The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-12-09

open and in dire confusion, and the
invalid was tossing in delirlous agony
calling for water, burning with fever,
and frightened at her own wild fan
ces.
II wes no romantic work before
Laura, no mere sentimental brow
bathing or poetry reading to an inter
estiug invalid. There was work to be
done, food to prepare for the sufferer,
the room to be cleansed and put in
order, aud sickness requiring n
steady nerve and great watchfulness to
be nursed. The arrival Of the doctor
towards night, with strong Irish girl,
whose face was deeply pitted, was a
great relief, but the bulden Of care
still rested upon Laura.
1t was too late for the kind hearted
physician TO remoustrate, and he could
only recommend some prudent precau-
tious, and be heartily thankful his pa
tient was in such good care. For us
the weary days wore on Mrs. CTeigh-
ton drew very near the door of eterni.
ty, and there WAS long interval
when the SHADOW Of the death angels
wirgs lowered in the room. But she
rallied and as the fever fancies passed,
she knew Laura. and the generous
love that had brought her to her side.
"There was little doubt" the doctor
told her, "tha; the removal to the city
hospital would have been fatal, and
she would have surely died of neglect
in her own home bnt for the heroic i'm
pulse that had brought her nurse TO
her."
And while she was yet too weak to
rise, Laura sickened, and the kind.
hearted Irish girl had two invalid3 to
care for. The young girl was not
dangerously ill, but during the fever
she had no one to watch her as she
had watched her friend, and she tore
her poor face in delirium when there
was no cooling lotion to alleviate the
the torturing burning and itching.
The months of absence were nearly
over, and Max was coming home.
Laura had never left Mrs. Creighton
during the four months that followed
her illness; aud Max, detained by
business, was comfo-ted by thinking
Of the two he loved best on earth to-
gether and restored to health. But
now, when the soft Spring airs were
blowing, Max was was coming home.
Mrs. Creighton had received tele-
gram from Now York announcing the
arrival OF The steamer, and Max would
come on the six o'clock train in the
afternoon. SIS. - .-'-.
Laura moved about all day, making
the house lovely for the coming of the
traveller. She made the tempting cake
and iellies, she filed the vases with
the first tender green leaves and
Spring blossoms, and it was five
o'clock when she kissed Mrs. Creigh-
ton and went to her room to dress.
The six O'Clock train came putting
up to the depot, and Max Creighton,
springing to the platform, ran to the
carriage in waiting, too eager to home,
to note a closely vailed lady in black,
who took her place in the cars, and
was carried forward with them.
The home coming was altogether
too important an affair for him to
have one thought save for his mother
and Laura those two who had passed
through such afilIction since he had
last seen them.
His mother was in the drawing room,
and after long, close embrace, Max
looked for Laura,
"Where is Laura, mother?" he ask
ed. 81 cannot wait to see her, Ia
thank her that | have not come back
to find my home desolate-to thank
her that am not motherless."
"She will be here presently, Max
Sit down, my son, while | keep my
promise to her, and tell you to pre-.
pare for a g,eat Shock"
"She is disfgufed r he said, in a
low voice.
Terribly! He face is deeply scar
red and a deep red, while her eyes are
slightly drawn down on the cheek and
bloodshot. All he hair is gone, and
she wears a close cap" 9F~r.
"Asif | needed to be prepared fol
such change" Max said, with a
quivering voice-"as if the face of the
women to whom | owe my mother,
life would not be the face of an angel
to me, however it might be SCARED
Find her, mother! Let me tell her
how my low" has grown deeper and
stronger since we parted.
Mrs. Creighton was rising when the
servant entered with note.
"Aiiss Laura left it, ma'am," she
said.
"To you, Maxi" his mother said.
"She has gone home, poor child %
But the note was a farewell.
"The woman YOU loved, Max" Iau