The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-16

up,n her ears, laura turned deathly faint,
and low, stihed wall issued from her lips.
But she crush ed back the despairing cry, and
summoning all her resolution, she assembled
to the apartment of her cousin. At the door
she met Major HartwelL He saw her look
of wi d entreaty-the pale, wintry face smote
upon his heart; and taking both her Hands
in his, and looking into the fearless eyes, he
said
"Be calm, Miss Taylor, for the sake of him
you love; the least excitement now would
kill him. His life hangs upon a thread so
weak that a breath could almost break it.
His wound is not mortal in itself, but fever
or excitement would make it So l tell you
this, because the utmost care and quiet is
indis pensable."
"But must see him, indeed I must. 1t
will kill me else. But viii be calm-no tear
no groan; not even a sigh shall disclose my
anguish-only let me see him." and the white,
rigid face was raised so piteously to him that
the tears sprung to his eyes.
"Yes, he has asked for you, and I was even
now coming to seek you; but remember what
have said. shall turn you out of the room
on even the first culver of that lip" he said,
with sternness which his own choking utter
ance left little room for doubt was assumed.
ooh! will be calm, indeed will"
"Then come; step softly and do not forget"
He led her into the now darkened room, and
up to the couch where the surgeon and her
father were bending over the sufferer There
! he lay-the once gay and brilliant Richard
| Bartrelle, but oh? how changed Pale as the
shrouded dead he lay on the crimson sheets.
| The hemouhage had broken out again as they
laid him on the bed, and they had but that
instant succeeded in arresting it. Clots Of
blood hung upon the quilts, and the saturated
bed was red with the fearful sign. In con-
trast, the face of the wounded man cleaned
white and rigid as a corpse To all appear
ance he was already dead. And on the ashen
! lips Laura could detect no breath-the hear
seemed still-neryeless the waxen hands lay
on the coverlid, and the CLASSY eyes had in
them no sign Of recognition. As a rock lay
the almost inanimate form.
"Another sheet-two-now ice and water
bring napkins and towels-a dozen or two OF
each-quick!" the surgeon said
Laura heard as in a dream, but intuitively
she sprang past Aunt Betsy and Jasper, who
were hu1rying to obey the order. Before her
attendants had reached the foot of the stairs,
she was returning with towels and sheets
"Quick, Jasper, bring the refrigerator in
the hall-don't stop to get anything else; and
then Hurry and bring more"
In another instant she entered the sick
chamber, followed by her servant bearing the
large refrigerator.
"The very thing" muttered the surgeon.
"Here, Hartwell, dip and hand me these wei
cloths"
LET me, sir" The voice was low but
clear, and the white hands plunged the snowy
nal kins into the chilling water, and wrung
and handed them as deity as though her heart
were not palsied with its sorrow.
THAT is right, my daughter-more cloths
another such flow of blood and we may say
good by to Dick. This icy water alone can
prevent it," said the surgeon in low voice to
Hartwell, so low he thought it would escape
Laura's attention, but the quick ear detected
his me aiming, and the anguished brain reeled
and swan with horror; but she gave no sign
save that the pale face took even a more
deathIy hue, and the liyid lips turned ever
more Gshen.
And so an hour passed-an hour of intense
watching, of unceasing care. The cold appli
cations had done their work, and the surgeon
regarded his patient with less apprehensiv,
eyes. All this time Laura had been at tn,
doctors side. No words had passed between
them-she watched his face-she OWNED hi
wishes almost before they were spoken.
'sNTy child, your hands are all but frozen
let Aunt Betsy wiring these cloths" the docto
said, noticing her red and swollen hands.
"No sir don't feel it," and again the ic,
water rose chilling and frosty around the ten
der arm. And so another hour passed, ant
noon had come and gone, and the long shad
ows f evening had begun to settle on tn
city; and still the rigid form lay death-like
and Il e fearless watchers stood beside him.
"YCu ad all better leave the room now
but tie Colonel and myself Laura, my child
you mt st have rest" said the doctor.
.. ono lir, will not leave him." The voic
was low, but the determination it expresses
was as fixed as fate.
The good surgeon glanced at the marbl
face-he saw that it would be useless to remon
strate-he motioned the others away, and h
was left alone in the room with his patien
and tie heroic woman-heroic in her heart
: fidelity, as was even the soldier wreathed wit
+ bays.
, Towards night the doctor administered
e strong reviving draught. 1t seemed to exhi
i crate the exhausted frame. His eyes slowl
opened. His cousin stood at his side, watch
e ing intently the tortured face, cleaning whit
2 with pin and loss of blood He locke
4 toward her, holding out his hand. Even i
that hour of dreadful agony he noted the ray
o ages her sorrow had made.
! "My Ioor Laura, you feel this more than I.
Y "Be still, dear-don't talk-you must g
e well now" and she stopped and kissed th