The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-18
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER I8 1863.

home, the physician who attended her
mother, and who has been ever kind to the
young orphan, meets her at the very door
of Honore's house, before which, with
lingering, longing look, she passes.
"Eh? Mile Anpette, is that you ?"
said he. "~
eyes, Monsieur le Docteur," rel lied
Annette, recognizing the physician, and
blushing deeply at the same time lest he
should divine he. thoughts; "it's long
since we have seen you in these parts"
eyes, I'm here to see very bad case,
Somebody who is i'll ?"
"Somebody who is dying a fine young
fellow, too; one of the best students of
the college, Honore Lavergne?"
"Yes! Do you know him? ?"
"No! yes! Ihave seen him. Oh! sir,
who is wi h him ?"
"Nobody, for don't call anybody those
young fellows who 60 and SIN )ke their
pipes in his room, and stare at him with
out being capable OF giving glass of
water However, this is no uncommon
case. Students die every day. Goodby,
Mile. Annette, you are as pretty and as
fresh as ever, see."
With this the physician moved away,
but Annette seemed rooted 70 tile spot.
Presently three or four young men came
noisily out of HonOre's house; they were
talking of him, and she cleaned from what
they said that he was ut+ery unconscious,
and that they had left him alone.
Alone! Annette Looked up at the win
dow where the candle burned so dimly,
and imagined the utter solitade and desc
latiOn of that room where Honore was
dying, and dying alone.
Another moment and she is within the
arcted doorway. Without being seen she
passes the porter's lodge, mounts the stairs
with noiseless step, and soon, with beating
heart, stands with claspel hands gazing
down on Honore, as he lay in deep sleep,
his head turned toward her. She placed
her hand gently on his brow it was burn
ing; she looked around; the room was in
the utmo~t disorder; and the bed, tossed
and untended, had a most forlorn and
wretched look. The absence of woman's
hand was evident
Annette threw off her little blue woolen
shawl, put her gray cotton gloves in her
pocket, and with decided air she unbut-
toned her linen cuffs, and in less than half
an hour the aspect of the room was totally
changed. The head of the invalid rested
calmly on soft, smooth pillow, and cool
water gave ease to his aching brow.
When the old doctor came next day he
started on first seeing Annette. but made
no observation, seeming to und. rstand the
position at once, and giving her directions
as though he considered it a settled thing
that she was going to remain.
And Annette did remain. What woman
would have found the courage to leave a
being sick and helpless? What woman
who loved would have thought of the
worlds opinion, and of the consequences
of her conduct? Annette did not and
when, after several days, Honore began to
think and to wonder, Annette was still by
his side.
"You are better now,'' said Annette,
timidly; 81 can lease you now. will
return this evening for few moments.
have neglected my work"
She came as she had promised; she
came every day, though every day Honore
got stronger and better.
At last Annette felt that she must come
no more. monsieur Honore, you are
we'll now; / shall come no more"
"Come no more? Why, Annette,
thought you would never leave me aga H.
I owe my lite to you let me dedicate that
life to you. Oh! if you loved me you
would not leave me. Annette, do you
love me?"
more than my life," murmured An
nette, not shrinking from the arms of
Honore, and leaning her head on bis
shoulder.
At this moment voice pronounced An
nettes name. Both looked up, and both
discovered man looking in at the win
dow. Annette alone knew that the man
was Bastien.
"Don't mind mel" he exclaimed, as
Annette disengaged herself quickly from
Honore's encircling arms: I" | know the
lady; I wanted to marry her; what a
lucky escape had"
"HOw came you here?" exclaimed
Honore.
"Why, you see, I'm only workman,
and am painting outside here, and l hap
dened to look into the window; that's all.
Good-by, Mile. Annette No wonder you
wouldn't have me; he's fine young gen.
tleman, with pale face and white hands.
Oh! oh! you were too young to marry.
That's good joke; won't the neighbors
laugh? All! ah!"
Honore rushed to the window, but the
painter, no ways daunted by his position,
had stepped into an adjacent window and
disappeared.
81 shall never dare show my face
again, said Annette, bursting into tears.
'He will tell everybody. He viii, inno-
cent as l am, disgrace me-" 7le
"Then I will protect you. Do not leave
me ever again.' a5. siau