Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-10-01
CHAPTER XVII.

since Aun Lee became the unconscious
guest of Helen aud her. father, and dur
ing that period, her eyes, once or twice,
had emitted ray of intelligence, but ere
the lips could confirm the fact, the ray was
extinguished, and, with it, the hope to
which it gave birth. On the night Of the
fourteenth day, DR.. Waddill sat for an
hour by the bedside, in deep thought, and
Helen watched his face with an eye that
scarcely winked, and heart that almost
feared to beat lest it might disturb his
medetations. At length he said, in low
"This night, Helen, decides the fate of
your sick friend r."
"No, no, doctor, she saia whilst an ex-
preston of acute mental anguish settled
upon her features, "she must not die
surely your skill and my ceaseless care can
save her
."That is yet to be seen !" he said "and
was going to say that if we can get her
to sleep gentle sleep, she will probably
awake to consciousness and if so, unless
she relapse may recover. But without
sleep the vital powers can endure the
strain upon them only few hours longer
I shall not leave to night, and after ad
ministering medicine, l will go down stairs
in order to secure perfect quiet below, re-
lying upon you to give me immediate in
formation of the slightest change whether
for the better or the worse
Having done all he could, the doctor
walked lightly down stairs, into the parlor,
and stretched himself upon a sofa, leaving
Helen alone, with but faint hope that
the fair form before her would mo-, ere the
dawn of another day, be cold in death
She had no supertitous fears, however, of
being alone with the dying, or the dead,
and she calmly placed her chair nearer to
the bed side, aud placing her hand softly
upon the brow of the patient, passed it
continually over the dry and hot surfacs
as if to soothe the pain and invite sleep,
and for nearly an hour, only varied her
occupation, to pass her hand, with tenn
po'ary, but gentle pressure, over the eyes,
and stoop lower to catch the sound of the
feable breathing.
A half hour more passed, and Helen
felt a thrill of JOY. as the eyelids slowly
dropped until the long lashos mingled
the upper with the lower-and the eyes
vacant stare was hidden from view by the
gentle hand of sleep. With beating
heart Helen gazed long upon the closed
lids, fearing to see them once more lifted (;
but, to her inexpressble relief not even a
twitching of the muscles disturbed their
repose, and, with long breath, she arose
from her seat and paced the floor with
slippered feet whose tread upon the yield
ing carpet was inaudible even to herself,
She shaded the light still more, lest its
rays might disturb the sleeper, then leaned
out of the open window to inhale the fresh
air, and gaze upon the rich landscape,
silyered DER by the light of the moon,
and sighed as she reflected how little in
harmony with the quiet beauty of the scene
was her own heart beating wildly with its
hopes and fears.
She looked at her watch-more than an
hour had passed and the sleeper had not
moved and remembering the doctors in
junction that she would apprise him OF
any change in the patients condition,
lEelen's first impulse was to go below and
awake him but there was no one to take
her place, and as he could do nothing
while the sleep continued unbrokcn, to
disturb him was altogether unnecessary
SO she resumed her seat by the bed side
and quietly awaited coming events that
cast no shadow before them.
Again she stepped to the light and look
ed at her watch--another hour had passed
aud it was midnight As she resumed her
seat, and looked upon the face of the
patient she was startled at meeting the
steady, but surprised look Of Ann Lee
and shocked at hearing her ask in feeble
but offended aeconts-"Why this intru-
sion, Miss Berne? How came you into
my room2'
''No matter just now Ann" Helen re,
piled, subduing her feelings and control
ling her voice; "you have been very i'll
aud your life depends upon perfect quiet
SO say not another word, but go to slcer
again, and when you wake, you shall know
all"
She gently placed her hand over Ann''
eyes to shade them from the light, and il