The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-02-09
the doctors had no hopes of his recov-

him again, Mrs. Clark cried the poo
girl, with free burst of tears. To thinl
he must die away there, among stran
gers, in hospital, with no loving face t
bend over him in his last hours, or prusl
away the damp curls from his forehead
which mamma used to be so proud Of
Oh, George, my darling, my brigh
faced little brother George and here
the poor girl broke out in a storm o.
tears.
Poor child, poor child murmured
Mrs. Clark. her sweet eyes swimming in
tears how much would it cost to go to
your brother, and return p she asked a,
last.
About thirty dollars. have not SO
much money in the world; You see il
is nearly four hundred miles; but
could manage to support myself very
we'll after l got there
A thought passed quickly through Mrs.
Clark's mind She stood still few mo.
ments. her blue eyes fixed in deep medi-
tation. At last she said kindly
Well. my child, try to bear up brave
ly, and we will see what can be done for
you, and the warm, cheerful tones com
forted the sad heart of the seamstress.
The lady went up stairs and took the
pieces out of her ivory portmoni@.-
There was brief struggle in her mind.
Somehow I've set my mind on this vel
vel cloak. she thought, and Edward
will be disappointed. was going to Sc
lect the velvet this afternoon. But then
there's that dying boy, lying there with
strange faces all about him, and longing
as the slow hours go by. for the sight Of
the sister who loves him, and would not
this thought haunt me every time l put
on my new cloak. After all. my old
broadcloth is not so bad, fit is only turn
ed. And l am sure can bring him to
my way of thinking. No, you must go
without the cloak this time, and have the
pleasure of knowing that you have
smoothed the path going down the val
ley of the shadow of death. Mary Clark
And she closed the portmonie resolute-
ly, and went down stairs.
Janet, put up your work this moment
there is no time to be lost. Here is
the money. Take it and go to your
brother
The girl lifted her eyes moment, al
most in bewilderment, to the lady, and
then as she comprehended the truth, a
cry or sucn ~, GruKe noru hvr~ Hips. tho.
its memory never faded from the heart
in all the after years of Mrs. Clark's life.
George George J. The words leap
ed from her lips as the sister sprang for
ward to the low bed where the youth
lay, his white sharpened face cleaning
deathlike from amidst his thick yellow
curls.
He opened his large eyes suddenly,
and flush passed over his pallid face.
He stretched out his thin arms, exclaim-
ing:
20, Janet Janet have prayed God
for sight Of you once more before l
died.
His pulse is stronger than it has
been for three weeks, and his face has a
better hue. said the doctor few hours
later, as he made his morning visit
His sister came yesterday and watch
ed with him. answered the attendant
glancing at the young girl who hung
breathless over the sleeping invalid.
'Ah, that explains it. | am not cer-
tain but the young man has recuperative
power enough left to recover. if he could
have the care and tenderness for the next
three months, which love alone can fur
nish.
How Janet's heart leaped wildly at the
very words.
That very morning she had an inter-
view with the employers of her brother.
They had been careless but not inten-
tionally unkind, and the story enlisted
all their sympathies.
In day or two. George was removed
to quiet. comfortable private house.
and his sister installed herself by his
couch, his nurse and comforter.
Three years have passed. The shad
ows of night were dropping already
around. Mrs. Clark sat in her chamber
humming nu rsery tune, to which the
cradle kept sort OF rythmic movement.
Suddenly the door opened.
Sh-sh. said the young mother. and
she lifted her finger with a smiling warn
ing as her husband entered.
There's something for you. Mary
It came by express this afternoon He
said the words in an undertone, placing
a small package in her lap.
The lady removed the covers with eyes
filed with wonder. while her husband
leaned over her shoulder, and watched
her movements.
A white box disclosed itself. and re-
moving the cover, Mrs. Clark deserted
a small. elegantly chased hunting watch.
She lifted it with a cry of delighted sur
prise, and touching the spring. the case
flew open. and on the inside were en-
graved the words
To Mrs. Clark. In token of the life
she saved
'Oh. Edward, it must have come
from George and Janet Hill,' exclaimed
the lady and the tears leaped into her
eyes. You know she has been with
him ever since that time, and she wrote
me last spring that he had obtained an