The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-07-22
CHAPTER III.
THE CONVALEsCENT.

V1cToR DUFoY-for such was the
name of the young gentleman who
had introduced himself, damp and
dripping into the chemists quiet
home-recovered in due course,
though he took his time about it, and
kept his new friends in suspense con-
corning his movements toward life
or the grave-for several weeks.
He had broken rib, he had taken
to himself an unpleasant fever, and
there were bad symptoms setting in !;
but in the face of these difficulties,
and thanks to the care of Abel Wray-
ford and his ward, he fought his way
back to the world. It was close on
Christmas-day when he was enabled
to come down stairs, sit by the fire.
side, and be pronounced out of dan
ger. He received the congratulations
of Abel and Grace as he sat before
| the fire in Mr.. Wrayford's dressing
gown, wherein he had made himself
at home, after a few protestations
against the confscation, and all of
which had been overruled, and he
hastened to reply.
II do not know how I shall be able
to repay you for your Kindness he
| said warmly. "Scarcely am I able to
thank you enough for past and pres
ent care Of me. Without you both I
must have died."
"And now that you are living and
rational-for you have been talking
the most absurd nonsense for weeks
perhaps you will tell us who you
are, and how you came here" said
Wrayford.
"Cheerfully," he answered. 'It is
a long story, and will try your pa
tience a little"
keep to the facts, and we shall
soon get through them," said Wray-
ford, encouragingly. "And remem-
Der that divergence is an infiction." "
Wrayford was in high spirits at
Victor's recovery, and proba bly, at
the prospect Of getting him out of the
house safe and sound. His last arti-
Gle in the Scientific Register had been
a success also, and the papers had
been talking fit, praising and at
tacking it, after their several fash
ions; and reply had been called for
from Abel Wrayford's pen, which was
at work at the present moment in his
defence of that particular theory as
regarded color which had nearly set
him off after another ignis tateeus.
He had earned more money than U.s.
ual that month, for he had been more
than usually industrious, and the
quarters rent would have been put
by for Mr.. Trustworth, the new land
lord, had it not been for the sick man
and his wants. Abel wrote his arti.
Gle, and professed to be listening to
the young mans account OF himself
at the same time he only caught
the salient points of the story, but as
the narrator diverged horribly-Abe]
was sure he would do it despite his
warning-there was not great deal
lost: Grace Edmonds would heal
every word, and would be able tt
throw clearer light on matters O.
detail, if required. She did not tir'
of Victor Dufoy's animated descrip
ton of his beloved France, Of hi
fierce struggle with maniacle few tt
redress her wrongs, of his mistortunef
and failures, and his hurried escape
from his country, leaving his mother
in Paris. It was the old story of the
patriot in difficulties, ending in mucl
the same way as the red shirt ant
blue blouse generally end, only Vic
tor had undergone few perils at sea
by way of winding up. He had lef
France, where it had grown too ho
to hold him, in a fishing-smack tha
had transferred him to another fish
ing smack England bound, which ha(
been caught in a strong gale ant
thrown out Of its course, and which
in making for Cornish harbor tha
November night, whereon he was
found first, had contrived to pitch
him owing to his indiferentsea-leg!
overheard when sighting shore
Victor had managed to swim in tht
darkness to land and battle his way
through the surf to Greymore Cove
and rest on the beach painting for g
while, and wondering where he was
There he became convinced that the
tide was advancing fast upon him.
and that he was hemmed inby semi
circle of rugged cliffs; and taking
Abel Wrayford's light in the top
room window for beacon, he climb.
ed his way toward it, praying for his
life, and reaching the summit at last
minus one rib, which had since beer
patched up by a Cornish doctor very
successfully.
MAY I inquire what was your pro
fession before you took to politics ?
said Wrayford.