The crisis., 1878-01-03
MY MINISTERING ANGEL.

M MiNlSTkRINH ANGEL.
We We're all at Long Branch. Allin-
cluded Tom and his wife, Nettie, and
your humble servant, Walter Byrne,
Iom's cousin and Il wandering waif of
rich man, without occupation, home or
family ties. Nettie was Toms wife's
cousin. / had heard it said before T went
down to Long Branch on Toms invita-
ton, that Nettie had emphatically de-
c!ared that she knew she should detest
Walter Byrne, for she hated an idle
man, she dcspised rowing man, and
rich young men were always horrid.
Being gifted with moderate amount
OF self-conceit, and accustomed to re-
ceiving rather hattering attentions from
the far sex. | stroked my mustache and
shrugged my shoulders, resolved that
Miss Annette Raymond's detestation
was matter of profound indifference to
me.
The first time saw her she was bob
Ding up and down holding on to the
bather's rope. Tom was driving me
over to his cottage, and pulled up his
horses.
There's Nettie," he said, "in the
broad straw hat and scarlet suit. Halloa.
Nett"
a pair of saucy black eyes gazed at
us, and piquant, pretty face was yisi-
bic under the straw hat.
Where's Amv?" shouted tom.
Got the headache"
Tom lnuphn1 nc vro 1,o,,, -.
Amy won't bathe unless | am with
her, he said; g she isnine- e-tenths afraid. "
While l was i'll my room arranging
my bachelor belongings, Nettie came
across the garden in crisp pink muslin
with her black hair loosely braided and
tied with pink ribbons. She was more
than pretty then, the most brilliant brr,.
hette beauty, not more than seventeen
years old, slender, graceful and altogeth.
er bewitching.
For three weeks we quarreled about
ten times day Nettie mocked at m,
lazy speech, taunted my stylish COS
TUNES, made fun of my ncckties and m,
gloves, and gave me fully to understand
that l was coxcomb. | bore it philo
Sophically, but in my heart ragged.
was not accustomed to being treated il
that style, but Nettie seemed to ignor,
my bank account entirely.
We nearly came to better under
standing once, when Miss Nettie wa
carried out by the undertow, and Nigh
have been drowned if had not been
powerful fellow and a good swimmer.
brought her home, all limp and sense
less and she was very quiet all day, an,
almost begged my pardon for all forme
ottenses in her gratitude. But the mex
day she was worse than ever, and til
day after that she left.
| wandered about aimlessly to th
White Mountains, Niagara, up and dow
until October, when a party going t
Europe tempted me, and | sailed ava
from New York and Nettie. | was nc
in love, but certainly | thought NOR
frequently of tlose saucy black eyes. tn
sweet ripping voice and beautiful fac
OF ,Netty Raymond than / had eve
thought of any woman's charms.
1t would be too long a story to tell Il
my adventures in the next two wear
but it was just so much later in nv lii
when found myself travelling HON,
ward from Florida, sick and wretche,
We had been wrecked off the coast {
Florida, and l was ill with fever col
tracted in New Orleans, when WI
tossed up, high and dry, in suit
sailors clothes hurriedly snatched II
as my sailor nurse and myself dressed
the confusion, unconsciously appropr
ating each others clothes My waite
purse, papers, We're all in my pocket
but in the sailors coat | found monC
enough to carry me home, to such
home as | could command, a room in
boarding-house
But L was terribly ill, and every dt
the prostrating heat was weakening
me. 1t was like insanity the longing
had for breath of northern air and
sped on and on over the iron roa
looking more like walking corpse tn,
living man.
My journey was nearly accomplisht
when sat in the train carrying n
from Washington to New York, II
last dollarspent, myrough clothes travt
worn and shabby, my life almost gol
from me.
| don't know exactly when | fainte
but came to consciousness perceivil
fragrance of cologne water near N
and knowing something was held to n
lips, / tasted wine, but | was too wei
to speak. Little cool hands arrang
some soft bundle under my head, al
then fan stirred the air around me.
must have slept, and again / awoke.
Very near me, en- the next seat,
heard sweet, low voice, saying:
I'VE get off at the next station, and
hate to awaken that poor sailor for n
handkerchief. put it over his bund
for his pillow, and there is another {
his forehead.
A voice, ,spettish and familiar answe
ed:
Just like your impudence Ne
that common fellow will have yo
handkerchief You are so horribly il
pulsivel 1t is very forward and unmai