The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-03-18

And she swallowed it without a mur-.
mur, save one of thankfulness.
I wheeled her chair up nearer to the
fire, and stirred the coal to a more bril-
liant glow, hoping that the potion would
quiet her excitement. wake the chilled
blood to warmer and swifter glow, and
that sleep would follow. l9 o
For a moment I fancied that I was
right The little hands dropped nerve
lessly into her lap; the softly yelled lids
dropped over the deep blue eyes the head
fell forward upon the breast But alas!
1t was only momentary delusion. In
another instant she sprang to her feet
again, pressed her hands upon her tenn
pies, as if 70 still their throbbing, and
looked wildly around
40 God % she exclaimed, 81 here amid
warmth and comfort, and" go
Convulsive sobs choked any further ut
terance. .sa--
s.Sit down and tell me the reason of
your coming here" 1 almost commended,
as I placed her in my chair. .-q .s4 3.
"Ahi l remember al now Remenn-
Der Is there no such thing as .forgetfuL.
ness? Yes, I remember all. I came here
| Toto" x s+
BE calm I understand that you are
! in need and came for assistance" 3
II came, she replied, looking upon me
| with such utter despair that it made my
blood run cold, II came, doctor, to sell
! you my body - ~ i
Was / talking to sane woman, or a
| maniac Tie latter was certainly my
thought, but I could detect nothing in her
l
ity ''Sell my body" She spoke of 1t as
AN everyday transaction
| ''Great heaYenY I exclaimed, laying
my fingers 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 Own you can
not be IN earnest !" ~-s-5W Bs ~7feTc
II am In earnest-God alone knows
| how much in earnest. 1t is my last re-
sort. viii you buy it? VIII you give
me some money for It %
And she reached out her hand towards
me as miser would have done upon hear
ing the sound of jingling gold.
How can l purchase it /? You are yet
alive" I said
But l viii soon die and then you can
claim IT. For the love OF heaven, give lie
little, just little, money
And the hitherto dry eyes were flooded
| with tears.
why do you wish to sell it? You
cannot but understand that it is an un-
heard of proceeding Our profession do
not purchase bodies before death, no mat
ter what we may DO after"
/ Il know it know it; but 1 must
/ !
! left me to get It. [ must have 1t now"
She would have arisen again, but res
olutely held her down
@For what purpose do you want mon
! ey ?" [ asked
To purchase food, fire, medicine"
s'For yourself"
| ''Ahl no. Had that been the case. I
| never could have come hither. 1 would
have lain down In the gutter and died,
God knows how willingly. But tell me, -
she continued, almost iercely, "will you
give me some money? I must have it. y
IF not for yourself, then in the name
of heaven for whom would you make such
an awful sacrifice Is it one that Is near
and dear to you 2"
1T is my little sister"
The words dropped from her tongue as
they might have dropped from an angels,
and her face wore as holy light as if she
had been star-croWned.
Then she is sick ?'
Dying dying. and l sitting idly
here p
.Why did you not tell ne of this be-
fore ?"
Because 1 had begged so long in vain
[ had no money to pay doctor, and who
would 90 forth on charitable errand such
night as this 2"
Ny blood boiled so that could not an
swer. Could there be such men Alas .
reason told me In moment that her words
were too true, and l almost cursed my
race Without delay, 1 gathered such
things as | thought might be of service,
wrapped the delicate form in a heavy
cloak, and with few words of comfort,
we sailed out together into the black night
and merciless storm and cold.
Fortunately the distance we had to
travel was a short one. A few blocks
were passed, and she led me up several
flights of dismal, creaking stairs into
room.
sFlorenee, is that you ?, / heard asked
by what my ear convinced me was pair
of childish, infantile lips.
ssYes, my darling; lie stili for mo-
ment'
Il am so GLAD. You have been 30 iung,
so very; very long away, and ann so sick.
and cold, and hungry, and il was so dark,
and i have been so frightened at the
strange Eoises." r.s
Excuse me, SIR" she said, as she turn
ed and lighted the remnant of candle
s.excuse me, but have been SO long away