Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-05-19

his note, and Mrs Milburn's.'
The doctor wrote, succinctly, that, consider
ing the state of the case, Miss Mays presenc
might possibly keep the patient quieter, whic
was oil important.
Mrs Millburn's nete was all incoherent blot
ted epistle, Begging thsInnknown young lady /
come and save her boy.
Emily could not refuse her mother hurrie
her off, and IN two hours she was seated besid
Dick on her way to Springfield Her reflection
were not pleasant.
Every ono wonld talk, aud suppose ther,
was romance. ELY st. John would be sure
10 know about it, and ELY was such chatter
box; and to try to make mystery Of the mat
| ter would be worse.
Then she had nothing to wear And how
should she get along with Evert's mother and
sister, And who would take her bible clas
on Sunday? And what was to become o
her little book promised for "The Spring
Trader
Il dare say It's all nonsense, his wanting me,
she thought. People never mean what they
say in fever. l remember Pat Murphy in
sisting that he would have hippopotamli,
handy in the house; and ii Mr.. Millburn comes
TO himself, how horribly embarrassing it will
ber
On the whole, Miss Mays feelings were
rather those OF vexation than those of ro-
nance. r..
they rode all night, land when Emily reached
the door of the handsome old-fashioned house
In Springfield, she was conscious of docking like
a fright and wished herself anywhere else but
there. 49, -
The door was no sooner opened then she
was embraced by little lady in black. and a
pretty girl in an elegant mourning dress.
Both were in tears, and had evidently been
on the verge Of Mysteries; and Emily at once
set them down as the sort of woman who are
never of any use.' t.-
'Oh, My dearl it's so good of you. So very
good of your said Mrs. Mllburn.
Il am sure you will be his guardian angel,
said Hatty.
Not at all, Mr.. Millburn and were very
good friends, and shall be very glad if can
do him any possible good, said Emily, in a
very matter-of-course tone; and the doctor
made his appearance, and begged her to come
up stairs.
s'If he could be kept quiet, there might be
chance for him." said the doctor; "but so much
depends ON nursing'-and the doctor ended
with an expressive silence. Evert was moan
ing and sobbing, and begging that some one
water.'
The nurse, who, to Emily's critical eyes,
looked anything but capable, was fussing over
him In way that was enough in itself to drive
sane person mad. Emily poured out a gob-
let of water with steady hand, and as the
ice tnkled against the side Of the glass she held
1t to his lips.
"There Is water" she said, in her ordinary
sweet, CHEEKY voice. "Now fyou will try to
be quiet, will stay with you."
She could not tell whether he recognized her
or not, but the nervous, feverish distress and
excitement seemed in some measure to subsde;
and after time, he was comparatively quiet.
Now nursing a wounded man in fever
sounds very romantic in novel; but, in lis
real details, ii is anything but romanti C busi-
ness.
Emily May, at Evert Mllburns 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. Mlburn and
Hatty could only cry and rustic about, and over
set things with their dresses. Ever would
grow restless as soon as Emily left him, 50 that
the charge, in spite OF herself, fell into her
hands.
Happily Mrs. Millburn and IIatty were not
jealous. On the contrary, they admired Emily
extremely, and were very grateful and aflec- |
tionate.
Before the end the week, Eyert came to
himself.
IL dreamed you were here, lie said with Il |
faint smile. "Now | see 1t is you, and no phan |
TOM"
The delrum had gone, but the doctor said |
nothing encouraging. Evert insisted on hear |
ing the exact truth; and learned at last that he |
might possibly live few days, but not longer.
Then, 10 Emily's wonder and dismay, Eyert |
entrcated that, for the little time there was re-
naming, she would take his name. His heart
was set on this idea, and he pleaded, for what
seemed such useless boon, with yahemonce
that seemed likely TO hasten the last moments.
Mrs. Millbun and Hatty seconded the petition
with tears, and were sure that ''darhng Emily"
wouh not refuse dear Evert's last request.
m xyh Mt mir out nft pnItlI
have done in the same case, and consented.
"IVhat harm can it do ?" she thought. ait is
only mere form, but 1t gives me the right to
be with him to the end, and will prevent any
talk;and he is 50 good, and has loved me SO well
and If il comforts him now to think that my
name will be Millburn instead of May, why
should refuse ?" and then il crossed her mind
that widows cap would be very becoming to
her, and she hated herself because this silly
notion had come to her unbidden, aud twisted
up her hair tight and plain, and went to meet
the clergyman in her old black moliar, which
had become considerably spotted down the
front in the course of her nursing.
Tho rite was made as short as possible, and |
then Mrs. Millbur sent every one away and
for two days the br ide stood over the BRIDE
groom, and fought against death TIL she was |
ready to faint.
The docter gave up the patient entirely, and |
ceased to do anything, and, as sometimes hap
pens In like cases, he took turn for the better,
and slowly the balance trembled, the scale iu-
clined, and life had won.
"Illtell you what it is" said the doctor, ''your
wife has saved vour life."
Eyert turned his head OIL the pillow, and
looked for Emily; but she had slipped away in
to the next room, where she sat down, feeling,
Tor the iirst time, with strange shock, that she
was actually married. What should she say?
How could she tell Evert after ALL that she had
only come to him rs she WOul1 have GONE In |
Pat Murphy il he had sent for her, and con-
sented to that marriage rite as she had lent her
silver candlesticks to hold Father Flanagan 8
blessed candles when Judy Murphy died?
The doctor went down stairs; and presently
Mrs. Millburn and Hatty came TO her, and over
her with embraces and gratitude,
and point applique set, and fragmentary talk
About her "things,s' and proposals to send for
her mother, all mingled together. Emily re-
'olutely put away thought for the time, but she
could not help feeling, In an odd surprised way,
hat she was not unhappy, and despised her
'elf for having sort Of ashamed, furtive in
crest In those "things," which Mrs. Millburn
lnd Hatty were longing to provide. s
week after that day Evert was allowed to
t up In his easy chair, white and wan enough, I
,ut with look ofreturning health and life S
Emily was sitting almost with her back to him, u
ooking out into the tossing leafless branches of
he great elm. /
"Emily," said Mr.. Millburn, at last.
"Yes," she answered quietly, but she did not !
urn her head.
"Emily, did not meln to get WELL"
No answer from Mrs. Millburn.
~ know how much you must feel what has .
happened, Believe me, will take no advau- ;
age of your goodness; | will set you free as /, ,
'oonl can. My only wish is to spare you !. .
ronble; will take all blame on myself.
know you are longing to lie away; and why :,