The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-08-09
ELINOR MARCEL0N'S LOVER.

sis that you, Einor?" The pale face
was raised eagerly and turned toward
the door, as though the bandaged eyes
could see through their covering, and
then, as the newcomer came swiftly
across the room and sat down ON the low
seat beside the sofa, the disheveled head
settled back on the tumbled pillows with
a sigh of relief and satisfaction, although
she had been gone from the room only a
few moments.
"Yes, it is I ~ and the deft fingers
Strengthened out the cushions and
smoothed back the rough hair from his
forehead as they did so many weary
times daily. "How are the poor eyes? :?
it is time to attend to them now;" and
the same light, skillful hands adjusted
the bandage quickly, but tenderly.
"The doctor says you are improving
every hour-it is only patience that you
need now, for little time-and then
oh, Maxi am so thankful !" and the
cheerful voice broke down suddenly, as
Max Valentines arm drew her close, and
the bright face was hidden for a moment
ON his bosom.
"And I owe it all to you," he whis-
pered, holding her closer yet. "No
other could have brought me through. it
as you have done, darling" And Elinor
Marcelon, as she rested her tired head
there, felt that she was more than repaid
for all the work and worry and unrest of
the past weeks-al the WEAKNESS and
misery of it-now that he was so nearly
well again.
1t was very narrow escape this of
Max Valentine's-a long, hard struggle
for life it had been; but with Elinor to
help and pray for him, he had con-
quered.
Fortunate it was for him that he had
fallen into such hands; for, although
Paul Marcelon's household and house
keeping was of rather "mixed and
Bohemian style, he was honestly fond of
his friend, and, when he saw the illness
coming on, had taken him in and given
him the best of everything to the
only spare chamber, and his own sister
for nurse.
"Don't send for any one." That was
Max's cry from the first. 'They will kill
me they come sniveling around Promise
that you won't let any one know unless
you must ;" and that promise being
made, he gave himself up to delirium
and fever, and Einor Marcelon nursed
him through it, and brought him almost
out of the "valley of the shadow of
death, feeling, with every hour that she
passed by his sick-bed, that he grew
nearer and dearer to her.
He had made love to her In light,
careless way ever since he first began to
drop into Paul's studio now and then ;
and she, being quite used to that style
of thing from most of Pauls numerous
acuuaintances ever since her childhood,
had accepted it as a matter OF course
until he was taken i'll then it came to
her suddenly and clearly that he was the
one man in all this world to her, and
now she knew that she had saved him,
and was thankful.
GIVE some news for you, Max" she
said, suddenly breaking the little silence
which had fallen between them. 81
know you long for something of the
kind, shut up in this dreary room. We
have q new arrival-a far-away cousin
of ours-who has taken fancy to study
art under Paul's guidance. and is to stay
with us all winter"
81 hate new people, Max answered
savagely. 81 hope he doesn't intend t.
monopolize you, Nellie. I purpose do
ing that myself"
"'Hel E" laughed Nellie. 81 don
think he cherishes any such intention
He is young lady, Max, and one o
the loveliest ones ever saw-Alice Bar
den. am sure you will like her."
"I trust so," answered Max, dryly
"but on general principles. I hate neN
people," And then the subject wa
dropped.
After this, Max grew rapidly better
But even after the bandage was take
from his eyes, and he was able to wal
up and down the dimly-lighted rool
without assistance, Elinor was in COZ
slant requisition. Like most petite
Individuals, he grew very e1acting, br
EInor was only too glad to feel that sll
was n helm and a comfort 10 him, Ono