The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-06-29

LILO Wtub DelOW llbO biS CuDlu tD l1e
down. He is in poor health, and is
much fatigued."
"I'll go down and prescribe for him.
have some medicine in this flask (pull-
ing leather covered bottle from his
pocket that may do him good"
Il beg of you do not" replied Ada.
II promised him he should not be dis
turbed till we reached Staten Island"
"As you will, Miss Driscoll. To re.
turn to Commander Ralston. 1 would
give five years of my life to bring him
through, but he was worn out nursing
his comrades when attacked, and he can
not weather, the lfever. Poor fell
low It's too bad-too bad. He was
raving about the girl he loves-was to
have married quite soon. A very hard
case !"
Ada sobbed, and the whole party
were deeply affected. Little CONVERSE
tion took place until the Fenton reach
ed quarantine.
I will go and rouse Ward" said Mr..
Carter.
Ada caught his arm.
=" He's not there, Mel"
"Where is he ?"
"On the Old Hulk, thank God. Oh,
Mel, it was not my cousin-not man
but Amy Adair, the betrothed wife of
Lieut.. Commander Ralston."
All had listened, and were struck
dumb with surprise. DIR. r. asked
many questions, and Ada related the
story of her afternoons adventure.
cit may be my duty to return to the
hulk and bring her away, but she has
risked her life for her lover, and will
not interfere" said DR.. r.
We will now return to Amy Adair.
She cautiously assembled the ladder, and
when once on the deck of the hospital
ship seated herself in q dark place, on a
pile of rope, until she saw the Fenton
glide far away out of sight. Faint and
trembling, she found the companion
way, which she descended, meeting sew
eral men, who regarded her with sur
prise. What sickening scene was that
presented by the long cabin, with its
rows OF cots, on which lay the poor fell
lows tossing with fever, some near their
end. The lights were low, and she
passed from bed to bed, unable to re-
cognize the one she sought. She ques-
toned nurse as to the whereabouts of
the com mander. "Take me to him, 4"
she said; II was left here by DIR. r. to
attend him." The man obeyed, and
soon Amy found herself in the room on
the upper deck, by the bedside of her
dying lover. His eyes were closed, his
lips parched, his countenance bearing
the yellow hue of the fatal disease.
"Leave me with him awhile" she
said to the attendant.
Have you orders from DR.. T. 2 for
the commander cannot last long"
Oh, my uuu !! excla1med Amy, anu
knelt beside the dying man.
"I will return in ten minutes to give
the powders. Sponge his lips often"
Amy bent over her beloved. She
begged him to look at her. He opened
his eyes, but to stare wildly, calling:
"Amy |" "Mother |" Here, here, :"
she whispered; but he needed not.
The resident physician and nurse en-
tered the room few moments afterward,
when Amy explained to the former that
she had been left by DR.. r. to be
with her dear friend in his last moments.
She would like the privilege of watch
ing with him over night.
"He will not be with us the night
through" replied the doctor. "He is
nearly gone," feeling his pulse.
Amy trembled-the great tears rolled
down her face. After giving some di-
rections, the doctor went on his round,
suspecting some stratagem had been
used by the lad to get aboard.
Amy raised the head of Richard and
placed it on her breast, moistened his
lips, and, sobbing, prayed for her dying
beloved.
"Used to fevers9" said the nurse.
"Don't take his breath, young man, or
you'll be down."
She needed not, but bent over to
catch the rambling words of delirium.
Soon they ceased, and the measured
breath, which marks the tramp of ap-
preaching death, came and went fainter
and fainter. The hot hands grew cooler,
and the eyes half opened.
81 think I'll summon the doctor.
He's going, sir"
"Do not, he can do no good-leave
me with him, beseech you; he is mine;
let me have him to myself for the few
moments he is alive"
Staring at her, as if he could not
understand, the man withdrew. "Will
you not speak to me, Richard Can you
not hear me? Oh, beloved |"
No sound but the rattle SO terrible to
the watcher; then the last gray shade
stole over the face, which became as
marble, and the soul had taken wing
from earth.
Amy laid the heavy head on its pillow,
and giving way to her grief, threw her.
self beside her dead lover.
When the attendant entered and saw
what had happened he called DIR. T.. In
lifting the lad who had swooned, the
false curls dropped off, and long brown
hair, Enthusiastically woman's, fell to the.
waist of the unconscious form.
The next morning dispatch was re-
ceived at quarantine from lower Staten
Island to this effect
"Lieut. commander died at twelve
last night. Lady left by DR.. r. deliri-
GUS. Send barge for her,"