Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-03-28

old-fashioned house in Springfield, she
was conscious of docking like fright, y
and wished herself anywhere else.
The door was no sooner opened than
she WIS embraced by a little old lady
in black, and pretty girl in an ele-
CANT 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."
"Oh, my dear! It is so good of you
So very good of you'll" said Mrs. Mill
burn.
" I am sure you will be his guardian
angel" said sentimental Hatty.
'Not at all. Mr.. Millburn and I
were very good friends, and I shall be
very glad if [ 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 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 way that was e.
nough in itself to drive a sane person
mad. Emily poured out a goblet of
water with 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 Or
dinary 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, fe-
verish distress and excitement seemed
in some measure to subside; and, after
a time, he was comparatively quiet.
Now nursing wounded man in a
fever sounds very romantic in novel;
but, in it's real details, it is anything
but romantic business.
Emily May, 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 off in 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 grately and affectionate.
Before the end of the week, Evert
came to himself. " -a@
81 have dreamed you were here, che
said, with a faint smile. "Now / see
it is you, and no phantom. -...
The delirum had gone, but the doc
tor said nothing encouraging. Evert
insisted on hearing the exact truth :;
and learned at last that he might pos
sibly live few days, but not longer.
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 to hasten the last
moments. Mrs. Millburn and Hatty
seconded the petition with tears, and
were sure that darling Emily" would
not refuse dear Evert's last request.
Emily did what nine women out of
ten would have done in the same case,
and consented.
ssWhat harm can itdo?" she thought,
cit is only 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 Millburn instead of May,
why should l refuse?" And then it
crossed her mind that a widows cap
would be very becoming to her, and
she hated herself because this silly no
ton had come to her unbidden, and
twisted up her hair tight and plain,
and went to meet the clergyman
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 posi-
BILE, and then Mrs. Millburn sent eve
ry one away, and for two days the
bride stood over the bridegroom, and
fought against death till she was rea-
DIV to faint. H. ... ..s -.. y..
The doctor gave up the patient en-
tirely, and ceased to do anything; and,
as sometimes happens in like cases, he
took a turn for the better; and slowly
the balance trembled, the scale inelin-
ed, 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 pillow,
and looked for Emily; but she had
slipped away into the next room, where
she sat down, feeling, for the first time,
with strange shock, that she was &C
tually married. What should she do !?
What could she say? How could she