes, and nearly sinking
to the ground with weakness, she arrived at
home, and opening the door, slowly enter
ed.
90, Anna What ails your" exclaimed
her mother.
i feel very sick,'' the poor girl replied,
sinking into chair. "But where is Alfredo
she asked, in quicker tone, in which was
asrong expression OF anxiety,a ,as she glanced
her eye about the room, in vain search for
him.
9 He has walked out" Mary said.
9 Has he" CALCULATED Anna. How fong
has he been awayw
at is now nearly four hours, MARY
said, endeavouring to conceal the distress she
felt, in pity for her sister, who was evidently
quite i'll.
-Four hoursI" exclaimed Anna, her face
blanching to still whittier hue. 'sFour
hours! And do you know where he is ~
6 Indeed we do not, Anna. He went out
to take short walk, and said he would not
be gone more than ten or twenty minutes"
Anna did not reply, but turned slowly a
way, and entering her chamber, threw her
self exhausted upon her bed, feeling so ut
terly wretched, that she breathed an audible
wish that she might die. In about ten min
utes a carriage stopped at the door; and in
moment after, amid the rattling of departing
wheels, Alfred entered, looking better and
happier than he had looked for a long, long
time. A single glance told the mother and
sister that all was right.
80, brother How could you stay away
so long;" Mary said, springing to his side,
and grasping tightly his arm.
81 did not expect, when walked out,
that ii would be so long before returned,
Nary" he replied, kissing her cheek aflec-
tionately "But met with an old, though
long estranged friend, who seeing that had
been i'll, and needed fresh air, insisted on ta-
king me out into the country in his carriage
could but consent. was, however, so
weak, as to be obliged to go TO bed, when
about three miles from the city, and lie there
for couple of hours. But feel WE'LL very
well now and have some good news to tell