Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-24

fear of the contaglon. The concluding
item was this:
Squire Atherton is down with 1t, 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
master 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 mas
ter's bedside, looking worn and weary.
As Hilda came softly in, dressed in her
clinging gray flannel dress, with her
glossy 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-Hllda, oil Deep
dale farm | am here to help you. l
know what to do, so don't be afraid to
trust me. I'll watch the master faith
fully if you'll go and take a rest
Something in the girls quiet, reso-
.ute 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 ma
ture asserted its claims, and she went
gladly.
She soon came back with bowl OF
warm soup. 1t tasted gratefully to the
young nurse, as she had not broken her
fast since the reception Of the letter.
After this, Hllda was left alone with
the sick man. The night wore wearily
away, the silence only broken by the
estless means Of the sufferer, when
Hilda would straighten his pillow, and
pass her cool hand with magnetic touch
over his forehead, thus giving him mo-
mentary relief.
After old Hannah was thrOughly rest
ed 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 strange constitution, aided by careful
nursing, carried the Squire through. The
delirium passed away, and deep sleep
came upon him. 1t was the crisis.
If he awakens rational and comfor-
table, he is sayed,' said the doctor.
If, On the contrary, he falls into state
coma, nothing can help him.
Hours passed on. Every tick of the
ilver-tongued repeater on the mantle
seemed to find an echo in the hearts OF
the anxious watchers. At last the criti-
cal moment came. The Squire awoke
free from fever, though weak as a child.
He was saved.
At first Hilda kept as much as possi-
bic out Of his sight, shrinking into the
shadow of the heavy damask curtains
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 in-
tractable. Then Hilda would take a
book and read to him IN the low musical
voice, and thus soothe him to sleep.
She was only waiting until her pres
ence was not absolutely needed TO so
back to her self-imposed duty at the
hospital. One morning she had been
reading the Times until the Squire wa.
as she thought, asleep. Then the pa
per dropped listlessly in her lap. Her
thoughts, unmindful of time and space,
were with him she loved so faithfully
self-sacrifcinsly.
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, call
ing out a cheerful good morning to her
uncle IN his stentorian tone, tears came
to her eyes to see what wreck of bis
former self he had become.
After brief hesitation she said soft
Ily:
If you need me I will not go away
for the present.
Il do need you very much, was the
reply. so that matters settled. Now,
nurse,I want to ask you a question:
Have l ever seen you before Some'
how your face seems familiar, but l
cannot place IT.
Hilda felt the blood dyeing her face
even to the border Of her cap. She Turn
ed away, ostensibly to adjust the curtain
in reality to avoid reply.
Just then Hannah came IN with the
mail. Important news from the army
expected, there having 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 nursling who was far away on
the battlefield striving to win his spurs?