Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-01-29
CHAPTER V.


lay an officer almost at the point of death.
A young woman sat at his bedside
She was dressed in the coarse and unbe-
coming garb of a sister of charity; but
the hand with which she soothed and
cooled his fevcred brow, was soft and
delicate as the down Of q snow-white
swan-and even the heavy folds of her
garments could not wholly conceal the
grace and elegance Of her almost girlish
form. Day after day she tended the
half delirious sufferer with q modest for
titude and unassuming tenderness,
which won the respect and admiration
of all aroundasher. Thanks to her un-
renting care, he soon became con-
valescent, and then she would have
withdrawn to other invalids in the es-
tablishmcnt, but the young officer had
learned to know and love the hand that
so gently ministercd to his wants, and
the physician advised her to humor him
for the present.
You have never told me your name, -
said George Wilton, one morning to his
Youthful nurse. Our reader has antici-
pated that the youthful officer was he
x 4issi4-G GrsfT burned and faded IN the
usually pale and transparent check OF
the girl, and bending her head to con-
ccal it, she replied in q hardly audible
voice
Sister Magdalinc is the name my su
perior has given me-
''Wcll, then, sister Magdaline, do you
know that your voice and your hand and
your eyes, whenever [ catch a glimpse
of them, remind me Of one whom l
4 ...J ,1a,-o,-tl,-2 N-1,,r 40
you tremble 50? Are you Ill? You are
weary with watching!-No? Well, then
let me still talk Of my Juliet, for l think
Of her all the time; but she was not like
you in one respect, for she wronged me
cruelty, and you have been an angel of
mercy. Good God! what does this mean?
You are weeping! sobbing!-by heaven!
throw off that hood-that Golf! it is-it
is-my own, my precious j uliet! but oh!
how ch ~ed.-and IT. have done this!
lie fell back insensibIe. While apply
ing the usual rcstoratives, she bitterly
rcproached herself for her want Of con-
troll, and resolved that she would leave
him for other duties Immediately. On
his recovery she told him this gently but
firmly. He tried thousand passionate
and earnest arguments to induce her to
change her resolution, to give up her
present employment, andto return home
as his wife.
For an instant her woman's heart
heaved beneath the serge that covered it.
The next she calmly replied
Il did not adopt this sacred gar5 for
the mere selfish purpose of restoring to
mysclfa lover. When 1 entered upon
the duties ofmy Office, it was with a calm
resolve to continue in them while my
health would permit. feel that it will
not be long and do not regret my choice.
[ am not a wreck dear George Of my for
mer self, and should only be a burden to
you; but [ thank God that sickness and
sorrow, and the task which [ have i'm
posed upon myself are doing his work,
are Christening and subduing the proud
and wilful spirit, to which we both owe
our misfortunes Henceforth, dear
friend, let our love be that of brother
and sister. You will, ere long, find a
bride more worthy in every way of your
affections and your pride than the poor
and feeble Sister Magdaline." She laid
her hand lightly and tenderly upon his
brow-she breathed blessing and a
prayer-hc looked up-but she was
gone!