, 1876-06-03

pcti2iug that sometimes poor Blake in
tlIc neighboring room, with some chunks
of brown bread floating hclplcssIy in a
chalky fluid before him, finding this sa-
worry odor under his nostrils, raised his
Clenchcd hand at the stem wall between
them in envy and despair.
But even tie little angel in the lhim-
neg became impatient with the behavior
Of little Miss Tnrpin that morning.
The little woman, usually so praetica!
and capable, while straining her ear to
listen to a faltcring, stumbling step in
the next room, deliberately burned the
toast and boiled the coffee, and the sooty
wings spread themselves, taking fight
in disappointment and disgust.
She held her breath us the familiar
footsteps passed her door, and slowly, one
bv one, went down the worm eaten stairs.
Oh where was he goingl What would
he do 7 She bad read sometimes of an
. evening, when working hours We're over,
the shaded lamp upon the table at her
side, the Goals leaping and blazing in the
reIulgcnt crate, her little slippered feet
upon the fcndcr-shc had read of people
who, having neither money, means, nor
content, had drifted into 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 unfortunatcs,
and her heart had ached in their behalf.
But now? Well, now her heart almost
ceased to beat She put away her work
of what avail WAS it, all blotted and
blurred by her tears, or ruined by her
shaking brush All day she feared and
tlemblcd at night-fal some intuitive
hope caused her to brighten the fire,
cook dainty meal, and, placing the ta-
bic opposite the door, leave the tempt
ing, coy room open upon the wind
swept, gloomy corridor.
Then she waited aud waited and wait
cd. The clock struck at midnight then
|, ., 3, from ncighboring belIry; the
meal was cold the fire burned low; the
chill, gray morning had almost dawncd'
hen at last it came; ycs-thank God
faltering and slow, but it was his foot
steps; none other could quicken little
Miss Turpin's pulse.
lie reached the landing, the door Of
herroosf. WHY, truly, he did pause
yes, and stugger in.
Any other woman but this, perhaps,
would have rccoled with disgust and
horror, and, above all, with fear, for the
young man was evidently not himself.
Ills hair, damp and dsheveled, hung in
heavy disorder about his face and neck ;
his eyes, CLASSY and lurid, blazed upon
hers; red flame burned in his check O
slight foam flecked his trembling lips.
lie fell into the chair at the table,
and looked wondcringly upon the food
) before him; but that which would have
been frantically dcyoured, six hours be
, fore, was like the ashes Of bitterness to
him now. lie bad not tasted food for
thirty.six hours. But it was not hunger
that tortured him it was thirst an ap
palling thirst.
lie drank the pitcher OF water from
Miss Turpin's hand, and looked plead
ingy for more.
Don't be afraid to give the patient
water" he murmured, eagerly. "m
cases of febrile debility they sometimes
suffer-sufer. | recommend, by all
means, water -water--watef! Then he
fell back with groan of agony.
: Miss Turpin ran out Of tho room and
down the stairs pounded on the door OF
the German tailor below, who, with Ills
) wife and five children, were enjoying in
sleep the only immunity granted them
from endless labor and toll; bade him
: fly for the best doctor in the neighbor.
, hood; ran up the stairs again like adeer,
and found DR.. Blake insensible, his head
. thrown back upon the chair, his stcrto-
> rous breathing audible in the corridor
below.
The little German returned with the
, very best medical aid in the vicinity
:, even that of the eminent DR.. Havershaw
4 himself.