Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-07-28
A WONDERFUL
NARRATIVE Or OLD ALEXANDRIA,
OR THE
CONFESSION OF JOHN TRUST.
CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5.
,i'he fourth of July, 1921, was destined to eX-
sit memorable influence upon my fortunes.
alter restless night-all my nights of late had
been restless-l fell, at dawn into quiet sleep.
}he :hunders Of the cannons ushering in the
Gay, awoke me. [ had scarcely risen when Lo-
3aat2 called me, saying that my sister was i'll.
She mad been teyerish for several days, and
aow gave signs of physical exhaustion, which
alarmed me- DR.. Richards was at her bedside,
md few hours Of his attention sufhced to re-
store her, but he warned me that her hold on
life vas not strong, and required every possible
assistance that quietude and constant care could
give. I determined to remain at home that
:;ay, although had made an appointment with
;Nroe to accompany him to our rooms at Sc
5astian Springs. The day, brisk enough with
ort-Grums beating and troops marching-was
. saG one within our humble dwelling. My sis
:er pulse futtered, and was, by turns, feeble
and strong She spoke only with great labor,
I'D iu few words; LorentZ moved about like
5hedov, and I sat moodily, looking out upon
;hesovercast sky, and deemed it the tit en-
5!em of my life.
Just before noon, friend called to see Lo-
.entz There was flag to be presented to his
company, and he wanted the old man to be a spec
lto5 on the occasion Knowing that change
o2 scene would benefit the old fellow, | urged
aim to so, and foally prevailed upon him
-ccompany ing the two men to the door, met
Dr. Wroe just passing He recognized me and
topped I excused myself from our intended
:rip, saving that had called to see friend, and
ound her very i'll.
"Why don t you try our art? We can cure
eny nervous disease; and by action on the
nerves, all other diseases indeed We may, one
Gay, conquer death itself, and drive it from the
-orld ="
In my anxiety to get rid Of him. told him |
.sould follow his advice
he stopped moments and then catching a
- view of Lorentz and his companion, started
Of ct brisk pace. | watched him until saw
lim join company with them, and [ forebode i'll.
lwaited the return Of Lorentz with eagerness,
or I felt that the time had come to meet Wroe
boldly, and to keep him away from my home at
II hazards. thought the emergency justified
:le in leaving my sister, the more especially as
: feared that size would discover my agitation; ;
aa1 rs soon as the old man came back,
: went immediately to the Museum, where /
net Wroe. found from his conversation that
~ knew nothing of my sister, and our arrange
;2ents. He had been able to get no informa-
:!as some love affair which carried me there, =
Ie said as much, and [ allowed him to believe
hat he was correct.
s.. tell you," he continued, you must stop
nis sort Of thing. You have lost your interest
r our great search; and this accounts for it. [
intend to take your inamorata 10 hand myself,
I'D bring you back to your right senses.
What" said |, IF do not wish to be
.rougnt back p
"ghea you must come back noleas volens. |
oln1ot afford to conquer the world without
~orh
ibis Gas said playfully, but with determina-
ion. ...
There vas an air of cool assurance about
:Troe's manner that told me the thought was
lof new to him, and that whatever were his
Intentions, they were not the offspring of our
y2aaCe meeting Prudence bade me hold my
songre and watch and for the last time in my
:eal;ngs with Wroe l was prudent.
&c parted soon, and | had opportunity to
,niaA; ! was convinced that he was in earnest;
2ecnaps did him injustice, for [ thought be
ne6itateG evil. At all events be intended to
exercise some influence over my sister-the bare
thought was maddening. Two hours walk up
md down the -throughfares, as though to
I'm dcrn thought by muscular e1ertion, was all
Il vain. turned, at length, and walked home.
When | arrived home [ found that Lorentz
,'roe He told her, evidently considering it
6ne joke, that crazy man" had met me at
he Goor and seemed familiar, and that he had
afterwards hastened up, joined him, and boast
eG 10 them that he was going to take John
rust from town and make King of him.
She had guessed that the man was NrOe,
enG feared that he had some potion of Turing
&c from Alexandria. knowing my interest in
che pursuit, her weakness converted her fears
:Gt0 facts; and her anxieties had so worked
upon her as to bring on q hemorrhage Of the
lungs, which swept her nigh to the gates Of
death.
While she was in danger my anxiety wasfor-
gotten. Before mldnigh the physician decar-
cd present danger was over, and the sweet smile
OF my beloved, and the warm pressure Of her
land, confirmed the welcome news. She slept,
:han!l God in peace Then began the storm
OF nv soul that shall never be wholly spent
"hlle memory holds its seat.
fea!s-whlch, as | turned them over in i'm
agln1aiuon, iu!, grew beyond my power-terrible as
mao llIaps. His eventual triumph was Ger
TAIN. L could not hold out long amid the ex-
e1tement ana turmoil in which | had been
plunged-and then she that sept there like an
angel-lt grew agonizing to think.
Thank God! she might be ere then bcyond
als power. The very word death" had. in
my delirium, a terrible power; for as thought
i, the dark shadow that had followed me SO
long, seemed to be messenger of hope, as it
"hlspered-KW Surely was mad when |
foqS Despair for Hope
from that moment one sole thought possess:
&c me. At the moment of it's conception, all
us details came to me like an inspiration It
%as easy Wroe's daily habit had been, of late,
"a "a walk from town TO Sebastian Spring,-hc
sat >na!l never trouble my sister with his Internal
al a, the time, the resolution was relief to me.
'nfeS myself upon couch in an adjoining