The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-02-24

cramped but plain aud distinct and
this was what was written:
oMaiden now so bright and fair
OF the future take no care.
Within the twelyemnnth next TO come
Thine thly pilgrimage Is done.
Bear In mind the mystic date,
No power on earth can change thy fate
Sixth month-Fifth day-ls6s."
/ read the strange missive, and then
he read il, then looked at Mary Lakin.
81 remember it all very WE'LL" she
said. at was on the fifth day of June,
one year ago, that we were at the gypsy
camp"
"Aud this is the paper which the
sibyl gave to Cordelia 2"
Yes"
"Aud Cordelia believes it true Z"
eyes She has told me that she
shall die before the day therein sat
down is passed"
see it all now. The poor girl had
hidden that fatal augury away, and had
allowed it to occupy her mind until it
hal gained actual ascendency.
She had brooded over it 10 fear and
trembling, and, all unconsciously, her
tiuely strung aud sensitive nature had
fallen prey to the terrible influence.
"To day" said |, sis the 29th of
May. i left to herself Cordelia will
die before the fifth day Of June is pas
sed. She is so far a passive victim
under the fatal shadow Of that augury.
We must get over that fifth day alive.
If we eau do that she is saved"
How can we do it 2" asked Mary.
viii you help me Z"
To the very last possibility of my
power" was her reply.
Then, said I, "you shall be her
nurse Let her know nothing Of our
meeting, and above all, hint uot that |
know Of this sibyls augury"
This twenty ninth day of May was
Tuesday, aud the fifth of June would
come in just one week-the very next
Tuesday.
On Wednesday visited my patient,
and she introduced me to her dear
friend Mary Lskin, aud we acted our
parts so well that she suspected not
that we had met before. She said that
Mary would remain with her OF
course | was glad.
had prepared with great care n
sleeping potion as powerful as dared
to administer, and | had furthermore
taken Mr. Gregory into my confidence.
aud also the old nurse, lsmily relative
"To night" said |, in my iual charge
to Mary, " do you keep Cordclia awake
as much as possible, and before day.
break give her the sleeping mixture.
Watch her narrowly, and let no noise
be made in the house"
As | had directed, Mary Lakiu suf
iered 10 sleep to visit the patients eyes
until well on towards Thursday morn
ing, when at three o'clock, she admin
istered the opiate 10 bit of spiced
wine.
In short time Cordela fell asleep,
and the little mantel clock upon the
dressing case was stopped. When the
day broke the room was thoroughly
darkened, aud the hush of midnight
rsigued.
She slept until FIVE O'Clock on that
Thursday afternoon, aud as she gave
signs of awakening the clock was set
going. Her MUSE sat just as she sat
fourteen hours before
Have you been asleep, Cordelia p
The patient sat up aud looked around
Is this you, Alaryy"
Yes"
What time is it2"
Why-are you wandering? You
have just taken your wine. Do you
want more 7
Cordella looked at the clock The
rays of the nurses lamp fell upon its
iace, aud she saw that it was half past
three.
thought | had slept" she said.
Mary laughed, aud told her she had
no time to sleep.
Presently the patient asked for drink
aud another opiate was administered.
ln this way We brought her over to
Friday morning, and she had lost day
1t was the morning Of the first of June,
and she thought is was Thursday, the
last day of May,
was sure she could safely bear a
repetition Of the experiment, and more.
over, | was anxious to be as far on the
safe side as possible During this Friday
which she thought to be Thursday, |
administered invigoraliug cordials, aud
during the same Friday night Mary
Lakia continued to keep her charge
awake as before.
At halfpast three on Saturday morn.
ing the opiate was administered in a
draught for which the patient had call
ed Of her own accord, and sound sleep
was the result. The clock was stopped
aud the windows battened, and ali iu
the house put upon orders of silence.
The sleep lasted until past two clock
of Saturday afternoon, at which time
Cordelia awoke, finding Mary by her
side with the goblet in her hand. The
nurses lamp was burning lowly, its rays
falling upon the dial of the clock, which
was ticking away at the hour of four.
As before, Mary adroitly led her
charge to believe that since taking her
draught she had only dropped off into
a momentary doze, aud that it was now
four o'clock iu the morning.
Cordelia asked Tor more drink. and
thus an opportunity was offered for Civ.
ing the last opiate, which | had prepar
ed with the utmost care
Cordcia slept again, aud awoke not
until the dawning of the Sabbath morn
ing. She had lost another day, and