The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1878-07-18
81 90 PER YEAR.

Alter illE HE.u1 v ES LETT alone with
tie sick man. The night wore Eesri-
iy sway, the silence only broken by
the restless mOAns Of the sufferer,
when HiIda would straighten his pill
/ low AMI pass her cool hand With q
magnetic touch over his forehead,
I thus giving him a mOmentRry 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 Civ
/ ing out.
II was weary fight with death,
| Tut q strong constitution, aided by
| careful nursing, carried the Squire
through. The delirium passed away,
and deep sleep came upon him. II
was the crisis.
tIf he awakens rational and cOmfor.
table he il saved" said the doctor
'sIf, on the contrary, he falls into 4
state OF coma nothing can help him. +"
Hours passed on. Every tick Of the
silver-tongued repeater on the mantel
seemed 10 find an echo in the hearts
/ OF the anxious watchers. At last the
critical moment came. The esquire
awolEe free from fever, though weak
a. q child. He was saved.
At first Hilda kept as much as pos
sible out Of his sight, shrinking into
tine shadow OF the heavy damRsk cur
tains when he was awake. But he
did not seem to notice her, and she
gradually forgot her caution.
During the long and tedious cOnva-
Ieseence ne was often querulOus and
intractable. Then HIlda would take
book and read to him in her low,
musical voice, and thus sOOthe him
to sleep.
She was only waiting until her pres
ence was not absolutely needed, to 60
back to her selr-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 in heI
lap. Her thoughts, unmindtul OF
time aud space were with him she
loved so faithfully and self-sacritic'
ingly.
A trembling voice suddenly reused
her from her reverie.
"Hannah tells me you are going
away. Is it necessary ? Can any
other sick person 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
unspeakably and as she recalled the
hale, hearty Squire, who often rode
by the farm in the pleasant old days
calling out cheerful good morning
to her uncle in his stentOrian tone,
tears came to her eyes to see what 8
wreck Of his former self he had be.
come.
After brief hesitation she said
softly:
''If you need me will not go away
for the present.
"I do need yOu very much" was
the reply. $50 that matter is settled
Now, nurse, want to ask you ques'
ton. Have 1 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 curtain, in reality to avoiC
a reply.
Just then Hannah came in with the
mail. Important news from the army
was expected, there having been ru'
mOrs OF an engagement.
Hannah caught the words and pass
| ed on her way out. In her way she
was as much interested as the Squire
Was it not her nursling who was IA
away on the battlefield striving t.
win his spurs
Hilda took the paper and ran he
ewes over the columns. One pitifu
moan escaped her lips the next mo-
ment she lay apparently llfeless OI
the floor. The heavy fall lOOseneC
her cap, and her hair rolled in all it
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
Eher, and as soon as the fright occasion
ed by her sudden illness had subsidized
the Squire took the paper, and say
facing him in startling letters
A BLOODY ENGAGEMENT.
Great loss Of officers and men-CyTi
Atherton, of the Grsys, mOrtally
wounded, while endeavOTing
to silence q battery.
The letter swan before bis eyes
He could read no more. He rose feeh
ly and dragged his shaking limbs t
HildR's side.
"My poor GIRL he said brOkenly
But he did not finish the sentences
for at the sound of his voice Hid
opened her eyes and looked at him
first in a daZed, beWildered way, thel
she put out both hands and motions
him away.
awe have killed him between US
Do you hear You and 1 o, N!
darling, my darling
The Squire turned to Hannah.
"WhO is this young woman ?"
"LOrd bless us, sir. Didn't 20
know 1t was Hilda, who has been risk
ing her own life to save yours ?'
Hilda's voice interrupted them.
1.-THE grave is the lonely couch "
have given your bOnny head, an
your father may think it better on
for you than your low-born Hilds'
arm. o, my own Cyril, could 20
but know how my heart ached Whel
shut the door in your face, and sen
you TO do your duty (; but you nevel
never will be the wiser You haV
gone forever, and thinking, too, tbs
,, Hilda was cruel and heartless. {
cruel Hilda and more cruel fatE
er !"
1t made the old mans frame quive
like an aspen leaf to hear the bereave
, girl. He felt himself almost 3 mul
! derer, as the low, plsintive tones mad
their accusation against him.
He took her hand at last, an
said:
'My poor girl, forgive me and bel
me to bear this bitter punishment
, From this moment, be Cyril alive c
dead, 1 will make amends to you Il
my unthinking cruelty, both to 20
9 and him, You shall be to me
2 much my daughter as though 20
were Cyril's wife. But as long 6
Cyril was not reported dead, thel
. may be room for hope. He may con
2 back to us yet"
Hilda caught eagerly at the ray
? hope.
, 30, tell me truly" she said, elias
/, ing her hands in her Intense cage
, ness, until the nails almost cut in
the tender skin, "cOuld it be pOssib
:, that there was a mistake Do the
. ever put the wrong name down 2"
al have known Of instances OF oil
> officer being taken for another In Il
4 haste and confusion of q battle, al
\ this telegram WAS sent while the co
q fiict was still raging"
It So they tried to hOpe-even VIII
e every one else was thinking sorro'
q fully that the kind, bright-fac
n young master was lying with his Ia
to the stars, no longer Ignorant
h their vOiceless mysteries in his 81
st emn sleep.
70 Hilda remained at the manor.
l. was q comfort to the old man
+ make, as he thought, this expiatiC
@ for his fault.
'. In order that Hilds's position in
Ie household might be fully uuderstoC
?. he announced her to be his sons b
=. trOthed wife, and invited Lady HI
r. grave, his widowed sister, to col
Of and lend the sanction of her preseI
Y to the young girls residence in
ne home.
Az The next telegram brought che
es ing news. Cyril had lost an arm, /
as was doing well, and was, as soon
n. he would be able to bear the jOurnt
to be sent home, wearing on
lt, breast q decoration earned by his o.
ne bravery.
Of After this there was 8 happy hOu
he hold st AthertOn Manor. Lady II
he grave was versed in all the WOmal
d, accomplishments, and she found /
da an ant pupil.