The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-07-29

many secret acts Of charity, her tender
care of her cousin, ne had learned to
ove-bhe bright little. beauty. all the
more That her vivaeity so strongly con
trasted with his own rather stern nature
His life was one of earnest aims and
steady seeking for the highest ends Of
life. he had sseh n his snort time of
practice such bard realities of life, such
scenes of suffering, such calls upon his
deepest feelings that life had become TO
MIN one broad field for the exercise of
usefulness and self-saetiece.
His one dream tf .happiness he had
broken that day, because he dared not
trust the hopes OF his life in the hands
of trlfer. Yes, he loved her, loved
herr as such a nature as his loves the
bright iovelness of q gay little beauty
like Flora, and his heart ached solely, as
he took his long, lonely ride. He had
promised his uncle to. finish his pro-
iected visit and remain some weeks
longer, and he was nerving himself to
think Of his cousin as the wife of an
other, lost to him by his own act. AS
he drew his horse up 90 the stable-door
one of the servants came running to
meet him.
"Oh, DR.. Benedict, I am so glad you
i -
VIII You come to her Quick ," l.
''What is it, Nora ?"
"Oh SIR one of those dreadful spells
she used to have when she first hurt her
spine"
The quick, firm step of Ralph was
the first grateful sound Flora had heard
since being called to her cousins side.
All embarrassment was forgotten as she
sprang to meet him. &
Oh, Ralph, help me - 8
You have seen her in these attacks
BEFORE" he said, graveIy; tell me
what you did then, and how she has
been taken now.
Clearly and concisely, while sitting at
the bedside of the suferer, Flora de-
scrihed former at acks and their treat
ment, and the probable cause of the
present one.
Quick to decide and prompt to act,
Ralph made Flora useful as nurse, while
he tried his skill with loving zeal to
ease the gentle girl before them His
uncle came in. late in the. afternoon,
and, seeing how things were, refused to
send for any other advice, and, thus
free to act, Ralph was busy, faithful,
and untiring, yet his hand was not
frnef, his step quicker, or his mind
clearer than those of the pale, yet steady
little nurses For three nights andhdays
she never left the sick girls side, and
in the whispered talks beside her when
sa9ISep all levity was gone, all trihing
vanished. Sorrow and anxiety did what
bafshness or coldness could never have
dOne-subdued the frivolity that was on
the surface of Flora's nature, showing
the devoted love-. the quiet presence of
mind, the unWearymg- capacity for. self
sacrifice, that dwelt under the vivacity.
At last the danger was over, and after
a fortnight of devoted watching Kate
was pronounced convaIeseent, and her.
weary little nurse consented to leave
her for a long afternoon sleep in her
own room. Dome es"s
d eff you please, sir" said Nora's
scar d voice at Ralph's door, )" g Miss
Flora has tainted clean dead away,
sir"
Sc Where ?" cried Ralph, starting up.
sc In her room, sir. She is altogether
worn out with nursing" sz ss>s5 -
Worn out, indeed Ralph thought,
as he raised the little figure in his
strong arms and looked into the pale,
very pale face. 1t was only the reac-
tion from fatigue and anxiety, and in a
few moments Flora opened her eyes to
see ItdlDu Dbuu1uB over neTs MS lace
full of tender, anxious love.
zY Flora, poor. child, you are worn.
ont. I have. been careless and selfish
not to watch you more closely. Oh,
Flora, can you ever forgive my inper-
tinent harshness, and let me tell you
how / respect as well as love you ?"
"Ralph, I am a goOd-for-nothing
Airt,' but if you will trust such tor
ment once more she will try to be a
wife worthy of you. And as Flora
afterwards declared, "the man actually
began to find out what his magnificent
eyes were made for. - ~ - a
So she consented, and was from,
youth to age the pride and Joy of his
faithful heart.