Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-06-28

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a commission in the army. lie wished
for active service. and, as it was tho
time Of the Crimcan war he had no
difficulty i'll carrying ont his purpose.
/ His regiment WAS one Of the first sent
out
Hiida heard ot his departure with
fearful eyes. Still she did not regret the
course she had taken. Following the
noble example Of Florence Nightingale,
she went to one Of the hospital training
schools to tit herself to follow her sol
dler. if necessary, and nurse some poor
victim of the war back to life, or to
soothe his dying moments if he was
beyond help.
But other work was III store for her.
A letter from home brought news Of an
epidemic of the worst type of typhoid
fever in her own village The inhab-
tants We're so alarmed that they were
leaving tie place, and nurses could not
be obtained, 50 great was the fear Of the
contagion. The concluding item was
this:
esquire Atheron is down with it. and
OF all the indoor servants ut the manor
old Hannah who took care of the mis-
| tress III her sickness, is the only one left.
She declares if she leaves the master in
his sore heed, it'll only be feet first.
Without Il moments hesitation, Hilda
went TO the matron, telling her she was
needed at home, and procured her dis
charge. Then, laden with her prcci-
Gus, newly.gainel knowledge, she took
the first homcward- bound train.
Old Hannah was seated at her mas
ter's bedside, looking worn and weary.
As Hilda came softly in, dressed in her
clinging gray flannel dress, with her
glossy hair hidden by close-iitting
muslin cap she looked ut the surprised
old woman like an apparition. Hilda
smiled and held out her hand rs she
whispered:
Don't you know me-lIilda of Deep
dale farm? am here to help YOU
know what to do, 80 don't be afraid toll
trust me. Ill watch the master faith
fully if you'll 60 and take 4 rest"
Something i'll the girls quiet, reso-
lutte manner impressed the faithful old
servant that she was making no idle
boast, or she would not have yielded
UP her post. As il was, weary human
nature asserted its claims, and she went
gladly.
"tali soup. At tas1cu SlutcIuIiv 10 the
young nurse, us she had not broken her
fast since the reception of the letter.
After this Hilda was left alone with
the sick man. The night wore wearily
away, the silence only broken by the
restless means Of the sufferer, when
Hilda would straighten his pillow and
pass her cool hand with n magnetic
touch over his forehead, thus giving him
Il momentary relief.
After old Hannah was thoroughly
rested she and Hida divided the time
in the sick room, and by that means
kept their strength from giving out
1t was II weary fight with death; but
u strong constitution, aided by careful
nursing, carried the squire through.
The dclirium passed away, and \ deepI
sleep came upon him 1t was the
crisis
If he awakens rational and com
Portable he is saved, said the doctor.
!" If, on the contrary, he falls into state
Of coma nothing can help him.
Hours passed on. Every tick Of the
silyer-tongued repeater on the mantcl
seemed to find an echo in the hearts Of
the anxious watchers. TIE squire
awoke free from fever, though weak as
child. lie was saved.
At first Hida kept As much as pos
sible out ofhis sight, shrinking into the
shadow of the heavy damask curtains
when he was awake But he did not
seem to notice her, and she gradually
forgot her caution.
During his long and tedious GONZALES
cence he was often qucrulous and in
tractablc. 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 pres
cnce was not absolutely needed to 20
back 70 her self-imposcd duty at the
hospital One morning She had been
reading the Times, until the squire was,
rs she thought. asleep Then the paper
dropped lstleaslv in her lap. Her
thoughts, unmindful Of time and space,
we're with him she loved 10 faithfully
and self-sacriiicingly.
4 trembling voice suddenly reused
her from her reverie.
Hanah tells me you are going away.
Is it necessary Can any othel sick
person need you IL much al do2'
Hilda looked At the Old man III sur
prise. A cadence, born III loneliness
and sorrow, in lis voice, touched her
unspeakably; and as she recalled the
hale, hearty squire, who often rode by
THE farm IN the pleasant old days, cal
ling out cheerful good morning 70 her
uncle i'll his stentorian tone, telrs came
Ito her eyes to see what wreck Of his
former self lie had become.