The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-03-07

ton of cold ice to the back of his head re-
stored his consciousness of where he was,
and he turned toward the railway sta
ton, having in his excitement wandered
half mile in the opposite direction.
Had that partial bath suddenly cooled
his passion? Clarence could not have
told, but somehow he did not feel as mis-
erable as he had expected, only very
wet, and the ride home seemed INTERIM
inably long.
Two or three daysapassed by, and even
yet Mr.. M'Govern was in a remarkably
serene frame of mind for disappointed
lover. A week passed away, when sud-
denly he began to feel a serious distress
in his left ankle. This struck him at
once as peculiar, as, according to all pre-
cedent, the anguish should have pro-
ceeded direct from his heart.
But pretty soon the invisible tweezers
of most malignant imp began to wrench
him in the knee. Before long the grip
was upon his arm; thence it stuck to
his hip; and utterly in the power of the
enemy, Mr.. M'Govern awoke one morn
ing and found himself not like the
Philistines dead, but unable to move o
limb, and helpless before the eyes of
Kitty, the waitress, who late in the
morning, poked her head into the room
and inquired fhe was ever. going to get
up.
"Get upf'' mol Not for weeks upon
L. \ NJ.
from his bed. They blistered him,
they poulticed him, they drugged him !;
but all to no effect. The fever would
have its own way in spite of the whole
medical pharmacopeia. First of all,
they placed him in charge of mon
strous male nurse, who Clarence, in his
impotent fury, mentally denominated a
"great hrllkiDg BRUTE" but without
whose assistance the unfortunate vic
tim of his attentions could not even turn
in bed. How he grew to hate the hor-
rible creature who stood over him day
and nightl Even Mrs. Gibson's creak-
ing boots and high-pitched voice became
a blessing when, in the intervals of her
domestic labors, she looked in upon
the sufferer. But Annie-if he could
have had Anniel Finally, in his semi
delirium he began to call aloud for her; /;
and Mrs. Gibson. whether out of
the motherliness of her own heart, or be-
cause she had her own ideas about
Annie and this thriving young dry-goods
salesman-too much can not be expected
of landladies with manageable daugh-
promised him that Annie should be
sent for.
At last she came; and whether the
strength of the enemy was spent, or
whether he did not dare apply his freez-
ing, burning implements of torture in
Annie's gentle presence, the devil of
rheumatism was exercised, and peace
began to reign.
Mr.. M'Govern began to fancy that he
had elapsed in paradise, such was the
glory of convalescence. And Annie was
everywhere. Once more the dust disap-
peared, and Clarence himself witnessed
Che magical gestures through which it
suffered annihilation; he also saw the
very process by which all holes depart
from stocking, save the one by which
the foot enters it. Annie's fair fingers,
that only wrote poetry under compul-
sion, seemed to luxuriate in the compo-
sition of broths and soups and jellies
and never, thought the invalid, did they
appear to such advantage as when
playing round that provoking stop-cock
with which they docked his rations Of
Champagne.
And then, while the fresh air of the
springtime stole in through the flowers
that Annie had placed in the window
and Mr.. M'Govern lolled upon the sofa
in all the enjoyment of valetudinarian
luxury, great strife arose in his mind
He was thinking-of Annie? No; o1
Mrs. Gibson. Could he, could he?-the
bleod of the M'Govern'sl
But when Annie came once more, and
her little hands were busy around hii
refractory pillows he found he could
and he did.
Annie, Annie, I love you"
And Arabella P'
1t was a cruel blow, and the spirit Of
the invalid was reused. Excitement
began to gleam in the great hollow eyes
and he had just time to calculate " Con
found herp when Annie's small hand
was over his mouth, and Annie's sof
voice reiterated the doctors injunction
to keep quiet" Then, in meek voice
"Say yes; won't you, Annie p
II haven't been asked any thing"
"Then put your arm under my head
and let me 60 to sleep. If you don't
I'll 60 into rage and make mysel
sick"
Annie did as she was bid.
Some two hours afterward, when Nh
MGovern condescended to awake, hi
first distinct articulation was, "And
Annie, neutrality-suspicious. mother ?
Annie withdrew her arm, and begal
to look severe. "Not word abou
mother. There isn't such a cook in tn
universe"
"No; that is true" And sundr,
visions of the day when he had a
appetite began to rise before MI
M'Govern's eyes. "Annie, you ar
right. She shall live with Iii"
And Annie, who remembered what sh
had suffered for Arabella, replaced he
arm, and, like true woman, answered
OF course"