Litchfield enquirer., 1875-05-06
- From Harper's Weskly.l
 THE LOVE THAT SERVED.


 THE LOVE THAT SERVED.
 'so .lhad clhlaadrinning n ing head, ''said Mrs. Brabazon th6 other night to me at he- kettie-drum. itsWhakd did you say was her maiden name?' ,s Hester was looking from her side, of the table through the handle of the gigantic kettle of flowers, and nodding to me in that reaching, magnetic way that was g talisman of hers, and | thought, as l smiled back in return, that there was no blossom in that ridiculous floral monstros- ity before us that had burst into such sud den bloom and sweetness. f.s.., -e..,s 2
 "Boyce, ma 'am," I replied-''an old family, very old family. ' s '''s s'' ssYes, yes, thought so, " said poor sil- ly Mrs. Brabazon. f'I don't profess to be physiognomist myself. but can always tell birth when see it. ," .-5
 sfThe old family of Adam" I repeated to myself, apologetically. aazs) E. ss+ a s., If had told Mrs. Brabazon that Hester Boyce was the only child of Q disreputable old janitor of ours at the hospital long ago. and that her early occupation was to make herself generally useful in the emer- gencies that arise in those places, and that the first time I was compelled to sudden admiration of the 1.-the young creature's yigOr and grace was when she lifted pail of water discolored by the reyolting ne- cessities of the dissecting room, ana, ,pois- ing it upon her head, walked off with it with far more celerity and safety than did sweet Kitty of Coleraine with her milking pail-if I had told all this to Mrs Braba- zon, the feathers in her hair would have trembled with dismay, and the ice in her Seyres china cup turned to ashes upon her lips. ''a.i' '' l.
 The second time I was called upon to admire Hetty was at the bedside of my college chum, Seaton, when the virus in that scratch upon his arm came near end ing his career, and thus depriving me of matsrfal for this scrap of history. 10 -a The limb, swollen to twice its size, hung discolored and helpless, save in the way of transmitting torture to the brain; and strong as was, trembling for his life that hung in the balance, unable to bear the stiAed cries of agony that burst from his lips, I escaped to the corridor for brief moment to gain strength and composure.
 As I went to the door the poor old fel- low turned his wild eyes to me.
 Just one minute, Seaton," said. ''I can't bear it. t -t. 'lg9r s Z.
 HWhere is Hester?" he cried. ae-.
 "Here." said Hetty. from the foot of the bed, without tremor in her voice or the stir of one of those purple e-black hairs up onsher shapelY head. sza..s .sfn
 You may go," said Seaton to me, with sigh of relief.
 ! Seaton fortunately pulled through, but r it left Q ranking fear in his heart, for he was well enough up in his profession to know that thing of that kind is apt to crop out again when least suspected.
 As soon as he was we'll Hester went back tovthe usual routine of duties about the hospital, and save certain deference in Seaton's manner to her. and his declaring to me time and again that her capabilities for nursing were unbounded, the whole episode of his illness seemed to sink into oblivion. a s.-a.. ...ss ..z is.g-, ..,,g..5. 5. f
 Time went on, and Seaton and decided to set up aJ.';ttle menage together, and practice, eaS ..in his own branch of the profession. Esaving suite of rooms up town, we fitteG them up to suit the some. AZat luxuriouaFnA T @sthetic tastes We held in common, for all that was pleasant to the eye and restful to the soul, not forgetting to make our consulting office bristle out wardly with the medical bric-a-brac sup posed to impress our patients with sense of awe and infeEiority the moment they stepped over the threshold. re.s ..:. $ E We immediately found that insurmount- able stumbling block that all housekeepers are subject to, the impossibility of pro- curing capable person to keep our house. hold goods in order, so that we might worship in comfort at the domestic shrine.
 It began to be rather dreary business, the continual change in faces and confu. sion in tongues distracting us to the verge of insanity. One week a rich Milesian brogue, the next the guttural solemnity of the Teuton, again jaw breaking Russian or Swede. and even our ownsdeferential and devoted Ethiopian could not fill the emergency, or take from us a narrowing sense of responsibility.
 a We were at our wits end, and had al- most decided to hang out red flag. when Seaton came in one day, flushed and ex- ultant, declaring that all our troubles were at an end, and the rarG dvis was secured at last. se s4BaE- vf .asa.s .EeE~,s~ q
 '.It is the mercy of Providence to two despa1ring souls," said Seaton. ''Old Boyce is at last dead and burIed. and He's ter has consented to come to us to-mor. TOW. "4- ...-.-f.. ..s--..t.zs .-.-- $
 Why, where on earth" I began. v
 'sNow don't, Morgan" broke in Seaton -"don't bother ma withsquestions. You don't suppose do you, that I'd let Hetty and her father suffer, when she perhaps saved my life? I've kept sight of them all along. Boyce is dead of disease that ought to have killed him long ago. and Hester is free to take situation suitable to her abilities. We sha'n't have any more trouble, my boy-iust lay that fattering unction to your souI- You know Hester?'' 5 "I did know her-yes.' '' es -ra5s ,e "A e,~,. Well, she's just the same, only no long, CT chlld, of course, and in her case years add experience and 1nnumerabIe virtues. Only to know that Hester is within call gives sense of security and comfort that IS joy unspeakable."
 looked at Seaton rather dnbiously. He had just doffsd his iressing-gown. and was thrusting his right arm through his coat sleeve, when . sudden palloF shot over his face; he cIfnched his teeth, gulp- ed down an exclamation, and looking oyer, found my eyes resting upon him |anxiously. gi rssa5 s5 sssfo nasrer1 =
 "Yes," he nodded, ''the old trouble. This arm will play the deuce with me yet, E FMorgan.5g q Had Gzo5 F-oEzz.c CAT
 NotBithstandi my sympathy with Sea- ton, heaved sigh of relief, for I under stood now the peculiar exultation and open delight he had eEinced in securing the services of Hester .:4aoH aieea.A
 The next day she came, It was relief to the eye as well as the pocket and the soul This straight featured, slender. shapely young woman, with voice that Shakespeare would have delighted iti., and the, step of a disemb bodied ghost, scanned to lit in the very niche we had found 1t impossible to fn.o A. convenient peripa- tetic addition steE our statuary, with no PygmalioR to create cont fusion; for Seaton Isa,sy .sa a9slcsa & ths gi5 and seemed to aps
 It is not in my nature to be perfectly obliyious to presence so powerfully con dncive to comfort, and I offered .hun- drsd ciyihties to Hester to one of Seatonis s, anrlsss 1rr bis constant demands upon her tune night be considered in that light. He l nad always needed a great deal of wait. mg upon and Ihad lime and again rebelled aeHlnst the position of valet to my my con ftere, only to find myself lnneoins sccionslv