The Morning herald., 1878-06-01

door, quick but quiet footstep came up the
stairs, and Frank Lenny entered the room.
She held up her hand warningly, and he
stole across the room on tip-toe.
He started as he came nearer, and held
out his hand.
Mrs Lawrell, you here? How strange!
Is your husband with you? All, forgive me
I forgot!'. and he glanced at her black
dress-she still woe bllck, feeling disin-
clined for colors now. ''How is poor
Dick" he asked before she could speak,
"and how is it you are nursing himT'
'He is very, very i'll. 1t is by the merest
chance am here. I happened to be lodg-
ing in the house, and the landlady asked
me to help her in the nursing. L am glad
YOU have come, but--will you call me Mrs.
Elton, please? do not bear my husbands
name now. We separated some years ago,
and since then have always called myself
Mrs Elton"
81 will try to remember I am not sur
prised'- he looked grave. 81 have
heard good deal of him from Dick, and
sometimes wondered he never mentioned
you"
81 have not seen your brother for num-
ber of years till last night. am afraid the
doctor thinks very badly Of him. Have you
come alone?'
"Yes. There is nobody else to come.
Our only sister is married. and out in India
now ; Dick and are the last of the family"
''You are not married then?" she said,
with some hesitation.
"No. have never seen o sufficiently per-
feet woman to suit r1y exacting taste. And
poor Richard lost his wife and child in fire
at hotel where they were staying in town.
He was out when the fire started, and when
he returned. the hotel was burnt to the
ground, and they perished in it. l think
Gthe shock turned his brain for time; but
he took to drinking and fast living, and has
been ruined man ever since. lie would
never have been what he is now if Mary had
lived. She was one OF the best Of women"
GLOW very sad y said Sibyl, her eyes fill
ing, He keeps calling me Mary, and will
do anything I ask him.
"You are little like her." remarked
| Frank Lenny. ''She was beautiful girl.
| | am glad the poor fellow has such an inn
aginary happiness"
1t was not meant as a compliment, and
Sibyl took it quietly. 1t mattered moth
| inc to her now whether she was handsome
or plain
Doctor Godfrey came in at that moment,
and looked inq1isitively at the new conner.
Sibyl explained
IF am glad you have come," he said
shortly. at is critical matter just now.
| IF he lives through the next three hours, he
may rally. and lie will have Mrs. Elton to
thank as much as anybody for his life. She
could not have nursed her dearest friend
more carefully"
"And he almost my dearest foe" she
thought bitterly; and then she left the room
and Went to look for Cecil. Doctor Godfrey
tapped at her door as he passed, and entered
| at her invitation, :,
s.There is a slight change for the better,
he said i: "but if he RECEIVERS consciousness
| Won must be very careful not to let him talk
| Any excitement would be most dangerous
| II Won are not tired out, think it would be
| better for YOU to be with him tonight. lie
seems to prefer your nursing to MIS- Ls-
gros'." .c a5ooa -
"He imagines am his wife, who is dead
answered Mrs Elton grayely, Tor Somethln3 n
in his manner annoyed ber lie evidently
Thought that there was more under the SUE
face, and that her statement that she was
there by the merest chance was not qul'e
true. L., .
.NNhatevcr it is, your presence has a
soothing effect, and IL will be KIND OF you 10
remain with him for the next lew hourS'
But YOU may as well warn his brothef Ihat
even if he lives through this attack ne can
never recover. He will only hnger on a
few weeks or perhaps months. lis Who4e
frame is wrecked by intemperance. -,
He watched her closely as he made u, the
announcement, and she looked him steadily
" 81 am afraid, from all 1 hear, his death
will not be great source OF grle1 70 any
body" she answered carelessly. but OF
course we must do our best to prolong his
life, therefore will do as you wish. -,
.'Thanls you," he said more pleasantly;
81 wish I could find a few more such gooo
S0mortans by the wayside. Good evening
T shall be here the first thing III the morn
ing" 7 7,o 1on N.
roo,u So once more she watched through
the niobt and listened to the quick, rafting
brcat6' changed the poultices, and ADMINS
toroi his medicine, while Frank LenllS
watched her with all mans admiration o.
har Gentle movements and quiet skill. 6he
U,os One of those women to whom nursing
camc by nature, and little Cecil had glVel
Ior come practice since his accident. AilI
ogain Doctor Godfrey said that there was
G9rided improvement and good chance {,
q Temporary recovery. At times, the Sicl
pnons senses returned, but only IN dream.
r,eh;on that made him express no snrprlS'
.t saeing either his brother OF Mrs Elton
IT, IT, was not till the evening of the tolloWih(
dov that he asked how they came there-lo
no" 1te"av u'' and every hour his breathing be
'', came easier and bis strength greater. bi bG
when when sibyl spoke Of relinquishing her r t'sl
ha % was SO distressed, and implored her St
pteousy ~p not to hand him over to to- he the ten ter
''oi 1: Ioft She often wondered, as da