The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-17


The young girl commenced her task,
and continued it Win unwearied pa
tience for nearly three hours. The work
was then dOne-nOt SO rapidly as he
would have accomplished ii, but neatly
anu correctly. Before she lett him she
mad eXacl ed solemn promise that he
WOuiu bring nome spme more writing on
tue loliowing day. His employer had
great confidence in him, and often. in
consideration OF his failing nealth al
lowed him 70 take away a portion OF his
daily work, and complete it in the quiet
of his own room. This continued for
about Il week. Every evening Lucy de-
voted herself heart and soul 10 The dull
task OF copying legai documents, when
she could not understand, and would
have telL no interest in il she could;
anu while she thus toiled in cheerful
ness and content, the young c ERIK leaned
back in his easy chair and rested peace
fully.
One m morning he was rather later than
usuab and had got nearly huff way
down the stars before he perceived that
he had forgotten his bundle OF papers.
He turned ana went back hastily 10
letoh them, but when within lew steps
of the top he was seized with vio.ent
uttering deep groan. Lucy, VINO was
In an adjoining room, ran out, aud her
screams quickly summoned every one in
the mouse to his assistance. A stream
OF blood was flowing from his mouth and
trickling down the stairs. they bore
him up into his room, and laid MIN on
the bed.
A surgeon was sent for, who prescribed
the usual remedies, but pronounced the
case quite hopeless.
"ln all probability" he said, "the
Young man will never rise again from
The bed on which he is stretched"
When the first interest was over, all
lett him but the faithful Lucy. She re-
NAMED beside him the whole day, with
the exception of a brief interval, when
she ran to the lawyers office TO deliver
up the papers and report his serious ILL
ness. The attorney seemed to be kind
hearted man, and expressed him sell
deeply concerned at the young mans
increased illness.
"Poor fellowv' he said, 81 fear he will
never get out again. Are you going
back to him? Do you live in the same
hOuseV
Eyes, SIR" she replied modestly, ''my
mother keeps Lhe house, and he lodged
with u.s."
"Ah, yes, to be sure; he would not
send those papers by any one who was
not trustworthy. Then Pll send his
weeks salary by you, if you will give
me receipt for it,"
"He did not tell me to ask for 1t, sir /;
and | don't think the week is up"
she Will never come here again." said
the lawyer; $50 he may as well have il
at once-he may want it,"
"He could DO little writing at home,
sir, If you'd be so kind as to let hlm
have it, though he can not 20 out" SAID
Lucy, with 50 much embarrassment OF
manner that she completely betrayed
herself to the sharp-sighted lawyer.
Gay, ayr he CALCULATED, interroga-
lively; and then he took up the writing
and examined it closely, aud then he
looked snrewdly at the tIlnid girl.
"Well,' he mnttered, "lL is nothing to
me, and The writing ia good. Yes, Phi
give you some more"
She gave him receipt for the money,
and, furnished with some more docu
ments to copy, she fastened nome with
a light step.
About the middle OF the following
night, the invalid awoke from a dee D
slumber, and saw poor Lucy bending
over the table writing by The light OF a
single candle.
Lucy" he called, in weak voice,
"wnat are you doing? That writing was
all finished. There were no errors, were
thereW
"No; it was all right" answered
Lucy, rising and going toward HIM.
asked Ior more-thaps ALL"
"And you are sacrificing your health
and destroying your rest to toll for me, )"
he said, in a tone of deep sel;-reproach,
"Oh, no! don't think that. | must
have sLaid up with you tonight, and l
was only writing little tor amuse-
ment."
"a pretty amusement, indeed, copy
ing law papersW he said, moving his
mead restlessly on the pillow. "Pray slL
III the arm chair and 60 TO sleep. l feel
too Ill 10 talk much, so do as tell you
at once. Give me something TO drink
first. Thank you, dear.
Her lip quiyered and her eye cleaned
at this family uttered term OF endear-
ment. She went to the chair, and after
arranging the fire, she SAT down, and re-
mained so still that he might easily have
supposed her to be asleep. But the tears
that poured through her nalf-closed eye
lids ana fell upon her bosom, and the
slight motion ot her lips, that moved as
if IN prayer, told me that she was
awake. After an nour Of restless toss
ing, mingled with low means that fol-
lowed his frequent fits OF coughing, he al
length slept, and as soon as his altered
breathing announced this TACT, Lucy
rose, and stealthily resumed her work.
The cold dawn found her al it still, but
The bright sun had not long been shining
upon the window blind When 1T was end
ed.
she carried the writing to the office
early on the following day, received the
trit1Ing remuneration for her nights
toll, aud returned home with more work,
which she executed i'll the intervals OIL
her anxious nursing. She had been 30
earnest in her entreaties that he would
not oppose her wishes, that he had
ceased to demonstrate, and yielded him
self passiVely TO her guidance. For near
ly a month this went on; she working
as assiduously as she could, consistent
ly with his daily increasing demands
upon her attention, and exisLlng almost
without sleep, as only woman can.
One evening he seemed SO much better
that poor Lucy became quite buoyant
with hope. He sat up in his cnair,
wrapped in a warm, wadded gown that
she mad made for him, and talked smi..
ingly and cneerlully OF the future. Even
his cough seemed better, and he drank
his tea with a relish TO which he had