Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-04-17

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offer of assistance, he being an Englisl
Physician. The offer was promptly &C
Icepted, and the physician, an elderlygentle
man of pleasing appearance, was soon a
the bedside of the patient.
"What do you think of my case, doctor2'
asked the old gentleman, after having beer
closely examined.
II think, sir" was the reply, ''that yor
are very sick
"That ! happened to find out, doctor
just before you came in. Live or die2-
that is the question Iwish you to answer
| . ssARd that is question which I can not
answer just now; the symptoms are de-
cidedly unfavorablc, but they may yield
promptly to the treatment | propose"
"Or they may not, doctor; and in that
event?" r ,sr
"Let us hopefully await it, sir. To
anticipate the worst often defeats the good
that might be done, but for the indulgence
of such anticipations. Let me insist, then,
that you be quiet and patient. Take this
potion, and try to go to Sleep
The patient obeyed without murmur,
and soon nothing was heard in the room,
but his hard breathing and supper being
announced, the phycian arose to depart,
saying to the young lady that he would
order refreshments to be brought up to
her, and very soon return himself, "And.
by-the-way," he continued, fare you not
an American?' Having received an af.
frmative answer, he continued-''I asked the
question because my travelling companion
is also an American, and from New Or
leans, and | thought his presence might
be comfort to you and your father"
ellis name, sir?'' Asked the lady with
a show of nervous anxiety.
Charles Winters, and most accom-
plished gentleman"
II know him well;" she said eagerly,
Sand will thank you to send him up inn
mediately." And, with a heart beating
wildly, she followed the doctor to the door,
and seemed to count every step he took,
and when she could no longer hear him,
listened, in almost breathless suspense, for
that well known tread which had so often.
in other days, caused her heart to leap
with joy. Nor did she wait long though
it seemed an age to her, for the doctor de-
tained Winters no longer than to deliver
the message, and to tell him that the fair
young stranger would soon be fa.herless.
And Winters, without knowing her name,
vowed, as he assembled the stairs, that she
should not be friendless, though she might
be fatherless.
The light from the sick room was shining
full upon the pale face of the lady, as she
leaned against the door-post, looking down
the staircase, at the head of which she
stood; and a single glance as he reached
the top step, was followed by the exclama
tion-"Fannyl Is it possiblel" And he
sprang toward just in time to catch her
fainting form in his arms Feeble health
and intense anxiety had proved too much
for her powers of endurance, and it was
sometime before retgpning consciousness
followed the efforts of Winters to reanimatc
the form he still clasped in his arms. She
gave him look full of love and gratitude
and then closed her eyes again, as if fear
ing to dispell, too soon, a delicious dream
The touch of his lips upon he fair brow
aroused her effectually, and disengaging
herself from his arms, she said:
Heaven has heard my prayer, Charles
that l might once more see, and confess to
you how dearly / loved yon even when my
foolish pride and evil counsel led me Sc
far astray. Spurn me, if you please, for
my folly and its candid confession-I
know that | am unworthy, and feel that
have forfeited your love and confidence
but say that you fully and freely forgive
me shall soon be friendlcss orphan
unless
~ fear, dear Fanny he said interrup,
ting her, "that you will very soon be an
orphan, but not friendless, so long as
haze heart to cherish, and an arm to pro
tect you. In imitation of your csndor
let me, too, confess During all my trials
my love for you suffered no abatement
J but my confidence was so far shaken, in you
truth and constancy, that l deemed my
self fortunate in escaping an union will
r one whom had so much reason to beliey,
fiwas heartless, unprincipled. But after
disclosures softeRed the judgement | ha,
F; passed upon you, and though no considora