The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-01-14
from cut over the pale temple fell drops

and, followed by the curious crowd, she
carried the child toward the house. Her
breath came hard, and as she paused q
moment at the foot of the steps The
door above opened wide, and tall
young man came quickly out to meet her.
"Oh, DR.. Larned !" she said, with
something of the same relief i'll her
heart that Juliet felt when she saw Friar
Lawrence standing near her in the tomb.
az have never" said DIR. Andrew
Larned, when he described the scene to
friend" L have never seen anything
so beautiful as Helen LIE Roy, standing
pale and stately, with divine pity making
! tender her perfect 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 waiting for some such burden.
"The horses trampled her down.
She was running to bring me a bit of
lace 1 had lost, and she fell before my
eyes, and could not help her. Oh, it
is SO horrible % said Helen, with little
| sob.
"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 responsibility, she would con-
quer her emotion.
I" I will do what you tell me-"
"You have only to kneel down here
and bathe these 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 mo-
ments, while 1 call the nurse and get
some things that shall need. Do not
be troubled there is nothing you can do
for her but this" He watched her
minute, and then left the room.
As Helen watched she saw that the ex-
preston of the child's face had changed,
and then the closed eyelids quivered and
slowly opened, and two gray eyes re-
garded her with amazement. 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 hear or not to under
stand, but kept her eyes fixed on Helens
with the same look Of wonder, until sud
denly a beaming smile shone over her
face-a smile of recognition and pleasure
and with faint, glad voice she said:
"Oh, my beautiful lady my star
lady ~ and then the light died away,
and she lost consciousness again.
DIR. Larned, coming back to the room,
found Miss lie Roy still at her post
"She has spoken. She was conscious
for a moment, and she looked at me as
though she knew me, and was glad to
oh Ilr Tnrnn1 lot scI,
here and take of this poor little girl. If
useful in some way !" she said, with> a
" And perhaps YOU can tell me-perhaps
| can find some work here.
She had risen, and stood before him
with the undried tears still upon her
cheeks. All good impulses seemed
aroused within her, and her face glowed
with living light of charity and hope.
" There is work, plenty of work,
among those poor little children; but
are you sure-forgive me; but is this
what you want to do 2"
So Helen had found something to do.
Every day she was at the hospital, caring
for the children, soothing those who suf-
fered with her gentle touch and words,
amusing the tired ones with little stories
and songs, ministering wherever she
passed with cheerful looks and kindly
influence. The children all learned to
love her and to watch eagerly for her
coming.
As for Andrew Larned, he always half
expected her, and yet it was Il never
ending sweet surprise to see at the end
OF the long sunny room tall fair girl
singing quaint old songs for the listen
ing children; and he would stand mo-
ment silent in the doorway, waiting till
the verse was ended and she lifted her
eyes to his with a 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 that first night when she
spoke. Sometimes she had been wild with
fever and delirium, and then Helen alone
had been able to quiet her. No one
else seemed to have any power.
1t was in the afternoon. Without, the
sun was sparkling on the new-fallen
snow, and the street was gay with sleigh
bells and cheerful voices and bright
cOlors; but in the sick child's room all
was silent and dim, and Helen, who was
watching, could only discern that pale
face worn with fever. She was lying so
still that strange anxiety came to the
watcher, and when DR.. Larned Just stop
ped n moment on his way up stairs she
was glad to see him. He bent over the
child, and then gazed more closely.
"She has not moved for an hour. I
was growing anxious when you came in.
How is she -
DIR. Larned came beside her where she
was standing.
miss Helen," he said, very softly,
"she is dying"
The quick tears came to Helen's eyes.
She loved this poor child as we love any
being on whom we expend care and sym
pathy and there was another feeling,
almost of gratitude, 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
SIS my star lady here 2"
Helen, wondering, but remembering
the strange words that she had spoken
before, answered, eyes, 1 am here"
"Open the window. L want once to
see you, near. Oh, 1 wish, L wish"
Then, as the mellow sunlight came into
the room, she saw DIR. Larned, and sud
denly she seemed to gather all her ener-
gies, and cried aloud, with clear, ring
ing tone, "It's him it's him oh,
glory - Her voice grew weak, but she