The Portland daily press., 1875-01-16

came hard, and as she paused moment at
| the foot OF the steps the door above opened
| wide and tall young man came quickly out
| to meet her.
ooh. Dr. LarnedW she said, with some
Thing ot the same relief in his heart that
| Juliet felt when shC SAW triar Lawrence
| standing near by the tomb
II have never" said DR.. Andrew Larned,
| when he described the seen to a friend 81
have never seen anything so beautiful as
Helen Leroy, standing pale and staely, with
divine pity making tender her pretty face,
and in her arms, held so gently, wrapped so
carefully, that beggar child"
She followed him into the house, where, in
| little room, a low white bed was weiting for
some such burden.
sThe horses trampled her down. She was
running to bring Inc bit of lace l had lost
and she fell before my eyes. and could not
| help her. Oh. it is so terrible p said Helen,
| with little sob. t
"She is not dead. Will you help me, Miss
| LIE Roy?" He looked at her steadily. He
knew that if he trusted her with some re-
sponsibility, she would conquer her emotion.
81 will do what you tell me.''
you have only to kneel down here and
| battle those stains from her face, and here
where the cut over the temple is hidden in
| her hair"
She obeyed him silently.
81 must leave you alone for few minutes,
while l call the nurse and get some things
| that 1 shall need. Do not be troubled; there
| is nothing that you can do for her but this
He watched her minute and then LETT the
room.
She was bathing the pale face with her deft
and gentle hand, and all the time she shed
tears, without knowing why she cried, except
| that in her heart had come feeling OF ten
derness and sympathy that in truth was new
to her, that seemed to bring the unbidden
tears.
sion of the chlds face had changed, and then
the closed eyelids quivered and slowly opened,
and two gray eyes regarded her with amaze
ment. She spoke softly thinking that the
| child might be frightened at finding herself
in this strange place.
"You are with friends, dear; we will be
very kind to you"
She seemed not to hear or not to under
stand, but kept her eyes fixed on Heien'S
| with the same look of WONDER until sudden
| ly beaming smile shone over her face-a
smile Of recognition and pleasure-and with
| faint, glad voice she said,
ooh, my beautiful lady my Star Ladyw
and then the light died away, and she lost
consciousness again.
| Dr. Larned, coming back to the room,
found Miss Leroy still at her post.
4 ''SQc mas SpOk6us Ou6 Was CoHoCiOuo ioA
4 a moment, and she looked at me as though
she knew me, and was glad to see me- Oh,
/ DR.. Larned, let me stay here and take care
| of this Door little girl. If you only knew how
4 / have longed to be useful in some way"
| she said, with sudden frankness that sur
| prised herself. "And perhaps you can tell
| me-perhaps can find some work here"
a She had risen, and stood before him with
the undried tears still upon her cheeks. All
| to no
| her, and her face g!owed with living light
1 of charity and hope.
''There is work, plenty of work, among
4 these poor little children; but are you sure,
Miss LIE Roy-forgive me, but is this what
4 you want to do?'
| 1t was almost cruel to question her so, in
| the flush of her enthusiasm; but before his
doubling speech had time to hurt her, qu ud
| little brown figure came into the room ana
stood beside Helen. 1t was Miss Hetty Nal
colin, who slipped her kind hand through
Helen's arm.
cot course, Andrew, she wants il, and we
need her very much indeed.'
So Helen had found something to dc.
Every day she was at the hospital, caring for
the children, soothing those who suffered
| with her gentle touch and words, amusing
the tired ones with little stories and songs.
ministering wherever she passed with cheer
full looks and kindly influence. The chill
dren all learned to love her and to watch
eagerly for her coming. Miss Hetty never
made any comment, but took it all as mat
ter of course, and treated Helen as though
she had been there forever.
! As for Andrew Larned, he always half ex-
pected her, and yet it was never-ending
sweet surprise to see at the end of the long
sunny room tall fair girl singing quaint old
songs for the listening children; and he
| would stand a moment silent in the doorway
waiting till the verse was ended and she
lifted her eyes to his with smile.
Down stairs in the darkened room lay the
little girl that Helen had carried in her arms.
She had never been quite conscious since the
first night when she spoke. Sometimes she
had been wild with fever and delrium, and
then Helen alone had been able to quiet
her. No one else seemed to have any pow
II er. 2. -sfs-t..-.. 81 .....
It was in the afternoon. Without, the sun
was sparkling on the new-fallen snow, and
the street was gay with sleigh. bells and cheer
full voices and bright colors; but in the sick
child's room all was silent and dim, and
Helen, who was watching, could only dis
Germ that pale face worn with fever. She
was lying so still that strange anxiety came
to the watcher, and when DR.. Larned just
stopped moment on his way up stairs, she
was glad to see him. He bent over the
child, started, and then gazed more closely.
| one udS uOG uOtcu lOr du uOur was
growing anxious when you came in. How Is
she?"
DR.. Larned came beside her where she was
! standing.
.'Miss Helen," he said, very softly, "she is
dying"
The quick tears came to Heen's eyes. She
loved this poor child, as we love any being on
whom we expend care and sympathy; and
there was another feeling, aim ost of graft
tude, that made Helen stoop down and kiss
her forehead.
"But for her should never have come
here among the children" she said, simply"
Then there was heard faint voice, like
the voice of spirit, saying.
ais my Star Lady here?'
Helen, wondering, but remembering the
strange words that she had spoken before an
swsred, ''Yes, am here"
s'Open the window. / want once to see
you, near up. Oh, wish, wish" Then,
as the mellow sunlight came into the room,
she saw DR.. Larned, and suddenly she seemed
to gather all her energies, and cried aloud,
4 with clear ringing tone, Its him! it's him. .
oh, glory" Her voice grew weak, but she
went on. 81 know you too. You are that
good man. 1 amt never spent the silver you
give me; it's here round my neck; it's for you
again." Her voice was failing. II can't
see; gil me you hands. guess am dying;
and when l get up there, there amt only one
thing I'll ask-Bless him and my Star Lady,
that's come together at last! Amen"
And so the strange little unknown friend
died, holding their hands in hers: but her
prayer lived after her, and was answered, for
these two have been blessed with perfect love
and faith, in sweet companionShip.