Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-07-14
Convulsive sobs choked any further ut

coming here" almost commanded, as /
placed her in my chair.
"Ahl | remember it all nowl Remem-
Der Is there no such thing as forgetful-
mes? Yes, | remember ALL | came here
TOTO
BE calmi | understand that you are in
need and came here for assistance.
Il came, she replied, lookir G upon me
with such utter despair that it made my
blood run cold, Il came, doctor, to sell you
my body"
Was talking to a sane woman, or ma
niac? The latter was certainly my thought,
but | could see nothingin in her clear blue eyes
of the wandering of insanity. ''Sell my bo-
dy : She spoke of it as an every day
transaction.
Great heaven!" l excl lined, laying
my finger upon her pulse, with the expec
tation of finding it bounding with race horse
rapidity, but on the contrary finding it far
more calm than my osn; you cannot be in
oarhest?'
Il am in carncst-God alone knows how
much IN earnest. 1t is'my last resort VIII
you buy it?' Viii you give me some mon
ey for it p
And sho reached ont her hand towards
me miser would have done upon hear
ing the sound OF jlrgiing gold.
'IIow can | purchase it? You are yet
alive" | said
But | will soon die, and then you can
claim it. For the love of heaven, give me a
little, just little. money!
And the hitherto dry eyes were flooded
with tears.
why do you wish to sell it? You can
not but understand that it Is an unheard of
proceeding. Our profession do not pur-
chase bodies before death, no matter what
We may do after
Il know it-I know it but | must have
money, and there is no other means left me
to get it. | must have it now
She would have arisen again, but | reso-
lutely held her down.
''For what purpose 10 you want money p
| asked
ITO purchase food, fire, medicine.
For your>elf?"
''Ah, no. Had that been the case, new
or could have come hither. | would have
lain down in the gutter and died, God knows
how willingly. But tell me" she contin.
ued, almost tiercely, will you give Inc some
money? | must have it.
L: not for yourself, then in the name of
heaven for whom would you make such an
awful sacriice2 /. it one that is near and
deaf ID ydu?'
1t is my little sister.
The words dropped from her tongne as
they might have dropped from an angels,
and her face wore as holy light as if she
had been star crowned.
''1'hen she is sick p
Dying dying! and I sitting idly here
why did you not tell me of this before?"
Because had begged so long in vain.
had no t.,cney to pay doctor, and who
would go forth on a charitable errand such
night as this? 2"
Ny blood boiled so that ] could net an
swer Could there be such men? Alas!
reason told me in a moment that her words
we're too true, and almost cursed my race
Without delay gathered such things as |
thought might be of service, wrapped the
delicate form in heavy cloak, and with
Few words Of comtert we sailed out together
into the black night and mereiless storm and
cold Fortunately the distance we had to
travel was short one. a few blocks were
passed, and she led me up several fights of
dismal, creakiup stairs into room.
Florence, is that you?' [ heard asked
by what my esr convinced me was pair OF
childish, infantile lips.
YES, my darling lie still for mo-
ment"
Il am so glad You have been so long
so very. very long away, and am so sick,
and cold, and hungry, and it was 50 dark,
and have been so frightened at the stlangc
noises.
Excuse me, sir" she said as she turn
ed and lighted the remnant of a camille;
excuse me, but have been so long away
from Bessie"
| answered not Her voice had melody
in 1t, now attuned by love, that | wished TO
liuger upon my ears unbroken, like the
strains of some songs | have heard, and
which haunted me 5or years.
In moment, the candle shed sickly
light around the little room. Little, in
deed, AID unfinished to nothingness One
scantily covered bed was all. But within |
saw a sweet, wee face that made me forget
all else approached it, and laid my hand
upon the pulse of the little sufferer.
"Who are you?" she asked, drawing
back in alarm.
He is a doctor, Bessie; dear, good,
kind friend" replied her sister and from
that moment she became perfectly passive
in my hands.
1t did not require one much learned in
materia medica to see hat was required.
made the proper prescription, saw that 1t
was tend ;rly administered, told the elder
sister that | would be back in a few mo-
ments, and resisting all her attempts to
light me down the stairs, CROPPED my way
Il. L