The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-01-11

pnyslcsl system.
why, Doctor, you don't mean"
Young man, you are extremely ques-
tionary, broke IN the doctor, with al
evaslve, interruptive laughing frown.
Before he left, Richard asked him for a
sedative.
"No, sir, shan't have it," he replied
roughly, but continued in an explanatory
and milder tone - nervous system severe
ly strained, shocked, shattered uncertain
how it would act You must be careful,
sir remember that IL this other victim had
been given to excesses Of any kind he
would he dead by this time The nervous
system is the controlling, the governing
power nf the entire animal mechanism, and
in your present state sedative might irri-
tate, not allay, and the doctor strode out
Of the ward, and in the physicians room
he wrote prescriptions and gave directions
for the treatment of his patients, as he
called Arbyght and Wood.
They were well cared for, carefully and
tenderly nursed by two Sisters, who were
specially detailed to attend them alone,
and be constantly near them.
This hospital is pleasantly situated in
the most beautiful and fashionable part Of
the city, and quite close to the lake
three blocks There is no distinction on
account Of sect, color OF condition in re
ceiving patients rich, poor, high, low-0R
are welcome.
On the second day, in the forenoon,
Richard fell IN deep reverie. The mind
first wandered eXcitedly in an exalted,
wild and extravagant region of thought or
Imagination, but thereof came IN the end
despondency and madness, and as in Bun
yans " Slough If Despond, the sleepless
dreamer writhed and struggled in mental
anguish, unbearable, awful His fathers
cruel death his mothers untimely end !,
! his sisters blghted hopes, and his own
hard lot rose like ghosts Of departed sor-
rows t. vex and haunt him Then Nida
Geldamo rose up before his rapturuus
vision at the beck Of fancy magical wand.
and hidden deep in diaphanous, luminous
loveliness, she seemed at once the soul and
dispenser If Joy eternal eternally remote.
Presently there were light steps heard
on the mating running through the aisle
Of the ward Richard gave a start /; his
heart began violent humping, and look
ing up he saw Vida quite close to his cot.
He flushed all over at once his eyes dart
ed quick glances Of pleasure, joy, love
"Oh Mr.. Arbyght, what sad acci-
dent 1 hope you are better to-day L
There Was a subdued ring Of pleasure in
her voice, and a silent, pleased look in her
eye.
I" feel much better notc, he replied,
radiant with suppressed happiness. IL
Is SO kind and good Of you to come |
thought this morning | was friendless,
alone, he continued III a sort of delicious,
ecstatic trance, gazing at her with moist
eyes, heavenly smile playing round the
tremulOus mouth.
Friendlvss how oruAl IT you to think
80. she replied softly, but very reproach
fully
Why, what thoughtless fellow | am
to be sure, to keep you standing all this
time, " he said, pointing to a plain, cane
bottomed chair beside the cot, which he
intended to move little further off; but
she gracefully took the chair and sat down
quite close to im-companionably close.
The act sent the sufferer to heaven at once,
where perhaps the performer Of the act
was before him, as it was she blushed like
June rose and looked supreu ely happy
The prudish reader may think that this
gentle being, tender as the leaves Of
hope and pure and spotless as angels III
thought, went beyond certain despotic,
conventional bounds but what sight more
holy, more beautiful, freer from the gross
ness of human nature, than the first ap-
pearance Of genuine love-the budding,
nascent affection Of a young. gentle, con
hding. virgin soul
am an ungrateful wretch, | admit,
as Paul has been to see Inc, he said,
little humblY, apOlogetIcallV
How is your friend and fellow victim"
asked Vida
The doctor thinks better Of his case TO-
day !; but why victims
"Oh Paul has gwen me his view If
the matter, and believe with him, that
you are the victims Of a synod Of wretches,
assassiIs, murder,rs If | we're a man
would he even with them the cowsrdly,
cold bloOded williams, and her eyes flash
ed defiant lightning. Suddenly she blush
ed, and said quickly II am a goose,
feather head, fool-excuse me, Mr.. Ar
byAht but / think it real mean, atroci
Gus, abominable act.
Mary Marmane, who came with Vida,
but remained talking in one Of the halls
with Sister, now entered the ward, and
after few words with Richard, went
across to Oscars cot !; she came back di-
rectly, but her eyes had watery look, and
not word could either of them get out of
her while she remained.
When Vida rose to 20, she gave her
hand to Richard, and the poor fellow
mbled from head to foot An inde-
scribabIe sensation swept, like an electric
current IF enrapt bliss, through every fibre
Of his body, longing, violent, irresistible
desire to kiss the tiny hand, the tiny glove
more blest than he-or the chair from
which she had arisen, seized him, but
making great effort, and gulping down a
great lump in his throat, he said, heroic
ally, with face as tragic as the mask Of
Melpomene, but voice weak and choky
Miss GeldamO, you must not come
to see me any more. | am thankful-you
will never know how profoundly grateful
and thankful j am for your kindness =
his voice fell to a soft whisper" your
presence diffuses heavenly sunshine; but,
alas, its Hissful rays are not for me, not
for me.
You great silly fellow; Of course
will come again, she whispered swiftly,
snstched away her hand quickly, blushed
divinely, smiled beati6cally, and was gone
She came regularly-every day visitors
were received at the hOspital-always ac-
cOmpanied by Mary MArmane, who invari-
ably found her way to Oscars cot, and
invariably left it with a swelling heart and
speechless tongue.
These were days of unanoyed, unmixed
happiness to two congeaial souls, and
though Afbyght spoke not of love, still his
devotion was none the less manifest, none
the less understood or appreciated, and
without the aid of verbal declaration, he
knew that his love was reciprocal, recpro-
Gated. These two souls were guileless,
pure, unsullied, unfettered by convention
al restraints, unclogged by inexorsble SO
cial customs for houn she would sit be-
aide his cot her hand gentlv CLAIMED in his