Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-02-11
VOL. mo. A..

OF Augusta to his mother, Notwithstanding the
risk that might have been incurred, but just
as the idea suggested this course, the door
opened and young lady entered. As she
entered the eye of Madame jacques caught her
form. An involuntary shudder passed over
the frame of the invalid. The young lady ad-
vanccd to the side of the bed of the dying man.
deadly palor stole over her countenance,
and she would have fallen 10 the floor, but the
servant caught her in her arms. In a moment
she rallied, and throwing off her bonnet and
shawl sat beside the dying man. An hour
passed, and the spirit Of the young man had
departed Miss CrOasdale-for such she was
closed her eyes and sank upon chair, and
buried her face in her hands. The servant fell
upon her knees and prayed.
Death was in that room. The being, for
whom Anna Croasdale had formed an ardent
attachment, was lying dead by her sidei on
bed in the same room Madame Jaques was
stretched upon a bed of sickness, with scarce
ly life enough in her to hold the soul in the
frail tenement that nature had wrapt about it,
The young girl was almost driven to phrenzy
at the scene around her. When the pestilencc
had come, she with her friends had sought
safety by lying to the country with the mass
of the inhabitants. She had remained there
for some time before she had heard OF the sick
ness in Madame Jaqucs family, but as soon as
she become cognizant of the fact that Augusta
had been taken down by the fever, she hastened
| to their succour. Friends advised her to forgoe
her intention, but she paid no attention to their
advice, and was perfectly willing to run the
risk consequent upon her visit.
Hours passed away, and she sat by the side
of the sick woman Madame Jaques slept
soundly. Anna and the servant removed the
corpse from the sick room to an adjoining one.
The faithful servant, although unwilling to
| leave her Mistress went to procure some one
to bury the dead. This was no easy task to
perform, as almost the whole white population
had forsaken the town. After long search
she found person of her acquaintance who
was willing to undertake the painful task of
placing in its last resting place the corpse OF
her young master. When she returned Miss
Croasdale was seated as she had left her, close
by the side of Madame Jaques, watching her
every movement.
The old lady had slept very soundly for sew
cral hours, with the exception of slight shud-
der, as if chill had run over her. She now
began to show symptoms of waking. The SER
want motioned Anna to withdraw out of sight,
and she took her place; ready to watch her
every movement, and to administer to her
wants the moment she awoke. The invalid
became more restless, and finally awoke. She
cast her eyes about her with bewildcred
lool-unt she observed Dinah by her he'd
side she seemed somewhat afrightcd. But
when her eyes rested on the old servant, con-
iidencc ut once was restored, and for the first
time for over two days she spoke. When last
her voice was heard, it was in using wild and
incoherent expressions; now it was calm and
as soft as the notes of lutte. She inquired
what was the matter and how long she had
been sick The faithful negro related every
thing to her with the exception of the death of
her son. She was not long in making inquiry
for him, but motion from the finger of Anna
prevented the reply. Madame JaqHes insisted
upon knowing where her son was, and Dnah
was about answering her question when Anna
approached the bedside and took the place of
the servant. She interposcd
"My dear madame you are exceedingly ill;
it will not do for you to talk too much. Be-
sides, you now evince symptoms of GONZALES
cense, and if you become excited it may do you
harm"
laI, I,rh hap An XtaE a
stranger to Madame Jaques she never having
seen her before. She looked surprised to find
her there. The young lady did all that lay in
her power to sooth her into quiet slumber.
This was soon accomplished; her debility was
such that nature was soon overcome and once
more she slept Anna sat by the side Of the
old lady, watching her every movement, and
| TO be ready to administer to her wants. 1t
was late in the night before she awoke, but
when she opened her eyes calmness seemed
to prevail over her mind. The first question
she asked was;
"Where is Augusta, my SON"
Anna tried to evade the question, but Madame
Jaques would not be put off; consequently
Anna related the whole matter; that they both
had been suffering from the yellow fever; that
the epedimic had prevailed to such nm oN'crt
that Wilmington was nearly deserted by its
population, and that her son had fell victim
to the disease The old lady seemed greatly
surprised at the intelligence she received from
| Anna. After some time which she spent in
reflection, she exclaimed
HWhere is Peggy Drew-the Witch Of the