The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-10-19

remembered the soft pressure of the white hand
on his n,and wished he had sooner felt its warn
ing touch.
About midnight, the poor, weak. pulse his fin
gers pressed suddenly stopped, and Mordaunt
found himself alone with the dead. AS the mex
pressbe calm and placidity of death stole over the
features, restoring something of youthfuluess and
beauty, and the charm of great and solemn mys-
terry rested upon them. he looked upon her with
strange interest. The human frame was to him
wondrous and curious machine, God constructed
glorious instrument. He looked upon it with the
eyes of science, and whether clothed in rags or
fine linen, he recognized the hand of the Divine
Architect.
But what must he 60? Whom could he sum
mon to that death-tenanted chansber! The Ere-
ming Star was nov shedding its s1ft, plying rays
over another couch of ofsuffering. that couch which
his ministrations might also have soothed. Just as
he was rising. resolved to the inmates of the
next cabin. and induce them to attend TO the last
duties of humanity, the door opened and Hannah
quietly entered. She was grave, respectable look
ing woman, and seemed to understand at one
glance the office that devolved upon her. Nor
was glad that it was so.
How is the Gentleman! How is Mr.. Gold
mani asked he, Is he very badly hurt!'
'DreadfuIly, sir. His leg and arm broken,
and he is shockingIy bruised, besides. You can
hear him groan all over the house,
And the young ady?'
Miss Constancel She is with her uucIe.-
She will not leave him, though the doctors all urge
her to 60, and she looks ready to drop DOWN, too
Has he many doctors with him!'
There are three beIow--enough to kill him,
am sure, added she in kind of soto Uoce.
i might have been of that favored trio,
thought Mordaunt, 'and now the weight of my
last doler is added to to the mill stone of sin that
is dragging wretchto the abyss Of perditon. But
| meant to do good God forgive me for repin-
ing
The history of the drunkard and his wife has
nothing to do with story, only as it serves to
illustrate the character Of our young physician.
and to introIuce hi II 20 Constance Goldman, one
of those angels If mercy whom God sometimes
sends into the world to drop balm into the wounds
that sin has made. and TO strew with roses and
lilies the lhorny path that leads to the grave.
Days and weeks passed away. Mordauut con-
tinued TO struggle ou-to struggle Oh ihs very
verge of penury, jnst able with the stricfest
omy to pay his daily expenses. His practice was
| extending, but chiefly among the poor, whose
| scanty purse he felt unwilling TO diminish. He
ginning experience but losing hope. HIS
youthful experience bar to his succe So.
lie had strong desire 10 cut eff his bright brown
locks, which had most obstinate AID provoking
wave and assume venerable locking wig; to GOV
or bis sunny, hazel eyes with pair of green spec.
| taces, and expression of supernatural
gravity and Intense wisdom. Every thing short
of this, he did to make himself older, but in vain,
The fire OF outh burning in The the temple of
life. and it illuminated all surrounding oI .cts.
Once, when he was walking with Wiley TOR,
uncongeni i as they weie, they We're frequent
companions II carriage stopped at the door of d
splendid nlans N 's before them A lady de-
scended, whom lie Immediately recognized the
EUening Star. The gray cloud no longer euvel-
oped her grace u; figure, which WIS lobsd d in all
the elegance Of fashion. The face was less pale
and sad Than when he her last but still wore
that celestial fairness which is seldom warmed
with the coloring of earth. Mordaunt bowed low
to the recognizing glance, while Wiley stepped
forward with the freedom of au old acquaintance
and offered his assistance in leading her up the
| flight of marble steps which led to the door.
Mordaunt felt sudden swelling of the heart
against Wiley. He could not help it, though he
despsed himself for it. He knew by intuition
that Constance would speak to him. He felt that
he was not forgotten. Though her cheek, like
the pure asbestos kindled not at his approach hel
eye had beamed with a modest but Joyous wei
come. He knew by intuition also that Wiley's
cold and biting tongue would wither like frost ev
cry kindly sentiment she might now perchance
feel for him. He did not dream that she had fal
len in love with him, for he was not vain, or pre-
sumptious, but. associated they had been in the
holy task of mercy and compassion, he could no
help thinking there was sympathy between then
which he could not bear to have chilled He dic
not want his name to be mentioned ip her pre- ,nc.
by the lips of Wiley. But why should he suffe
his equanimity to be disturbed by such illusions
She might not condescend to mention him. Sh,
was compassionate, and looked kindly on him
when she had met him in the hovel of the poor
but should he seek her in her own lordly home th
rich heiress might chill with her indifference (h,
could otassociate with her idea ofscornthe 200
young physician. Mordnunt, in spite OF his elastic
ity and hopefuness of spirit, was beginning to fee
little of the sickness of hope deferred. He hat
observed that morning, with rather sorrowful mis-
giviugs, that his best cont was little more us
trous at the elbows than it was when he first wor
it, aud that the silken down of his hat was gettin
a lite shorter worn; especially the rim in front
which he touched when making his graceful bows
There was nothing yet to detract from the gentili
ty of his appearance. but he knew a day woul
come when the coat would become rusty and tn,
hat napless, and unless he had more profitable pl.
tients than the drunkard's poor wife, it would be
long before he could purchase others. He enter
ed his office, took otfhis hat. smoothed it CAREFUL
with the sleeve ofhs coat before he hung it on tn
peg,then exchanginghis coat for students wra pper
, he threw himself into a chair, walked up the dyin