The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-07-18
THE DIARY OF ANNE
RODWAY.
IN TWO CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER I.
CONTINUED.

Whas time it was before tho doctor
came, and how dreadful to hear him
say, after he had looked at her, that he
was afraid all the medical men IN the
world could be of no use here! He
could not get her to swallow anything !;
and the more he tiled to bring back her
senses, the less chance there seemed Of
his succeeding. He examined the blow
on her temple, and said he thought she
must have fallen down in a ct OF some
sort, and struck her head against the
pavement, and so have given her brain
what he was afraid was fatal shake
lasked what must be done if she showed
any return to sense in the oight. He said,
"seud for me Directly" aud stopped
for a little while afterwards stroking
her head gently with his hand, and
whispering to himself, "Poor girl, 50
young and 90 prett7" I had felt,
some minutes before, as if 1 could have
struck the policeman and I felt now
as if I could have thrown my arms
round the doctors neck and kissed him.
I did put out my hand, when he took
up bis hat, and he shook it in tho
friendliest way, "Don't hope, my dear," j"
he said, and went out.
The rest of the dodgers followed him,
all silent and shocked, except the in.
human wretch who owns the house,
and lives In idlencss on the high rents
he wrings from poor people like US.
"She's three weeks in my debt," says
he, with a frown and an oath. "Where
the devil is my money to cone from
now 7" Brute Brute
[ had long cry alone with her that
seemed to ease my heart little. She
was not the least changed for the better
when l had wiped away the tears, aud
could see her clearly again. I took up
her right hand, which lay nearest me
Il was tight olenched. I tried to un.
clasp the fingers, aud succeeded after a
time. Something dark fell out Of the
palm of her hand as I Strengthened it.
I picked up the thing, and smoothed il
and saw that it was an end of mans
cravat.
A very old, rotten, dingy strip Of
black silk, with thin lilac lines, all
blurred and deadened with dirt, run.
ming across and across the stuff
10 a sort Of trollis-work pattern
The small end of the cravat was hem
med in the usual way, but the other end
was all jagged, as if the morsel then il
my hands had been torn violently from
the rest of the stuff. A chill ran al
over me as. I looked at it; for that poo,
stained, crumpled end Of cravat seem
ed to saying to me, as though it had
been in plain words, "1f she dies, she
has come to her death by foul means,
and I am the witness of it,"
1 had been frightened enough before
lest she should die suddenly aud quiet.
ly without my knowing it, while We
were alone together but got into a
perfect agony now for fear this last
worst affliction should take me by sur.
prise. I don't suppose five minutes
passed all that wosful night through,
without my getting up and putting my
cheek close to her mouth, to feel if the
faint breaths still futtered ont of it
They came aud went just the same as
at first, though the fright I was in o.
ten made me fancy they were stilled
for ever. just as the church clockt
we're striking four, I was startled b,
seeing The room door open. 1t wa
| only Dusty Sal (as they call her in The
house) the maid.of:all.work. She VA
wrapped up in the blanket off her bed
| her hair was all tumbled over her face
and her eyes wero heavy with sleep, a.
she came up to the bedside where I wa
sitting. - f~~
"I've two hours good before I begi,
to work." says she, in her hoarse, drows,
voice 'and I've come to sit up and taxi
my turn At Watching her. You laY dow'
and get some sleep on the rug. Here
my blanket for you-1 don't mind th
oold-it will keep me awake"