The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-19

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never have been what he is now if Mary had
lived. She was one of the best of women"
"How very sad !" said Sibyl, her eyes fill
ing. He keeps calling me Mary, and will
do anything ask him
"You are q little like her." remarked
Frank Lenny. 'She was beautiful girl.
am glad the poor fellow has such an i'm
aginary happiness"
1t was not meant as compliment, and
Sibyl took it quietly 1t mattered moth
ing TO her now whether she was handsome
or plain.
Doctor Godfrey came in at that moment.
aud looked inquisitiyely at the new conner.
Sibyl explained.
Il am glad you have come" he said
shortly. sit is critical matter just now.
If he lives through the next three hours, he
may rally, and he will have Mrs Elton to
thank az much as anybody for his life. She
could not have nursed her dearest friend
more carefully"
"And he almost my dearest foe," she
thought bitterly and then she left the room
and went to look for Cecil Doctor Godfrey
tapped at her door u lie passed. and entered
At her invitation.
''There is a slight change for the better"
ha said ''but if he recovers consciousness
ANY excitement would be most dangerous.
II you are not tired out, think it would be
better for you to be with him tonight. He
seems to prefer your nursing to Mrs Le-
gros'."
"He imagines I am his wife, who is dead"
answered Mrs. Elton grayely, for something
in his manner annoyed her. He evidently
thought that there was more under the sur.
face, and that her statement that she was
there by the merest chance was not quite
true.
"Whatever 1t is, your presence has
soothing effect, and it will be kind Of you to
remain with him for the next few hours.
But you may as well warn his brother that
even if he lives through this attack he Can
never recover. He will only lipger on a
few weeks or perhaps months. His whole
frame is wrecked by intemperance.
He watched her closely RS he made the
announcement, and she looked him steadily
In the face.
81 am afraid, from all I hear, his death
will not be great source Of grief TO any
body" she answered carelessly "But of
course we must do our best to prolOng his
life, therefore | will do as you wish.
"Thank you," he said more pleasantly
~ wish could find few moro such good
Samaritans by the wayside. Good evening.
l shall be here the first thing IN the morn
ing"
She bowed in silence, and he left the
room. So once more she watched through
the night, and listened to the quick, rattlIng
breath, changed the poutices, and adIninis-
tered his medicine, while Frank Lenny
watched her with all mans admiration of
her gentle movements and quiet skill. She
nf thnaa tn whom nuraluD
came by nature, and little Cecil had given
her some practice since his accident. And
again Doctor Godfrey said that there was q
decided improvement and good chance of
temporary recovery. At times, the sick
man 4 senses returned, but only in a dreamy
fashion that made him express no surprise
at seeing either his brother or Mrs Elton.
1t was not till the evening Of the following
DAY taat he asked how they came therefor
now his progress toward recovery became
steady, and every hour his breathing be-
came easier and his strength greater But
when Sibyl spoke OF relinqushing her task
he WAS so distressed and implored her SO
piteousy not to hand him over TO ''the ten
der mercies Of the old woman" that she had
no choice left She often wondered, as day
after day she nursed him with all the care
and attention of sister, whether he had
any twinge of conjunction about the de-
eepton TO which he had lent himself, and
which might have been the cause of such
shame and misery TO her. And, as the
memory required to her of that terrible
evening when her husband had appeared, as
it were, from the dead, to her, she turned
from him with a sense of hate and loathng
that it was almost impossible to conquer or
conceai.
His brother Frank she liked more and
more every day they were together 1t was
As q gleam of sunshine when bis bright face
appeared at the door of the sick k-room with
Lis usual question: sis he asleep? May
come in p" He took Cecil for walks, bought
him toys, and taught him games, till the
child grew so fond of him that the mother
was Jealous for the memory Of Geofirey.
And vet, as she asked herself, was it not bet
ter So when the one object of her life was
to prevent his ever meeting Geoffrey again |?
Poor Slbyl! 1t seemed to her at times as
if the yearning for the glance Of the loving
dark ewes, the sound of the dear voice, was
alipost more than she could bear She told
herself that it would not last-that, knowing
they were parted forever, her love must die
: BY degrees. But the weeks and months had
brought no change as yet unless TO strength
en- and increase her misery and yearning.
She was sitting by MIR. Lenny one even
ing ten days after the night Mrs. Legros
had called her in, busily stitching at some
work for Cecil, her thoughts back to the
happy days at Sandbea h, when she had
been unconscious of her own feelings or
Geoffreys, while the invalid, propped up by
pillows, dreamily watched her quick fingers.
"Godfrey thinks may get on to the sofa
tomorrow, he said presently, 'and tells
me have only yon to thank for it. I don't
know how to thank you though, Mrs. Elton.
What shall say?"
"Nothing. do not like being thanked,
especially when 1 have been acting only
with common humanity, l came here at
Mrs Legros request, an she is quite cross
with me because you have shown her too
plainly that you prefer my nursing to hers. !"
"How could help itp" be asked, with a
faint smile. "You can hardly realize the
pleasure it has afforded me to have the gen.
tie care of a lady again after all these long
years. As Frank says, it is pleasure to see
you move about the room. How do you
like Frank, Mrs Elton"
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