The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-02-07

were vacant, and said to knOwlton, his
gis.G-rss at table-a very waspish little
( man, and not at all favorite in the house:
/ Heard how Juanez is this morning, Mr..
Knowlton %
/ Before Knowlton could reply to Need
hams question, an excited exclamation
from Madame Delaroche, who had mo-
ment before been summoned to the door,
caused all eyes to turn in her direction.
The poor lady, pale and trembling, her
very cap border shaking with her agitation
| came hurriedly forward to the table and
nervously clutching the back of chair for
support, said:
"Ladies and gentleman, it is my pain
full duty to inform you that DR.. Gore pro-
nounces Mr.. Juanez i'll with the small
pox."
| Mrs. Monmouth screamed-the ladies
rose precpitately from the table, flight as
we'll as fright plainly depicted in their
| faces.
! Needham continued to slowly sip his cof-
| fee, casting now and then a composed yet
speculative glance at his handsome face in
the mirror opposite. Within an hour af-
ter the announcement of these direful It'd
ings the panic-stricken inmates, with the
execution of Needham and Knowlton, had
departed bag and baggage, from their in
| fected abode.
These two gentlemen entreated Mrs.
Juanez to allow them to remain and assist
her. declaring it simply inhuman to leave
her alone at such time.
Mrs. Juanez, pale with anxiety and
fatigue, talked with them from the landing
above, assuring them in her sweet voice,
again and again, that she was not afraid
and felt quite brave and strong, and more
over, DR.. Gore had promised to send
nurse Immediately. She implored them to
90 away from the house as quickly as pos
sble.
They, finding all offers of assistance
firmly yet gratefully declined, finally with
great reluctance departed.
The heavy door closed with loud clang,
and, as the echo Of their retreating foot
steps died away in the distance, sense of
the horror of her situation almost over
come this brave, yet delicate little woman.
Bowling her head upon her hands she
prayed moment earnestly that God would
not allow Jose to die such d terrible death,
and that He would help her to be brave
and strong all alone in that great house in
the midst of large, strange city.
She was now inwardly thankful that
through her life she had believed and act.
ed upon the principle that energy infus-
ed into the every day duties of life gives
strength to meet and overcome the sterner
realities that must at times be met and
overcome"
Before returning to her room she made
tour of the lower portion of the house,
examining and carefully fastening doors
and windows.
Then, with true feminine instinct, which
is ever looking for that indefinable some
thing that may be lurking in closet or cor
ner ready to spring upon the unwary vic
tim, she visited every portion Of the i'm
mense mansion. A careful scrutiny of its
many odd hooks and corners filled her
with greater sense of security, although
she smiled at her weakness.
All the previous night Mr.. Juanez had
been IN state bordering on delirium, which
at dawn settled into dull stupor, and
from which he had not reused when Mrs.
Juanez returned to him. Going to the
bedside she poured from phial and held
it to his lips, her face white with intense
anguish.
Any one who has seen loved one
stricken down with this dreadful malady-
the fair features darkly bloated and made
hideous to look upon, friends not daring to
be present with aid and comfort, have wit
messed perhaps the death, the hasty burial
perchance at dead Of night, unattended by
minister or mourner-can understand the
agonized feelings of this delicately reared
woman and petted wife. With some diff
Guilty she succeeded in rousing him suffi-
| GENTLY to swallow the medicine. He look
ed about vacantly for few moments, but
as his gaze rested upon her loving, anxious
face, the listless expression disappeared.
| He said
"My God what situation for you,
Kate, darling! I know what is the maj
ter. They are all gone; heard the tramp
ing and hustle, and the clang of the door.
How badly off am 90 he asked suddenly.
"Tell me the truth, poor little wife,
What did the doctor say ?'
Alas, poor Kate 4. she dared not tell him
that DR.. Gore had pronounced him ex-
tremely i'll, and feared that the disease
would terminate fatally. She could not
believe his danger was so great. 1t was
all so sudden, so dreadful. With an effort
to answer steadily, she said:
Jose, you are very sick. yet hope, l
think you will soon be better. l am doing
everything possible for you, dear one, and
| momentarily expect some one to aid me
in the care of you" Then tirmness for
sock her; with a face full of unutterable
love and sorrow, she cried:
| sob, my darling my darling God will
not let you die this dreadful death-it can
not, cannot be ~
The sick man raised his arms toward
her with caressing gesture, then with
deep groan let them fall limp and helpless
upon the bed. Mrs. Juanez could only
sob:
"Jose, my love; poor jose" In a few
moments the heavy stupor returned
Through her loving ministrations to the
sick man, Mrs. Juanez gradually became
calm.
In the lives of all come moments when
our very hearts grow still with pain, and
that pain holds our lips dumb. We
breathe, we walk about, we eat and sleep,
may force ourselves to laugh or sing or
talk-yet the pain lies there all the same,
and we clutch at our breast, and grasp for
breath and cry: is there no escape from
this torture ?" If we are believers in
prayer we pray. God hears and helps
| If we are unselfish we devote ourselves