The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-03-20

Cyril listened to her with AQshing
eyes.
"Then you will throw me dver2 /
who worship the very ground your feet
have touched. oh, Hilda, did not
think it Of you. My father was right, "
he continued, glooniily. He said all
women are alike-selfish and mercen-
ary."
"Don't Cyril; 1 know you cannot be-
lieve it Of me Hear me | If you we're
to be crippled in mind and body, and
miserably poor, and no one else had
prior claim to you, would work myself
to q shadow for you, and consider myself
happy in doing 80. 1t is because 1 love
you better than myself that will not let
you do wrong. But Twill promise to go
solitary and alone, 10 far as human love
is concerned, to my grave, if it 80 be that
we cannot marry. Dear, dearest Cyril,
go home to your father and do as he
wishes, fully and entirely. Gods bless
ing will surely rest upon the dutltul
! son.
Her voice broke. With a Wild i'm
pulse she threw her arms arodnd his
neck and kissed him again and again,
between her sobs. It was her hrewell.
The next moment Cyril was standing
alone in the porch, and the hesvy door
was shut and bolted between them.
After few moments of bewildering
hesitation he mounted and rods away.
He could not but think forgivhgly of
Hilda as he recalledhe anguisfed sobs,
and felt her kisses burning upon his
forehead-she who had ever been so
chary of her caresses.
Strive as he might; he did nd again
see Hilda. It seemed as though some
unseen messenger was ever on the alert
to warn her of his approach. Al last he
grew desperate. and determined to leave
home. His father procured him a com
mission in the army. He wlshedfor as
tive service, and, as it was the time OF
the Crimean war, he had no difficulty in
carrying out his purpose. His regiment
was one of the first sent out.
Hllda heard of his departure withtear-
full eyes. Still she did not regr.t the
course she had taken. Following the
noble example OF Florence Nightingale
she went to one of the hospital trsinine
schools to fit herself to follow hei sol
der, il necessary, and nurse some poor
victim of the war bnck to life, or tc
soothe his dying moments ii he was be-
yond help.
But other work was in store for her
A letter from home brought newsof al
epidemic of the most fatal typeof ty
phoid fever in her own village. Th'
inhabitants were 30 alarmed that the,
! we're leaving the place, and nursesco
not be obtained, so great was thefear
the contagion. The concluding item wa
this
Esquire Atherton is down withit, an,
! of all the indoor servants at the manor
old Hannah, who took care of the mis-
tress in her last sickness, is the only on
left. She declares if she leaves the mas
ter in his sore need, it'll only be fee
first.
Without moments hesitation Hid
went to the matron, telling her she wa
needed at home, and procured her dis
charge. Then, laden with her precious
newly gained knowledge, she took til
first homeward-bound train.
Old Hannah was seatedat the master
bedside, looking worn and weary A
Hilda came softly in, dressed in he
clinging gray flannel dress, with he
, glossy hair hidden by a close-htting mul
4 lin cap, she looked to the surprised ol
n woman like an apparition. Hilda smile
, and held out her hand as she WHISPERED
> "Dont you know me-Hilda, I
+ Deepdale farm? 1 am here to help yol
- know what to do, so don't be afraid
a. trustsme. I'll watch themaster faithful
Il if you'll go and take rest.
,o Something in the girls quiet, resolu
~ manner impressed the faithful old serval
"a that she was making no idle boastor 81
would not have yielded up her poa. 4
g. it was, weary human nature asserted
n Oiaims, and she went gladly.
ye She soon came back with bowl
ce warm soup. 1t tasted gratefully 10 Il
ee young nurse, as she had not broken h
fast since the reception of the lettet.
ed After this, Hilda was left alone. wi
to the sick man. The night wore weari
p- away, the silence only broken by t
nd restless moans of the sufferer, VIII
Hilda would straighten his pillow, a
ed pass her cool hand with magnetictou
nd over his forehead, thus giving him
ral momentary relief.
We After old Hannah was thorough
lis rested, she and Hilda divided the til
Of in the sick room, and by that means kt
their strength from giving out.
5h, 1t was weary fight with death; bu
he strong constitution, aided by care
Ter nursing, carried the squire throuC
TX The delirium passed away, and a dc
yht sleep came upon him. 1t was the ctif
his "If he awakens rational and comic
able, he is saved" said the doctor. g
m, on the contrary, he falls into a state
his coma, nothing can help him"
( it Hours passed on. Every tick OF
. silver -tongued repeater on the mar
to seemed to find an echo in the hearts
Rht the anxious watchers. At last the crit
ril- moment came. The squire awoke I
ws, from fever, though weak as child.
on: was saved.
le a At first Hilda kept as much as posi-
say out of his sight, shrinking into
90, aba Ioxg Of fba haavv 6omaak curi,