Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-04-26
TERRITORY WEDNESDAY, APRIL &C.

But now2 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 brlsh2 All day she feared and
trembled at night-fall some intuitive
hope caused her to brighten the fire,
cook dainty meal, and, placing the ta-
BILE opposite the door, leave the tempt
ing, cozy room open upon tho wind
swept, gloomy corridor.
Then she waited and waited and wait
ed. The clock struck at midnight then
l, 2, 3, from neighboring bellry the
meal was cold the fire bnrned low the
chill, gray morning hal almost dawned,
when at last it came yes-thank God
faltering and slow, but it was his foot
steps none other coull quicken little
Miss Turpin's pulse.
He reached the landing, the door Of
her room. Why, truly, he did pause
yes, and stagger in.
Any other woman but this, perhaps,
would have recoiied with disgust and
horror, and, above all, with fear, for the
yopng man was evidently not himself.
His aair, damp and disheveled, hung in
heavy disorder about his face and neck;
his eyes, CLASSY and lurid, blazed upon
hers; red lame burned in his cheek;
slight foam fecked his trembling lips.
He fell into the chair at the table,
and looked wonderingly upon the food
before him; but that which would have
been frmtically devoured, six hours be-
fore, was like the ashes of bitt rness to
him nov. he had not tasted food for
tn 'rtg six hours. But it was not hunger
that tortured him; it was thirst-an ap-
palling thirst
He drank the pitcher Of water from
Miss Turpin's hand, and looked plead
ingly for more.
"Don't be afraid to give the patient
water" he murmured, eagerly. "In
cases of febrile debility they sometimes
sufer-suffer. I recommend, by all
means, -water-water!" Then he
fell back with o groan Of agony.
Miss Turpin ran ont of the room and
down the stairs; pounded on the door OF
the G rman tailor below, who, with his
wife and five children, we're enjoying in
sleep the only immunity granted them
from endless labor and toll; babe him
fly for the best doctor in the neighbor-
hood; ran up the stairs again like deer,
and found DIR. Blake insensible, his
head thrown back upon the chair, his
stertorous breathing audible in the cor
ridor below.
The little German returned with the
very best medical aid in the vicinity,
even that OF the eminent DR.. Havershaw
himself.
All this fuss aud confusion had aroused
Mr.. Shadrach, who followed them up
the stairs and protruded his long, hairy
chin in the doorway.
"1t is, perhaps, best that you shoul !
know, madam, said the surgeon to little
Miss Turpin, "that it is doubtful case.
Your husband is in a very criticul condi-
ton. If this worthy man will assist me,
we will get him to bed. Our only hope
is powerful sedatve at once"
The worthy man alluded to was Mr..
Shadrach, whose eyes almost left their
sockets when he found the doctor pro-
pairing to put his young lodger in Miss
Turpin's bed.
"Why-why," he gasped, looking
over at Miss Turpin, "this won't Go,
viii it2"
Miss Turpin bowed her head. She
could not speak, but it seemed to her
that her heart made all the noise that
was necessary. Its convulsive throbs
moved the shawl she had thrown about
her shoulders.
"Don't chatter here, ''said the doctor,
thinking Mr.. Sha drach was addressing
him. "Just do what 1 bid you, and the
more quietly, the better.
Half an hour after, Miss Turpin was
alone again, save for the cody OF the
doctor that lay upon the bed. He was
helpless there, perhaps dying his face
was strange and distorted, his eyes half
closed. A confused, unintelligible muir
muir flowed from his lips, his hands
clinched and unclinched at times a
groan seemed wr,lng from his vitals.
Miss Turpin's features were pale and
haggard, her eyes streaming with tears.
Yet, in the midst of an anguish that par
took of despair, with throes of pain and
terror unspeakable, there was born to
her a solemn and almost sinister Joy, the
first ever given to that sterile soul.
When the doctor came in the evening,
he thought he had never seen so patient
and noble face there was something
in it that went to his heart.
"Be comforted." he said "let us
rely upon the youth and strong physique
of your husband"
The incoherent utterings of his patient
attracted the doctors attention. Sharp
and strong sentences fell upon his ear,
that excited his professional curiosity.
When he heard from Miss Turpin of the
enthusiasm and zeal Of the young stu.
dent, as much as she dared tell him Of
his defeated aspirations and hopes, the
good doctors eyes kindled with sym
pathy.
".Let him only get well, he said,
"and we will sweep these lions out OF his
path"
Miss Turpin smiled through her tears
"He will get well, thanks to you, shs
said.
Sand to you," he added, looking
around the room witt appreciation. L
Lad been suddenly metamorphosed int
the model OF q chamber for the sick. Th'
open fire, with its cheering blaze ant
ventilating draught; the subdued light
!, the white and warm drapery of the bed
!, her own little couch near by; prett,
shadowy pictures upon the walls, tinte.
,l by her own handa-an eloquent siLenc
/ | reigning over ali. ~
"It is lucky for yonder lad, /" though
the doctor, "that in all this big, wretch
J, cd barrack, tho one little snuggery is hi
own.
And SO the days went by, each on