The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-12-04

fancies, and growing paler and paler. at every
word he uttered. In the early morning, about
2 or 3 o'clock, he would become more quiet,
and then, leaving the nurse with him, she
would come to me. 1t was only at such times
she rested at all, and often she would not sleep,
but would lie watching the color creeping into
the eastern sky, with quiet look of expecta-
tion.on her. face, which filled me with an indie
Enable sense of dread. In vain we begged her
to give mp her care Of Max; in that she was
determined nothing could shake her resou-
ton. "While he wants mel shall stay" she
would say decidedly.
The time for Claire's marriage approached.
We had decided to put it of another month
but, greatly to our astonshment, Birdie argued
against this. When the doctor came she saw
him alone, and he, too, advised us to have the
wedding. Max might be i'll long time, he
said, and it was better to have as small tami-
ly in the house as possible, for the terrible
pestilence was launching its death-shafts all
around us. So week later Claire was mar
ried. Birdie was there, pale and still, but with
smile on her face, and with loving words and
kisses for our poor beauty, whose wedding had
proved 80 sad after all. They were to leave i'm
mediately so our good-byes were hurried.
That night Birdie told me the truth. She was
taking the fever, and the doctor had said there
was no chance of her living through it. He
had told her week ago, that, by nursing Max,
she might save his life but she would certainly
lose her own; and our Birdie had answered, Il
will save him if I can"
"I am glad, so glad Claire is married; was
afraid she would have to watt" Birdie said to
me, o I! so quietly.
begged the doctor to forbid her watching
Max, but he shook his head: "It would do no
good she wouldn't live any longer for it." So,
for little while longer, sat waiting every
night for my darling, outside the door OF her
murderer, as called him in my. wretched
heart. One morning she was later than usual.
The doctor had been with Max all night; he
left about three, telling me, as he passed me on
the stair, that Max was better; was sleeping
quietly. and must not be disturbed.
: Fonr struck, and yet Birdie did not come. l
was afraid to open the door, so sat tleaning my
head on my hand, counting the minutes as
they passed. The birds were beginning to sing
in the chesnut tree outside. l sprung to my
feet as the door creaked slightly. The nurse
was holding it open, and fancied 1 saw tears
on her wrinkled cheeks. Birdie was standing
lin thedoorwaY. cts come now, Oracle" she
said softly, as she clasped her arms about my
neck.
x
The cool October winds were blowing, and
vet Max had not left his room. He was able
to sit up all the morning, and used to bring
my work and sit beside him. One clear, bright
day he was sitting by the open window and
watching the lazily moving clouds. he was
too weak, and What could I say9 That
morning Max seemed restless; at every sound
he would glance toward the door, and then
turn away with look of panied surprise. AT
last he said abruptly:
"Gracie, why does Birdie never come to see
me? Has she quite forgotten me3"
Iwas prepared for this. They had told me
I must tell him. had thought and planned
what should say, and now could think OF
nothing. / took the little packet which my
darling had given me, and placed 1t IN his
hand. ."She nursed you through the fever, ana q
she told me to give you this" And 80 l lett
him. Had told him too abruptly? Had I
told him at all? Dare 60 back7
I tried the door when two hours had passed,
but it was locked. When Robert came in, l
begged him to go and speak to Max, but be-
fore he could obey me Max entered the room
where we were He looked ten years older,
and his face was inexpressibly sad. Robert
held out his hand to him with few kindly
words Of congratulation upon his recovery.
"I must be WE'LL" Max said gravely. II leave
tomorrow, and I want to thank you now for
all your kindness, when you had such reasons
to hate me- But believe me, 1 never dreamed
that" His voice failed him as BRIDES cana.
ry, hanging in the window, just then trilled
forth to Joyous song. Covering his face with
his hands, he hurried out of the room.
am glad that while he stayed we were able
to be kind to him. Before he left he came to
me:
"Gracie, forgive me, if you can. Believe me
your angel is avenged"
kissed his forehead and bade him "God-
speed.' And our cousin Max dropped out Of
our lives forever, leaving no memento of his
visit, save the picture that hangs before me as
I write-Brdie in her youth and beauty, with
the passion-howers in her har-only that, and
grave in Elmwood cemetery.