The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-12-03

night as this without it 2"
Ny blood boiled so that I could not
| answer. Could there be such men p
Alas! reason told me in moment that
her words were but too true, and I al
most cursed my race. Without RVI
gathered such things as thought might
be of service, wrapped the delicate form
in heavy cloak, and, with few whis-
pered words of comfort, we sailed out
together in the black night aud merci-
less STERN aud cold.
Fortunately the distance we had to
travel was short one. A few blocks
passed, and she led me up several flights
| of dismal creakihg stairs, into room.
eFlorence, is that you ?" I heard
asked by what my ear convinced me
was pair of childish, almost infantile
lips,
g Yes, my darling, lie still for mo-
meat"
81 am SO glad You have been so
long, SO very long away, and | am so
| sick, and cold and hungry, and it was so
dark, aud l have been so freighted at
the strange noises"
My fair guide had been making pre-
parations to obtain light; but when
she heard the words she few to the
other side of the room, and knew that
many warm kisses were given and re-
! turned.
"Excuse me, sir" she said, as she
turned and lighted the remnant of a
caldle Excuse me, but I have been
so long away from Bessie"
I answered not. Her voice had a
melody in it, now attuned by love, that
| wished to linger unbroken upon my
ear, like the strains of some songs L
have heard, and which haunted me for
years.
In moment the candle shed sickly
light around the little room. Little,
indeed, and uufurnished to nothing
ness One scantily covered bed was
all! But, within I saw sweet, wee
face, that made me forget all else. /
approached it, and laid my hands upc2
the pulse of the little sufferer.
HWho are you?" she asked drawing
/ back in alarm.
He isa doctor, Bessie; a dear good,
kind friend" replied her sister, and
from that moment she became perfectly
passive in my hands. ~
1t did not require one learned in the
science of materia medica to see what
was required [ made the proper pre-
scription, saw that it was tenderly ad-
ministered, told the sister that I would
be back in a few moments, aud resist
ing all her attempts to light me down
stairs, greped my way into the street.
| had noticed an eating house at but a
little distance as We came along, and
statement of the ease, backed by the
all-powerful king of the world, gold,
soon procured the loan of disused
stove, couple of chairs, fuel, light and
proper food, and in a brief half hour,
that little room wore something like an
air of comfort. Another hour and the
eyes Of the child were closed in slum-
Der, and / urged the sister to seek re-
| pose but in vain.
sat least lie down and let me cover
you with my cloak" | urged.
"No, DOCTOR" was the constant reply,
81 cannot, | am so happy. 1t must
have been God that directed my wan
dering steps to you"
And SO we sat with the night wind
roaring without, watching the most an
gelic face of the peacefully slumbering
childAsat and talked Of what | was
more than anxious to hear. But the
conversation of those long dark hours
can be condensed into very brief
space.
She who would have sold her body
for the saks of giving little longer life
to her sister, was the daughter of at
least supposed wealth. But few years
previously, she could have held her
head as high as the highest. Both
birth and education fitted her for it.
| But misfortune came-a series of dis
asters upon the land and sea, against
which no human forethought could
guard, combined with treachery and in.
gratitude of the deepest die, swept away
ALL In their footsteps followed the
death of the mother, leaving an infant
of but a few months cid. The fond
father struggled against the tide man
| fully for brief time-then his health
gave way-he followed his wife through
the dark valley and beyond the shining
river, leaving the eldest sister to pro-
! vide for the younger.
aFor time continued the poor
girl, ssI was able to live comfortably by
the sale of the furniture and articles Of
value possessed Then--but why