The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-05-10

u14y
"Dont Cyril; ! know you can not BE-
lievc II of me! Hear moi II you were
TO be crippled In mind and body, and
miserably poor, and no one else had q
prior claim TO you, would work myself
70 . shadow for you, and consider my
self happy In doing so. II Is because
love you better than myself that will
not let you do wrong. But | will prom
ise 20 60 solitary and alone. so far as
human love Is concerned, TO my grave,
II so be that we can not marry. Dear,
dearest Cyril, 60 home to your father
and do As he wishes, fully and entirely.
Gods blessing win surely rest upon the
dutiful son"
! Her voice broke. With wild i'm
pulse she threw her arms around his
neck and kissed him again and again.
between her sobs- II was her farewell.
The next moment Cyril was standing
alone IN the porch, and the heavy door
was shut and bolted between them.
After few moments of bewildering
hesitation he mounted and rode away.
He could not but think forgivingly Of
Hilda, as he recalled her anguished sobs,
and felt her kisses burning upon his
forehead-she who had ever been so
chary Of her caresscs.
| Strive as he might, he did not again
see Hilda. 1t seemed As though some
unseen messenger was ever on the alert
to warn her Of his approach. At last
he grew desperate, and determined to
leave home. His father procured him
commission in the army. He wished
for active service, and, rs 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.
Hilda heard Of his departure with tear
full eyes. Still she did not regret the
course she had taken. Following the
noble example Of Florence Nightingale,
she went to one Of the hospital training
schools to fit herself to follow her sol |
der, If necessary, and nurse some poor
victim of the war back to life, or to |
soothe his dying moments il he was
beyond help.
But other work was in store for her.
A letter from home brought news of an
epidemic Of the most fatal type OF ty-
phoid fever m her own village. The
inhabitants were so alarmed that they
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 mistress in her last sickness, is the
only one left. She declares il she leaves
the master in his sore need, it'll only be
feet first.'''
Without = moments hesitation, Hill
da went to the matron, telling her she
was needed at home, and procured her
Then, laden with her pre-
cious, newly gained knowledge, she
took the first homeward- bound train.
Old Hannah was seated at the mas
ter's beside, looking worn and weary.
As Hilda came softly in, dressed in her
clinging gray flannel dress, with her
glossy hair hidden by close-fitting
muslin cap, she looked to the surprised
Did woman like an apparition. Hilda
'miled and held out her hand as she
"Dont you know me-Hilda, Of
)cepdale farm? / am here to help you.
know what to do, so don't be afraid to !
rust me. I'll watch the master faith !
ully IL you'll 60 and take a rest"
Something in the girls quiet, -esolute !
manner impressed the faithful old serv- !
mt that she was making no idle boast, !
n she would not have yielded up her J
lost. As it was, weary human nature
sserted its claims, and she went gladly.
The soon came back with bowl Of
warm soup. 1t tasted gratefully to the ,
'oung nurse, as she had not broken her !
asst since the reception Of the letter. !
After this, Hilda was left alone, with =
he sick man. The night wore YEARLY :
way, the silence only broke by the !,
estless means Of the sufferer, when !
iilda would straighten his pillow, and !,
lass her cool hand with a magnetic =
ouch over his forehead, thus giving /,
i'm momentary relief.
After old Hannah was thoroughly /,
ested, she and Hilda divided the time 4
q the sick room, and by that means 4
ept their strength from giving out. u
TWAS q weary fight with death, but II
strong constitution, aided BY careful
ursing. Carried the Squire through. q
he celirium passed away, and deep b
leep came upon him. II was the crisis. /,
II ne awakens rational and comfort Z,
bic, he Is saved" said the doctor. "If,
a the contrary, he falls into state OF .
oma. nothing can help him. Il
Hours passed on. Every tick Of the y
lver-tongued repeater ON the mantle 4
eemed to find an echo in the hearts Of =
ne anxious watchers. At last the crit
al moment came. The Squire awoke .
'ec from fever, though weak as child. n
le was saved.
AT first Hilda kept as much as possible h
ut Of his sight, shrinking into the al
ladow Of the heavy damask curtains W