Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-03-20

charge. Then, laden with her preciouI
newly gained knowledge, she took tn
frst homcwsrd-bound train.
Old Hannah was seated at the MASTER
bedside, looking worn and weary. A,
Hilda came softly in, dressed in hel
clinging gray flannel dress, with her CLOS
81 hair hidden By 3 close-Rtting muslin
cap, she looked to the surprised ole
woman like an apparition. Hilda smilet
and held out her hand rs she whispered
"Don't you know me-Hilda, of Deep
dale farm9 | am here to help you.
know what to do, 30 don't be afraid Il
trust mi. I'll watch the master faithfully
IL you'll 70 and take a rest"
Something in the girls quiet, resolutt
manner impressed the f~aithfulold servant
that she was making no idle boast, or she
would not have yielded up her post. Al
IL was, weary human nature asserted it,
claims and she went gladly.
She sOon came back with a bowl OF
warm soup II tasted gratefully. to the
young nurse, ~ she had not broken her
last since the reception of the letter.
After thiA Hilda was left alone, with
the sick man. The night wore YEARLY
away, the silence only broken by the rest
less means Of the sufferer, when Hilda
would strAighten his pillow, and pass her
cool hand with . magnetic touch over
his forehead, thus giving him a momen
tary relief
After old Hannah was thoroughly
rested, she and Hilda divided the time
in the sick room, and by that means kept
their strength from giving cut.
81 - -..-w G~h< ~rskh loath hut a
strong constitution, aided by careful
nursing, carried the squire through. The
delirium passed away, and q deep sleep
came upon him. 1t vas the crisis.
eff he awakcns rational and comfort
able, he Is saved" said the doctor. eff,
on the contrary, he falls into a state of
CONS, nothing a help him."
Hours passed IN. Every tick of the
silver-tongued repeater on the mantle
seemed to find an echo in the hearts of
the anxious watchers. At last the critical
moment came. The Squire awoke free
from fever, though weak as a child. He
was saved.
At first Hilda kept as much as possible
out Of his sight, shrinking into the
shadow of the heavy damask curtains
when he was awake. But he did not
seem K notice her, and she gradually
forgot her caution.
During his long and tedious GONZALES
cence he was often querulous and intract-
able. Then Hilda would take a book and
read to him in her low, musical voice, and
thus soothe him to sleep
She was only waiting until her presence
was not absolutely needed to go back to
her self-imposed duty at the hospital.
One morning she had been reading the
Times, until the Squire was, as she
thought, asleep. Then the paper dropped
listlessly in her lap. Her thoughts,
unmindful of time and space, were with
him she loved 70 faithfully and self
~sacri6cingly.
| A trembling voice suddenly reused her
from her reverie:
"Hannah tells me you are going away.
Is it necessary? Can any other sick per-
son need you as much as I do?"
Hilda looked at the old man in sur
prise. A cadence, born of loneliness and
sorrow, in his voice, touched her un-
speakably and as she recalled the hale,
hearty Squire, who often rode by the
farm in the pleasanto old days, calling out
a cheerful good morning to her uncle in
his stentorian tone, tears came to her eyes
to see what a wreck of his former self he
had become.
After q brief hesitation she said softly:
elf you need me l will go away for
the present"
II do need you very much" was the
reply. $50 that matter is settled. Now,
nurse, / want to ask you a question.
I1ovyn avyop ~vu,, hfo-oo Cn1-,
your face seems familiar, but / cannot
place it.
Hilda felt the blood dyeing her face,
even to the border of her cap. She turned
away, ~ostensibly to adjust the folds of a
curtain, in reality to avoid a reply.
Just then Hannah cam in with the
mail. Important news from the army
was expected, there have been rumors
OF an engagement.
the war items"
Hannah caught the words and passed
on her way out. in her way she was as
much interested as the Squire. Was it
not her nursing who was far away OH
the battlefield striving to win his spurs?
Hilda took the paper and ran her eyes
over the columns. One pitiful moan
escaped her lips; the next moment she
lay apparently ~lifeless on the floor. The
heavy fall loosened her cap,a and her hair
rolled in all its rich l%uxuriance around
her-ak kindly mantle that hid her deathly
face from even old Hannah's pityingeyes.
A dash OF cold water soon revived her,
and as soon as the fright occasioned by
her sudden illness had subsidized, the
Squire took the paper, and saw facing him
in staring letters:
A BLOODY EEGAGRMKNr.
Great loss q Office $ and men-Cyril Athertou,
OF the Grays. mor,sll. wounded while
tndeavoripg TO silence
q battery.
The letters swan before his eyes. He
could read no more. He rose feebly and
dragged his shaking limbs to Hilda's side.
"My poor girl" he said, brokenly. But
he did not finish his sentence; for, at the
sound of his voice Hilda opened her eyes
and looked at him, first in a dazed, bewil-
dered way, then she put out both hands
and mOtioned him away.
eve have killed him between US! DO
you hear? You and +! Oh, my darling
my d~arling!"
The Squire turned to Hannah:
"Who is this young woman?"
"Lord bless US, sir. Didn't you know
it was Hilda? Master Cyril's Hilda, who,
has been risking her own life to save
yours?"
Hilda's voice interrupted them:
"The grave is the lonesome couch we
have given your bonny head, and your
father may think it a better one for you
than your low-born Hilda's arm. Oh,
my own Cyril, could you but know how
my heart ached when l shut the door in
your face, and sent you to do your duty:
but you never, neve will be the wiser!
You have gone forever, and thinking,
toe, that Hilda was cruel and heartless.
Oh, cruel Hilda! and more cruel father!"
1t made the old mans frame culver
like an aspen leaf to hear the bereayed
girl. He felt himself almost a murderer,
II 10 tho VN.v -1-:-x--