The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-10-25

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nc reused some of the neighbors and
sent them over to TO his house to await
his return, though there could be little
danger ola second visitation that night.
Ellen Brent remained near Wash,
though II was very little she could do
for him. beyond giving an occasional
drink Of water. II was SO strange, she
thought, that twice in the same day this
singular being should have been of such
service 10 them; and in addition 10
gratitude she felt deep pity and sor-
row for him that he had received so
fearful a wound. She did not know the
extent Of his injury, but in such cases
we very naturally apprehend the worst,
and what il he should die before her
father returned with the surgeonP
"Do you suffer very muchP" she
asked, as q moan passed his lips.
mo, ma'am, not so very much, he
replied slowly; "but it's an ugly al |
got, and don't think feel as well Is l
have sometimes. I'm afraid Ill lose
several days work afore | get done
with it,"
The fellows manner was so quaint,
and his humor SO evident, that Ellen
could scarce repress smile al the very
moment that the tears gushcd from her
eyes.
I'm so sorryl" she exclaimed;
"you have done such great favors for
US to-day. You seem to be our angel Of
mercyi"
Wash tried to laugh. "You wouldn't
call me much of an angel if you knew
me, unless it was street-corner angel.
But there's a plenty more to lean against
the corners they won't miss me-
Pausing now and then, and speaking
slowly, he went on: 81 don't know
how this thing will turn out, but don't
like you TO blame me for what's hap
pened tonight, an / wouldn't like
mother and Julia to think, if-if-it
should-turn out for the worst, that I'd
gone To burglarin'; so maybe you'll tell
'em, if | can't, how it happened and
maybe you'd like to know how it happen
ed yourself. Now, arter the time you he'd
with your boss this mornin', some Of
the fellers wanted me to take a drink,
an did, eos felt as though ii would
cool me down. There was two tramps
there know they're tramps, because
| know AL the loafers that belong here.
They must hev seen yer father on the
street with lot of money in his hands,
for they asked all about you and him,
and at first | told 'em, for they seemed
honest enough, and il was natural 10
ask such questions. But when one Of
'em said the old man must be purity well
off to trot the streets with handouts Of
greeners, lhort mebbe might hev said
too much. | shut right down made
believe didn't know any thing, scarce
~, which wasn't much out Of the way,
and tried to find out who they wnz. But
they kept close mouths. and lost sight
81 'em. So loafed OF over this way,
and thought I'D keep an eye out for the
scoundrels, il they was up TO any thing;
but they were in the house here afore
knew it, and got in the best way
could-and you know the rest
1t was not long before the surgeon ar
rived, and his tone was grave after the \
and dressing was finished.
He may live and he may de- was
lis answer to the anxious inquiries.
You must see that he is kept perfectly
luiet-well cared for-don't think II
moving him-and il there isn't internal
bleeding it's possible. Ill be up during
he forenoon and see him again.
A week passed, two weeks, a month,
wen, and still Ellen Brent was watching
'eside the couch Of George Jones. Very
lowly had that young man come back
o strength, and even yet, the physician
.ssured them, he was at any moment
liable to fatal result. But there was
till hope, which had now grown almost
o probability, that he would eventu-
lily fully recover, and so the grateful
'irl, thinking not Of the future, but only
4 her indebtedness to the sufferer.
maintained her constant watch. But
he was more than a watcher. Not
ominally, but none the less really, she
ad become a teacher. And vet more /
han teacher, for the word is not vet ,
oined that expresses fully what Ellen
rent was to George Jones. She was
u that pure minded, devoted, sympa-
lizing woman could be to weak, suf- |
ring. misguided young man.
Ellen did not believe that George was
Inherently wicked, only that he was ,
'eak and wanting in will power; and
very day that conviction deepened in !
er mind. She read, sang, talked 10 y
i'm, as his mood might be; seeking, (,
Y every influence employed to lead his |,
lind in the direction Of strength and =
rmness. His room was made very y
over Of comfort and beauty, with fruit !,
nd flowers, pictures and birds, and, !
'ore than all, the tireless presence Of 4
pr whose smile and voice had become b
sensibly so interviewer with his wax I
e thoughts and sleeping visions. [,
But during all these weeks Ellen had
ever even given a hint Of the grand
'jcct she now had solely in view. " lie !,
ust first see and feel, she said to her !,
49, 4 4 n