The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-23

Night had thrown its gloom over the sick
chamber. The light of the dimly burning
ct cast many a Pickering shadow around the
group that sat silent and sad in the room of
the wounded Bartrelle.
Hope had not died in their hearts, but the
wished for change could hot be discerned.
The paid Ehue of the face was flushed at
intervals by the ftful breath of fever; and
then, again, the wildly beating pulse. sunk SO
low that even the eye of affection could
hardly trace its faint, exhausted thrills. Still
life chung to the weakened frame, and to
Laura it seemed, his state if not improved,
had experienced for many hours no symptoms
which coold be called more unfayorable.
To the eye of affection what sickness is
ever hopeless-what mortal extremity so dark
and oheerless that no ray of hope viii come
to gid its gloom? No-there is none.
Laura Taylor, sitting by the bedside of her
cousin, with. all his pulses futtering at the
dread Of approaching death, yet trusted, yet
hoped. Surely she thought one SO brave,
generous and noble cannot die in the spring
time of his manhood. The future with its
bright pictures of fame and glory would lure
him even from the brink of the grave. No,
no; he cannot die thus in the early promise
of his young life-his noon-tide not reached
his hopes of happiness unfulflled. God
will be more mercifull
Thus she hoped and prayed, while yet the
wing Of the death-angel was lowering near
all but ready to breathe On the lips of the
sufferer the clammy seal that marks the
passer from this to the unseen world. And
while she prayed the wished for change took
place; the blue leyes opened wide and shone
with all their old intelligence-the cheeks and
lips took healthier hue, and words, low
almost as the breathings of an infants breath,
came upon her ear.
''Is it you, Laura? I'm better now-I feel
less pain; but my feet have been near the
shores of the great river. Do you think /
will get well?"
"Yes, dear, if you viii only lie still and not
worry. 1 am SO rejoiced to hear you speak
again; but you must say no more at present.
The doctor advises it--you are still very
weak"
"And you wont leave me ?"
"Never dear-I shall not stir from here"
"Well, then, viii try and sleep"
''But first, Richard, take this medicine, +"
and she raised his head gently and admins
tered the prescription.
Hour after hour went by and the faint
tracery Of an early dawn began to streak the
eastern horison. Day was fast approaching
and the hum of the awakening city had begun
TO penetrate 70 the apartment. Life is active
in the town as in the country, and in the
eager pursuit of gain the hours of darkness
as well as those Of light are made subservient
TO its purposes
From akindofmomentary inconsistencies,
produced by blending of fatigue and sleep,
Laura was aroused to discove rsome object
moving in the room. At first she supposed
it was the surgeon or her father returned to
see how her patient was progressing; but a
second glance at the object disclosed the appa-
rel Of female. Surprised at SO unexpected
an apparition, Laura sprung to her feet and
would have screamed, had not the sense of
cousins peril in case of excitement
rained her. But this feeling OF impulse
d only for moment; for the next instant
rson moved from behind the heavily
- bed and stood revealed as a