Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-04-17


grieved to the heart. Berta knew the name
of the street and pointed out the house when
they reached it, so there was no time lost in a
vain search. Mrs. Tillsit met them at the
door, vouchsa6ng the information that "she
was no better-was in fact mighty bad off,"
"Where shall 1 find her ?" impatiently
asked the doctor, and was forthwith conduct
ed, by Berta, up innumerable flights of dark,
filthy stairs, into the dismal hole where Flori'
mond lay. At the door could be heard her
feeble moaning, and the burden of her cry
was "water, water" Ralph looked upon her.
His head drooped upon his bosom, his Hercu'
lean chest heaved with deep groan, and the
strong man stood for a moment overpowered
with emotion. Then recovering, somewhat,
his calmness, he felt the hot, burning hands
and chafed them tenderly in his own, pressed
them reverently to his lips, and murmured in
broken voice, "Ohl God, to find you thus. y
Reused by the touch, Florimond turned her
flushed face full toward him, and gazed at
him, but without any recognition in the wan
dering look. Her eyes had all that vivid
brilliancy, that vacant glittering, which makes
one shudder to behold.
"Water, waterw she moaned.
"Water," said the doctor, turning to Mrs.
Tillsit, who just then entered the room. She
handed him a glass containing water. He
first carried it to his own lips and applied it
to his nose.
"Sacrebleu Is this the nauseous stuff you
have given her to drink" he asked, and
throwing the water, glass and all, out Of the
window, he left the room precipitately, like a
man half mad. In short space of time he
returned, bringing great lump of ice, from
which he Clipped off portion in fine flakes,
and fed to her with teaspoon. The poor
sufferer clung to the spoon, and swallowed the
refreshing particles with an avdity and fierce,
ness which brought moisture to his eyes.
Satisfied and refreshed, at last her hand re-
leased its clutch, and she sank again into a
heavy stupor. Then Doctor Eglinton took
Mrs. Tillsit aside and had short bus earnest
conversation with her, and they went togeth-
er to another apartment entirely empty, Of
larger proportions, and pleasanter situation.
"This, suppose" he said, "is the best we
can do for the present. 1t must be thorough
ly swept Immediately. I will have bed
stead and everything necessary brought with
out delay, and in the meantime, if she wakes
and asks for water, give her ice. will be
back in few moments"
"True to his word, he was not long absent.
In company with him came an elderly lady
of most pleasing manners and benignant coun-
tenance. This was Mrs. Brown, professional
nurse whom the doctor Immediately dispatch
ed to the sick room with all necessary instruc-
tions. He remained to superintend the prop
er arrangement of the furniture, which was
now arriving. When everything was prepar-
ed with the most exquisite neatness and COM
fort, the doctor went above and knocking at
the door asked if the patient was ready to be
removed.
EYES," said Mrs. Brown, Eve administered
the warm bath, and I think she feels more
easy and comfortable"
"No doubt" said Ralph, "and she will be
more comfortable still, when we get her out
of this close, horrible hole. The idea of put
ting human creature into such death.pen p
He felt the patients pulse, and laid his cool
hand on her hot brow. Exquisitely lovely
she looked, in the snowy fresh robe they had
put on her-her black hair flowing and wa
wing over the pillow, her cheeks scarlet with
fever, and her eyes glowing with unutterable
brilliancy.
"Was there not dressing-grown in that
trunk of clothing?" asked the doctor.
eyes," said Mrs. Brown, producing it.
"Well, put it on her, and then she can be
removed to the other apartment"
"She is now ready" said Mrs. Brown; but
how shall we manage to move her p
"No trouble about that" said the doctor
and he took her in his arms and carried her
gently down, with as little apparent effort as
if she had been the merest child. The patient
was soon comfortably installed in her new
apartment, which, with its bed of snowy white
ness and well-ordered arrangements, presented
quite different appearance to the comfort
less quarters she had left. The patient, no
doubt, felt the beneficial results of the change,
though for week or more, there was no visi.
BILE material improvement in her condition.
Her disease had gone on so long neglected
and unchecked in its course, she now required
the closest attention and watchfulness, and
the most skillful treatment. All of which,
my reader may readily believe, she received
from Doctor Eglinton and the experienced
nurse he had provided. All that human skill
and human devotion could do, Ralph per-
formed for this suffering human-this woman
whom he loved with mans strongest and pur-
est affection. He thought of everything
provided everything and spared neither labor
nor expense in promoting her comfort and
welfare. One day he felt his reward, when
Florimond looked at him, with eyes in which
once more shone the light of reason, and asked
in sensible voice
"Where ami? Is that Doctor Eglinton p
"My veritable SELF" said Ralph, his voice
unsteady with joyful emotion.
81 am so glad you know mellow do you
feel now?"
IL feel very we'll" said Florimond but
it seems to me 1 have been on long journey
and am very tired What is the matter with
me? cannot get up. do not recollect this
room. Where am ?"
"You must not try to get up" said Ralph,