The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-18

Salu, IN mOuTllluI dcceHts, yiiah
feverr
Without questioning or reasoning,
she knew that the words had reference
to David; though, till then, she had
never heard of this Eastern malady.
She slept no more: but rose with the
daylight, and sought in the well-fur-
nished library for the information she
needed, knowing well that Ronald was
in life's peril from this cause.
But again she told no one; and in
that active house, all. excepting Da-
vid's mother, were too busy to notice
her; and she, simply as kind as usual,
asked no questions. Jane passed much
Of her time alone, and prayed inces-
sautly,-
"Father. if he still live, bring him
back to us, as thou hast brought back
| the other oner'
Nevertheless, she tried to be cheer
full and helpful to them all; for her
heart was filled with compassionate
love, knowing what was before them.
and amiable she is, and that il was
pity she could not love David.
Christmas was now at hand; the eld-
er ladies had new silk dresses and new
caps, and the steward bran-new suit,
for the great evening entertainment at
SaxOnfeld. Miss. st. Just had, week
or two before, presented Jane with her
dress for the occasion,-a wonderful
fabric of white cause and blue silk,
which Aunt Ronald had taken charge
of; and all were to go in the great
coach, which had never been used since
the old Squire's days, and was now 10
have q weeks pr eparatory airing.
But, in the first place, enormous was
the feasting of tenants and dependents
at Lattencover. Roasting, boiling and
baking went on for two whole days; and
everybody was then entertained to their
hearts content, as much from the trav-
eler's stories which the young Squire
told, at the head Of the table, as from
the sumptuous fare.
The following was Christmas Day.
Dinner in the stewards room was a
midday meal: and to this the young
Squire was to bring several gentlemen,
after church, to luncheon, before they
went forward to Saxonfield for dinner.
But, instead of coming at one, as was
expected, direct from church, they walk
ed over the land in various directions
with Linacrc, and it was four o'clock
before they left. In the mean time, u
dreadful discovery had been made by
Mrs. Ronald, who, dining early, under
took to lay everybody's things ready for
them to put on with the least possible
delay. Bringing forth, therefore, James
beautiful dress, round which was light
" pinned q soft damask tablecloth, from
the large closet-ber favorite depository
of house linen, always dry because it
adioined the large kitchen-chimney,
and ample enough for hanging
wardrobe-what was her dismay to
discover that it was perfectly
ly spoiled by having been hung close TO
an aperture whence the smoke of the
great cookery had found entrance.
The dismay of the two aunts at this
discovery was incOnceivable. Either of
them would have given her own dress,
could that have remedied the mischief;
but Jane, to their not less great surprise,
declared herself thankful to remain at
home. The truth was, that all that day
she had been agitated by an inexplica"
BILE apprehensiOn-an undciinable sense
%
filled her with vauge terror.
Her aunts could not understand it;
they hoped it was not because she was
vexed about her dress,-and then, to be
sure, what would Miss St. Just say: As
to Uncle Linacre, he was downright
angry, and scolded them all for care
lessness and stupidity, declaring nc
would not go without Jane. But lie did
go without her, after all. The great old
coach carried them off, every one Of
them vexed and disappointed.
They had gone about three hours; and
Jane, having leisnrely taken her TEA,
was seated in the stewards easy
chair, which she had drawn to the
hearth, on which burned miniature
Christmas fire, when again that unde-
fined terror took hold of her, and her
hear. beat violently. She seemed TO
be waiting for something, bnt for what
she knew not, only that vague sense
of apprehension filled her whole being
Then she reused herself, aud tried to he
rid of it, wondering what it meant
In one of these sudden wakings mp
she heard carriage approaching
slowly, then draw mp the stewards
side of the house. 1t probably was the
carriage which Miss st. Just, impa-
tient of her absence, had sent back for
her.
But in a moment or two she was
aware of hustle greater than such
summons warranted in the somewhat
narrow, dimly-lighted passage which
led from the outer door TO the stewad's
parlor. Starting up, therefore, TO see
what ii meant, she perceived an old
woman, almost the only domestic left
in the house, come forward with kitch-
en- candle in her hand.
"Lord-a-mercy" exclaimed she, in a
scared voice, "here's Mr.. David Ronald
come back more dead than alive,
The next moment she beheld ghast
" figure,--a tall man, wrapped in dark
cloak, with dark foreign travelling
cap drawn close round his pallid conn
tenance being led forward by foreign
looking, swarrhy attendant. He was 80
feeble that he could scarcely stand; and
Jane, overcome by the sight, and scarce
" knowing whether it were reality or
a portion Of the strange drsans out OF
which shs bod only partially awOke,
rushed back into the room to assure
herself that she was not dreaming,
then, inwardly crying to God for help,
returned to the passage; and now, plae-
ing herself by the side of the sick man,
who had advanced but few PAGES, and
knowing of truth that this was Syrian
fever, and that he was sick INTO death,
said, as if sensible that this was her
proper post
"Let me support you, David. Lean
on me, forI am strong -. -
He said nothing, but placing his weak,
thin arm on her shoulder, entered the
warm, fire-lighted room, and was seated
in the large, comfortable chair which
she had vacated.
1t was in one Of the recurrent attacks
Of this terrible fever that the young
man reached home. He was in Damas-
Gus when he was first seized,-strange
to say, on the very night when Jane re-
ceived the warning: and he had suffered
as much as the human frame was eapa-
BILE of and yet survive.
Whether il were a surprise to find
Jane in attendance on hinr or not, be