New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-11

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the existence of little Miss Turpin. But
she, upon her part, repeated over and over
the words Of young DR.. Blake, blushing
again when she became conscious Of the
feet that she really had the temerity to
dwell upon this genial but commonplace
courtesy.
tistic, but not soul. absorbing, like the doc.
tors. She could tint her Photographic all
the better for this little episode in her life.
The vines and tendrils took tenderer shapes
under her deft little fingers; . shy, sweet
melancholy helped to make the shadows ct
least more and moro perfect; under the
r0sebuds grew the thOrns, but there seemed
to lurk even in their cruelty . subtle, mys-
teriOus charm.
1t was enough for Miss Turpin to dream.
The physical and practical reality Of the
doctors Dearness. perhsps, had lite weight,
but not consciously 90, to the little woman.
She never ventured to get up cough or
cramp for the sake Of stamping more
clearly his Shape into these vague but ex-
trsvsgant feats of fancy. In truth, 80
timid and afraid was she of b pulsatiOn OF
practical joy, she actually stunned and
shrank from its approach.
But more and more imposing, grandeE
and grsnder grew this one figure of her
fancy around which revOlved the satellites
Of health and wealth, popularity and fame
all that could render life swee: or desirable.
Perhaps it is detrimental to my heroine
to say that she would have been quite con.
tent to have lived upon the fruit OF her own
fancy for the remainder of her natural life.
Had circumstances compelled her to change
her abode, and had she thus lost sight Of
DIR. Blake, the dreams would have gone
along just the same, the fact of his dying in
. neighboring hospital Of weakness and
want, and the quenching of all her material
in q paupers grave, not interfering in the
least with Mics Turpin's airy fabric. 1t
would have been impossible to convince
Miss Turpin that he could reach 90 dire an
extremity, had not the knowledge been
forced in upon her in way that she could
not refuse.
She absolutely heard the gruf voice of
Mr.. Shadrach upon the morning in qpes-
ton, and the low, musical, but bitterly
hooking words of the doctor in reply.
She sat down upon the rug and claaped
both her hands. He was going away, then!
Until that moment she had not realized the
extent of such disaster. She could have
borne, perhspe, to have been compelled to
60 away herself, because the inevitable for
her had become, long since. o matter Of
course; but to have the iron hand Of in
exorable necessity grasp this mag nidcent
young man was terrible. He of the flashing
eyes, the lordly mien, the exultant step-for
thus had little Miss Turpin been won't to
classify the somewhat alluring personal At
fractions of young Blske-he to become the
prey Of IN adverse destiny!
Miss Turpin's breakfast, that morning,
was failure. By dint of long practice,
and an exceedingly gracious gift in house
wifery, she had always managed to get up
extraordinary little meals tor herself. It
was as if little sooty sngel sat up aloft in
the chimney and assisted the culinary
efforts of the lone little woman. Her toast
was of brown the most golden, her coffee
was of Mocha the most delicions, her bit of
steak DO juicy and appetizing thst some.
times poor Blake in the neighboring room,
with some chunks of brown bread floating
helpleesly in q chalky fluid before him, find
raised his clinched hand at the stern wall
between them in envy and despair.
But even the little angel in the chimney
became impatient with the behavior Of
little Miss Turpin that morning. The little
woman usually so practical and capable,
while straining her ear to listen to falter-
ing, stumbling step in the next room. de-
hberately burned the toast and boiled the
coffee, and the sooty wings spread them
selves, taking flight in disappointment and
disgust.
She held her breath as the familiar foot
step passed her door, and slowly, one BY
one, vent down the worm-eaten stairs. o.!
where was be going! What would he do?
She had read sometimes of an evening,
when working hours were over, the shaded
lamp upon the table at her side, the Goals
leaping and blazing in the refulgent CRATE,
her little slippered feet upon the fer der
she had read of people who, having neither
money, means, nor content, had drifsed into
q moment OF frenzy and despair, and thus
leaped the awful bar that separates the
known from the unknown, content to risk
any fate but that which awaited them here
She had read thus of poor, strange unfortu-
mates, and her heart had ached in their be-
half. But nOwa Well, now her heart
almost ceased to beat. She put away her
what avail was it, all blOtted and
blurred by her tears. or ruined by her shak-
ing brushs All day she feared and trem
bled; at night fall some intuitive hope
caused her to brig hten the fire, cook
ute the door. leave the tempting, cozy
room open upon the windswept, gloomy
corridor.
Then she waited and waited. The clock
struck at midnight, then one, two, three,
rom neighboring belfry; the meal was
,Old, the fire burned low; the chill, gray
morning had almost dawned, when at last
t came; yes-than God faltering and slow,
)ut it was his fOOtstep; none other could |
quicken little Miss Turpin's pulse.
He reached the landing, the door of her |
DOM. Why, truly, he did pause-yes, and
tagger in.
Any other woman but this, perhaps,
would have recOiled with disgust and hOr. |
or, and, above all, with fear, for the young
nan was evidently hot himself. His hair, |
amp and disheveled, hung in heavy disor-
Ter about his face and neck; his eyes, CLASSY |
nd lurid, blazed upon hers; a red flame
'urned in his cheek; q slight foam fecked |
is trembling lips.
He fell into the chair at the table and
oOked wOnderlngly upon the food before
i'm; but that which would have been fran.
ically devOured, six hours before, was like
he ashes of bitterness to him now He had
Ot tasted food for thrty-six hours. But it
7as not hunger that tortured him; it was
hirst--an appalling thirst.
He drank the pitcher of water from Miss
'urpin's hand, and looked pleadingly for
lore.
"Do not be afraid to give the patient
,ater," he murmured, eagerly. in cases
febrile debility they sometimes sutfer-
lffer. recommend, by all means. water
ater-water!' Then he fell back with q
roam of agony.
Miss Turpin ran out of the room and
own the stairs; pounded on the door of the
erman tailor below, who, with his wife
nd five children, were enjoying in sleep
,e only immunity granted them from end
ss labor and toll; bade him fly for the
Bst doctor in the neighborhOod; ran up
70 stairs again like deer, and found Dr..