Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-04-03
WOODSTOCK, W., THURSDAY, VPRIL. 3, 1878.

than she was embraced by a little old
lady in black, and pretty girl in an
elegant morning dress. Both were in
tears, and had evidently been for some
time on the verge of Mysteries; and
Emily at once set them down as 'the
sort of women who are never Of any
use"
ooh, my dear! 1t is so good of
you! So very good Of you" said
Mrs, Millburn.
81 am sure you will be his guardian
augel," said sentimental Hatty.
"Not at all. Mr.. Millbun and I
were very good friends, and l shall
be very glad if I can do him any
good" said Emily, in very matter-of-
course tone; and then the doctor
made his appearance, and begged her
to come up stairs.
eff he could be kept quiet, there
might be n chance for him. said the
doctor; ''but so much depends on
nursing and the doctor ended with
an expressive silence. Evert was
moaning and sobbing, and begging
that some one would send Emily May
with zone drop of water"
The nurse, who, to Emily's critical
eyes, looked anything but capable,
was fussing over him in a way that
was enough in itself to drive a sane
person mad. Emily poured out a
goblet of water with a steady hand,
and as the ice tinkled against the side
of the glass she held it to his lips.
"There is water" she said, in her
ordinary sweet, CHEEKY voice. "Now
if you will try to be quiet, | will stay
with you"
She could not tell whether he recog-
nized her or not, but the nervous,
feverish distress and excitement SEEM
ed in some measure to subside ; and,
after time, he was comparatively
quiet.
Now nursing wounded man in q
fever sounds very romantic in a novel;
but, in its real details, it is anything
but a romantic business
Emily May, at Evert Millburn's
bedside, felt herself in an entirely false
position; but she took care Of him,
for there was nothing else to be done.
The nurse went off in a huff with Miss
May and the doctor; Mrs. Millburn
and Hatty could only cry and rustic
about, and overset things with their
dresses. Evert would grow restless
as soon as Emily left him, so that the
charge, in spite of herself, fell into her
hands.
Happily Mrs. Millburn and Hatty
were not jealous. On the contrary
they admired Emily extremely, and
were very grateful and afectionate.
Before the end Of the week, Evert
came to himself
II have dreamed you were here,
he said, with a faint smile. Now |
see it is you, and no phantom.
The delirium had gone, but the
doctor said nothing encouraging
Evert insisted on hearing the axact
truth: and learned at last that he
might possibly live few days, but
not longer.
Then, to Emilys wonder and dis
may, Evert entreated that, for the
little time there was remaining, she
would take his name. His heart was
set on this idea, and he pleaded, for
what seemed such a useless boon, with
vehemence that seemed likely to
hasten the last moments. Mrs. Mill
burn and Hatty seconded the petition
with tears. and were sure that "darl-
ing Emily" would not refuse dear
Everts last request.
Emily did what nine women out OF
ten would have done in the same case,
and consented.
"What harm can it do ?" she thought,
''it is only a mere form, but it gives
me the right to be with him to the
end, and will prevent any talk; and
he is so good, and has loved me so
well and if it comforts him now to
think that my name will be Nlillburn
instead of May, why should refuse?'
and then it crossed her mind that a
widows cap would be very becoming
to her, and she hated herself because
this silly notion had come to her un
hidden, and twisted up her hair tight
and plain, and went to meet the clergy
man in her old black mohair, which
had become considerably spotted
down the front in the course Of her
nursing.
The rite was made as short as pos,
sible, and then Mrs. Millburn sent
every one away, and for two days the
bride stood over the bridegroom, and
fought against death till she was ready
to faint.
The doctor gave up the patient
entirely, and ceased to do anything
and, as sometimes happens in like
cases, he took turn for the better !;
and slowly the balance trembled, the
scale inclined, and life had won.
"I'll tell you what it is" said the
doctor, "your wife has saved your life.
Evert turned his head on the pill
low, and looked for Emily; but she
had slipped away into the next room,
where she sat down, feeling for the
first time, with a strange shock, that
she was actually married. What
should she do? What could she say !?
How could she tell Evert, after all,
that she had only come to him as she
would have gone to Pat Murphy, if he