The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-10-21

In half dozen houses the destroy
still ragged, and from being night ant
day with the sufferers, without repose
or sufficient food, my strength gave way
and one burning morning in August
found myself PROSTATE upon bed in z
deserted home, with the terrible feEei
fastened upon me. There for four das.S
1 tossed upon my couch in an agony
No hand to battle my scorching forehead
and hold the refreshing cordial to my
lips My body was raeked with the
intensest pain, and my mind suffered in
describable tortures
The morning of the fifth day, as I
was lying weak and exhausted from a
violent spasm of pain, the room door
swung slowly open, and the form of a
woman appeared on the threshold. 1
lifted up my eyes, and Immediately re-
cognized Adrienne Marshall!
With a sharp cry of terror, for for
got every thing but the danger to which
she was exposed, I besought her to leave
me.
"In heavens name, madam, 60 =
You will die here with the terrible in
fection if you persist You so young,
SO beautiful, SO beloved, go! go, I en-
treat you ~ I was almost frantic
She waved me back authoritatively.
II shall remain, Mr.. Haiferston-
You had better be quiet-excitcment is
unfavorable to your disease
But you surely will not dare to re-
main here alone, with me, where death
is liable to overtake me at any moment?
You"
q dare to do my duty" she return
ed, firmly, "and I shall stop here even
at the risk of being unweloome.'
"Unwelcome Oh, Miss Marshall,
did you but know"
She cut me short by an in patient ges
ture, aud then she went about arranging
the disorder into which the apartment
had falleu. She brought fresh flowers
so very fresh and odorous that kne@
they must lave grown amid the cool
mountain shadovs-and placed them in
clear vases filed with pure, sweet water
Then she came to my bedside, and gave
me refreshing drinks, and put cooling
baths on my throbbing head; and the
rich perfume of the flowers, the blessed
ness of her presence, and the sweet
peace of being near her, stole like a
balm over my senses, and I lost all con-
seriousness.
Long, long days passed wealily be-
fore knew anything again.
When L awoke to consciousness, Dir.
Harstein and Miss Marshall were bend
ing over me with intense anxiety depict
ed upon their countenanccs. essayed
to speak, but the doctor forbade.
"Quiotude, my dear friend, is ali that
can restore you-on it your life de-
pends?"
Again I would have spoken, but
soft hand was laid across my
lips.
Mr.. Halfcrston, I ask it." she said
gently.
1t was enough said no more. Af-
terward when 1 grew stronger, they told
me very cautiously of what had trans
pired in the village during my illness
OF the death Of my dearly loved friend,
Mrs. Greenough, and the dark midnight
which had seen her laid away in the
grave. I grieved for her very deeply,
for she was to me much as my mother
had been. Mrs Harstcin was safe with
her friends in a retired country place,
some hundred miles from Rembrandt,
and the doctor throughout the whole
season of terror had stood mistaken at
his post.
At the first news of my danger Adri-
enne had left her home and come to my
relief To al his entreaties to fee from
the contagion, DR.. Harstein said, she
had turned a deaf ear, refusing to leave
what she considered the field of duty.
Oh, those days Of convalescence-
they were the happiest of my life In
close communion with the gifted soul of
Adrienne Marshall, my own spirit en-
larged and bathed in purer light i
Ny soul rose up, as it were, on the wings
Of inspiration, and I felt equal to do all
Lhings-to dare all thingsl Yes, do all
things but ask for the love which alone
could satisfy mel Therein, I was power
ess. 1 feared if should say aught to
,er of love she would flee away and
cave me in darkness, lacking the sun
light of her presence.
So from day to day I procrastinated
and put the future far away from me.
One evening, about fortnight after
ny return to life, 1 missed Adriennc
rom my room. just as 1 was about
to GO in search of her, DIR.
Iarstein came in,and in reply to my anx-
Ous looks, he said, "Adrienue has gone
ome-duty calls her in other places p
By the middle of autumn health was
nee more restored to the village, and
esumed my ministerial duties. For
ime, all went well as usual in my church,
ut many of the old pillars-the grey
eaded men-had died during the con- ,
lgion, and disaffection erept in among