The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-16

as flower.
Mr., Wycombe was very proud of her.
He called her his fairy, and said she was
the only woman who ever commanded
his love. ! understood what he meant
by that 49, go '' 90
There was something angelic in Lu-
cies delicate face sometimes. Her beau.
ty was ethereal. ~
One evening when Mr.. Wycombe had
spent several hours with us, he drew her
down to the garden gate for few last
words. sat at The window and watched
her white dress as it glimmered under the
lime trees. was SO glad for her, my
poor little motherless flower. Her days
of poverty were over.
She came in at last, her face showing,
BY the single light upon my tatle, soft
radiance. She glided across the room
to the old piano and played few chords
that breathed eloquently in the stiffness,
then came and sat down at my feet.
81 am so happy, Charlctte!"
"Yes, dear, l know it"
"Do you know, Charlotte" caressing
my hand, "Richard says he never loved
any one but me. Isn't it very strange
and he, almost thirty years old p 'i''
"He never met any one just like my
Lucie before" said. 'i....
"Ah! that's partiality, Charlotte! or
course Richard has seen hundred more
beautiful women than 1, whom he might
have loved"
More beautiful, yes; but not with the
Ariel charm of my darling. l have never
seen it since. ''' 's7]s - 'S4a
Before l went to my chamber I stole
to- her bedside to look at her as she
slept. She usually looked like marble
Peri in her rest; but that night she lay
with flushed cheeks, her white brow con-
tracted, and her little hands tossed above
her head. l softly removed her hands
as did so, catching the CLEAN of Rich
ard Wycombe's engagement ring, ! saw
its pledge word, "Always," shine by the
lamp. light for moment; then the white
fingers fell in the folds of her night
dress and concealed it. kissed her
flushed cheek, and came away. sd .e
But the next morning Lucie was very
ill., thought at first it was only vio-
lent cold, but the physician pronounced
| it typhoid fever. She was terribly i'll
from the first. The disease was of the
most violent type. Twas not strong, but
never thought of allowing any one but
myself at her bedside to the very last
/ never thought she would die. did
not believe heaven would take from me
my only one But /. who had thought
to give my darling sister to the best Of
earthly happiness, give her, at last, to
death Ali through the long days and
dark nights 1 held upon my bosom her
burning little face. No balm could lave
away that fever-no kisses still those pit
iful means. ,.iir -,a.-<i-
For hours at a,time Richard Wycombc
hung over her like one distracted.
l would let no one touch her but my
self, but the neighbors were very kind,
and one or another kept watch constant
ly in an outer room. l sat with an ach-
| ing heart beside Lucie's pillow one even
ing, just at dark, when good Mrs. Gray
came on tip-toe to nay side, to say that a
strange woman had come and offered
her services as nurse. 81.
"No, want no more," I said quickly
'But she says she will stay without
price" 1a" tsa ea $500
81 could not be bribed to give up my
place to the best nurse in the world,' l
answered.. sWho is she ?'I asked with
an after-thought
sWell, she hasn't given her name; but
she is beautiful looking lady, Miss
Charlotte She is foreign, think. She
says she has nursed in the hospitals in
jamaica" ia1 ain
/ listened, shook my head finally, and
tent over Lucie again. i.i sl1 ~ at8
Butl was conscious, through the mad
dening experience of my sisters death,
that there was stranger in the house
The foreign womanremained. caught
a glimpse OF her great black eyes as they
restored me from a swoon in which /
fell down when Lacie ceased to breathe
I saw her again GO jim with, the others to
lbathc ad dress my sisters beautiful form
for its last rest. Completely prostrsted
by mental suHeringund physical exhaus-
ton. l was as helpless rs child.
When all was done I begged them to
let me 60 in and see her alone. l was 90
weak that crept from one chair to an
other, like little child, or one inHrm
with age,as I crossed the room. A cross
Of fresh evergreens hung above the cof-
lfn's .head.: Garlands Of rosebuds
wreathed the lace pillow on which rested
that marble brow, the sight of which
wrung my heart. The beautiful display
inocked. the naddening despair that tor
[tured me. l flung myself down upon
the floor and wept. '' .-..., -'5
When I looked up Richard Wycombe
stood at the coffin's head. Our eyes met.
He was deathiy pale. 90 .-''.'' =
"Charlotte," he asked reproachfully,