The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-03-23

were leaving the place, and nurses could
not be obtained, so great was the fear OF
the contagion. The concluding item
was this
esquire Anterior is down with it, and
of all the indoor servants at the manor
old Hannah, who took care of the mis-
tress in her last sickness, is the only one
| left. She declares if she leaves the mas.
ter in his sore need, it'll only be feet
| first"
Without moments hesitation, Hilda
went to the matron, telling her she was
needed at home, and procured her dis
charge. Then, laden with her precious
newly gained knowledge, she took the
first homeward-bound train.
Old Hannah was seated at the masters
bedside, looking worn and weary. As
Hilda came softly in, dressed in hel
clinging gray flannel dress, with her CLOS
sly hair hidden by a close-ftting muslin
cap, she looked to the surprised OLD
woman like an apparition. Hilda smiled
and held out her hand as she whispered
Don't you know me-Hilda, of Deep
dale farm? | am here to help you.
know what to do, so don't be afraid tC
trust me. I'll watch the master faithfully
if you'll 60 and take rest"
Something in the girls quiet, resolute
manner impressed the faithful old servant
that she was making no idle boast, or she
would not have yielded up her post As
it was, weary human nature asserted its
claims, and she went gladly.
She soon came back with a bowl OF
warm soup. 1t tasted gratefully to the
young nurse, as she had not broken he1
fast since the reception of the letter.
After this, 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 hen
cool hand with a magnetic touch over
his forehead, thus giving him 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 out
1t was weary fight with death; but a
strong constitution, aided by careful
nursing, carried the squire through. The
delirium passed away, and deep sleer
came upon him. 1t was the crisis.
I" If he awakens rational and comfort
able, he is saved" said the doctor eff,
on the contrary, he falls into a state OF
coma, nothing can help him."
Hours passed on. Every tick of the
| silvertongued 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 child. He
was saved.
At first Hilda kept as much as possible
out of his sight, shrinking into the
shadow of the heavy damask curtain:
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 querulous and intract
able. Then Hilda would take book anc
read to him in her low, musical voice, anc
| thus soothe him to sleep
She was only waiting until her presence
was not absolutely needed to 60 back tt
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 Ia her lap. Her thoughts
unmindful of time and space, were with
him she loved SO faithfully and self
sacrificingly.
A trembling voice suddenly reused hel
| from her reverie:
Hannah tells me you are going away
Is it necessary? Can any other sick per-
son need you as much as | 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 pleasantold days, calling out
a cheerful good morning to her uncle in
! his stentorian tone, tears came to her eyes
/ to see what wreck of his former self he
/ had become.
| After brief hesitation she said softly:
off you need me / will 90 away for
the present"
do need you very much, was the
reply. I" So that matter is settled. Now,
nurse, [ want to ask you a question.
Have | ever seen you before? Somehow
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 came in with the
mail. Important news from the army
was expected, there have been rumors
of an engagement.
" Get the paper, nurse, and run over
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 on
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, and her hair
rolled in all its rich luxuriance around
her-a kindly mantle that hid her deathly
face from even old Hannah's pitying eyes.
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 ENGAGEMENT.
Great loss OF office and men-Cyril Atherton,
OF the Grays, mortafly wounded while
endeayoring to silence
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 CIR" 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 dazed, bewil-
dered way, then she put out both hands
nr,I r,nn+inr,nd him ournu