The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-04-28


About half an hour afterwards Char
lac ushercd in the man Of medicine.
"This is DIR. Kingston, George" he
said. and | saw a tall. very large man,
with sleepy eyes and curly brown hair
and beard; a gentle big man, with a
kind voice.
He left some drops for Nelly and said
he'd call again.
IL was many and many a time DIR.
Kingston was destined 10 call again,
and Nelly's life was hanging by a
thread.
Late one night he called. Mamma
had cried herself TO sleep, and Charlie
was watching down stairs. DIR. King
ston took both my hseds in one of his
big, gentle ones, and laying the other on
my shoulder said in a plying tone:
My dear Miss Dunbar. | have done
my best; we can only be patient now
and wait; her life is in higher hands
than ours"
saw Charities white face disappear
from the doorway. | shivered and drew
my shawl closer round me. | bent closer
over my darling and noted her warm,
flushed face, h~alf-closed eyes and rest
less hands. | called her name, but she
made no sign. The Doctor pressed my
hand kindly and went away. promising
To come again during the night. l stay
ed At her residence "A little longer, then
went To poor Charlie, who was breaking
his heart out in the passage.
80 Charlie, CHARLIE | cried, and
threw my arms about his neck, drawing
my head upon his shoulder. | tried 10
comfort him for me | had no tears 10
shed. At last ! got him quieter and
sent him down stairs. | returned and
sat down by the window, and looked
out on the murky night. | don't know
how long | sat there, when suddenly /
turned 10 the bed. Nelly lay very quiet.
A strange stiffness seemed To have
stolen over her. Her hands were al
rest, and a pallor seemed TO have set
tied on her sweet face. Could this be
death | asked myself. How fearfully
still every thing was. Was she dying.
passing away in that noiseless manner?
A terrible feeling came over me. Must
l see her die, nay darling? | who had
never seen death. Such a dread seized
me that | ran and called Charlie. He
came quietly with "A white anxious face.
s.Charlie, u said, "Nellie is dying; a
change has come"
He went over and touched her hands.
There's a change, George" he said,
shut | don't think it's DEATH
We stood there hand clasped in hand
looking at the silent figure on the bed,
till the Doctors step on the stairs
brought a feeling Of relief. lie came in
softly and we moved aside and he stood
looking down at her.
"Oh, DR.. Kingston, what is it?" /
asked.
"She is BETTER he answered, turn
ing to me. II think, with care, she
will recover
/ looked up 20 thank him and his eyes
were full of tears. / held out my hands
to him in gratitude. and like a silly girl
he began to CRY. He drew me right
into his arms, and Irested my tired head
| for n moment on his kind heart. /
| seemed such Il little thing, quite lost in
his embrace.
"Poor little girl, - he said, smoothing
my ruflled hair, "you are tired OUT
ami he made me sit down in the big
chair and drink something he gave me,
after which | felt better. He stayed
awhile and talked, oh, so kindly, to
Charlie and me that | was sorry when
he left Us.
After that Nelly began to improve
very slowly, and il was a long time be-
fore she was able 10 90 about again.
In the meantime the state Of our funds
was low, very low; the Doctors bill
that must come in some day became "A
perfect nightmare TO me, for, though
Nelly was out Of his care, DIR. Kingston
still continued his visits at intervals.
Poor wanted TO know if we
were to pay for all those visits. 1
hoped not, as in that case we would be
utterly ruined. Mamma said she had
her doubts, but then poor mamma al
WAYS had her doubts about something.
At last | came To the conclusion that he
wanted to marry some Of Us, which,
was the question. Surely not poor
mamma, nor Nelly, a. she seldom saw
him, being confined to her room. 1
was the only other. SO / suppose il was
me. ! Immediately found peace Of
mind, AT least as far as his bill was con-
cerned. lie was very nice, too; kind,
and handsome, and young; about thir-
ty-five | fancied. lie always gave one
the idea, when he moved or spoke, of
some ponderous machinery that was
hard TO set going.
"My handsome DOCTOR" Nelly called
him.
Once in the goodness Of her heart
mamma asked him to stay to tea. /
rushed up in despair to consult Nelly.
Fry some ham," said Nelly.
"c,opd gracious, Nelly" | cried,
"that's always your suggestion. Al
ways under the impression that he liked
ham"
Well, that nee | acted on Nelly's
snroesfion. and disnafched Charlie ON