Richland beacon., 1873-04-19

a cynic.
Emily May lived with her mother,
in an inland town in New York.
She had little property of her
own, and, with what she could earn by
her pen, she managed to dress herself. pay
for a summers journey now and then,
and keep her own house over her head.
1t was her way to look after her sick
neighbOrs, poor or not; to visit, now and
then. at the hospital and the county house,
and do what her hand found to do. She
made no fuss, and laid down no rules, and
was under no ecclesiastical direction"
in particular but am inclined to think
Sc was as useful, and far more agreeable.
than if she had made herself hideOus i'm Il
poke bonnet, and committedr mental
suicide Tf sFIsf &
When her holiday was over that. sum-
mer. she came home, and settled quietly
down to her work. -
She was busy at her desk. one day In
October. when carriage drove rapidly
up the street, and stopped at the door, and
Dick Bush jumped hurriedly out, and
rang the bell. Emily went to the door
herself. upon which Dicks hurry seemed
| suddenly to subside; and when he came
into the parlor, he appeared to find great
difficulty in expressing himself, and Emi-
|
friend Mr.. Millburn.
Dicks tongue was loosed.
"Oh, Miss May" he said, with sliak-
| ing voice, "Evert is DYING"
1Where? How? said Emily startled, and
sincerely sorry.
Now Dick had been rather melOdramat-
icaliy inclined. He had meant to act like
the hero of lady's novel, and administer
a severely iniexible reprOH to the woman
who had trifled with Evert; but i'm Miss
Nays presence he found this plan imprac-
ticable, and wisely refrained.
"He went out shooting with fool Of
boy, and he, the boy, fired wild, and
Evert was. badly hurt, and fever set in;
and, oh . Miss May, he keeps asking for
you. and he won't be quiet; and the doc
tor said, if you could you ought to come,
for it might make a difference. There's
his note. and Mrs. Millburn's. =
The doctor wrote, succinctv, that, con.
sidcring the state Of the case, Miss MAYS
presence might possibly keep the~patient
queter, which, vas all important Mrs.
MillbHrn' SnOte wac all incoherent blotted
epistle, begging this unknown young lady
to come and save her boy.
Emily could not refuse; her mother
hurried her of, and in two hours she was
seated beside Dick, on her way to Spring
field. Her reflections were not pleasant.
Every one would talk, and suppose there
was a romance ELY St. John would be
sure to know about IL, and Ely WIS such
a little chatter-box and to try to make
mystery Of the matter would be still
worse.
Then she had nothing to wear.'. And
how should she get along. with Evert's
mother and Aistefsf : And who would
take her Bible class on Sunday? And
whatswas to become of Cher little book
promised for the spring trade z, -rr.,
Il dare say it's all nonsense his want
ing me-" she Thought, People meyer
mean what they 81 = in afever. remem-
ber Pat Murphy 'inslsting that he would
have ahippopotamus handy i'm the house,
and if Mr.. Millburn comes to himself how
horribly embarrassing it will ber'
On the whole, Miss Mays feelings were
rather those of vexatiOn than romance.
They rode all night, and when Emily
reached the door of the handsome old
fashioned house i'm Springfield, she was
conscious of ''loOking like "a fright" and
wished herself anywhere else.
The door was no sooner opened than
she was embraced by little old lady in
black. and q 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 1.-The sort Of women who
are never OF any use"
"Oh, my dear! e = % good Of you! So
very geed Of. you ssld Mrs. Miilburn.
:, 81 |, am g snrs ysa VA 6s Ais guardian an
sei,S Sss ss,a S% Ssahns6 '% SSyyn alesyi and were
very good ffieuds, and q shall be very
giad i can. DO him my good" said
Emily, in ass1ry matt course tone;
and then the doctor maue His appearance,
and begged her to come up stairs.
:" If he could BE- kept qpiet, there might
bea chance n hon' hid the doctor;
but SO much Id on nursing
and the doctor en16awith an expressive
silence. Eveet rs sAloa1ing and sob
bing, aud begging tnat sDne one would
send Emily NaXh "one drop of
water" G
The nurse, who, TO Emily's critical
eyes, looked -hnything but capable, was
fussing over him in a way that was
enough in itself TO drive a sane person
mad. Emily poured out goblet OF
water with a steady hand, and as the ice
tinkled against the side of the glass she
held it 30 his lips. u
r'There is water, 'she said. in her ordi-
nary sweet CHEEKY voice. Now if you
will try tObe quiet, will stay with you"
She could not tell whether ne recognized
her or not, but the -neryeus feverish dis
tress and excitement seemed i'm some
measure to subside and, after time, he
was completely quiet.
Now nursing q wounded man i'm a fever
sounds very romantic In novel; but, in
its real details, It is anything but rO-
mantle business.
Emily Nav, at Evert Millburn's bed
side. felt herself in an entirely false po-
sitiOn; but she took care of him. for there
was nothing else to be done. The nurse
went. .offin huff with Miss May and the
doctor Mrs. Hlihhfn and Hatty could
only cry and rustic about, and Overset
things With. theiE dresses. Evert would
grow restless as soon as Emily left him.
1 INTO her hand. rEsrS ~
Happily Mrs. Millburn and Hatty We're
not je&ous! ii On the contrary, they ad-
mired Emily exceedingly, and were very
j grateful and affectiopate. Fs.p
Before the end OF the week, Evert came
to himself. II have dreamed you were
here" he said, with faint smile: snow
see it is you, and no phantom"
, The delirium had gone, but the doctor
said nothing encouraging. Evert insisted
on hearing the exact truth and learned
at last that he might possibly live few
days, but no longer. r'.
Then, to Emily's wonder and dismay,
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 te hasten the last mo.
: ments. Mrs. Milburn and Hatty sec