The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-09-18


were hurryiug her loved one through
iiiimitable space away from her, she
lifted IA while, set face, fearless bul
agouized, and learned what little ther,
was to be told. She did not seem Il
hear the comforting, encouraging word.
the kind old lady mingled with hel
brief recital, aud, when it was done, she
rose and began preparing hastily to 60
out.
"Gou will 90 with me, won't you ?'i
she said, very quietly, as she put on her
cloak.
Yes dear, Of course will - said Mrs
Duff rising and going up TO her. "Bui
you must not take it so hard, my poor
child" she cried, taking both Elinor'.
trembling hands in her own warm
clasp. 81 know just how you feel" she
went on, "for thought ! had lost my
James once before we were married, and
] thought would iie."
Their eyes met, aud The tender sym
pathy in the aged blue ones penetrated
EIinor's chill despair, aud the tears
came 10 her relief, as the nloiherly arms
enfoided her and the gentle voice said,
pityingly:
81 know all about i,, dear, and you
needn't be ashamed Of loving him.
feel almost as though he was one Of my
own sons. We viii 90 now right away,
and see If we can help him"
Elinor cluug 20 her aud kissed her
gratefully, bot only said, brokeuly, as
she drew her toward the door:
"Come, let rs be quick, or we will not
see him alive, fear"
They hasteued down stairs, and, after
few words with the Doctor, all three
started for the hospital.
Poor Dr. Duff was in a sad state of
mind. His cheery, jovial disposition
was unable TO assert itself, for he had
really no hope that his young friend
would recover from his injuries, aud he
dreaded the results 10 Elinor Of such
painful termination Of the case. As for
Der, she asked 30 questions, and so the
little party walked along in sad silence
tiil at length they reached the mournful
asylum for MANNED and broken human
ity.
Eiinor shuddered rs they entered aud
passed along between the rows Of cots,
each one Of which bore a suffering bur
den.
At length they stoprei by poor
Franks couch, and Eiinor dropped upon
her knees beside IL, aud ,ook the cold
aud uervele-s right hand in both her
own, % bile she eazed through binding
tears upon the unconscious face, 50
changed toy suffering, Yet never before
so uexpressihly dear 10 her.
DR. Duff examined the puiieut erili
cally, shook his bead, aud conferred in
low tones with Dr Carter. vi ho just then
came Co them.
Mrs. Dun gently bathed The bruised
aud burning head, while more than one
sympathetic drop fell upon the sufferers
pillow.
Never, in all her trials. had Eiinor
Norton been so miserably, hopelessly
wretched She blamed herself for the
calamity that had overtaken her lover
She felt as if she had set mp her own uo.
tions Of right where she ought not to
have done 10, and that she bad mistaken
her duty. Could Frank have asked her
then TO yield her own 10 his sense of
right and become bis wife, She would
have unhesitatiugly and thankfully
said yes. Vow, she feit that she was TO
be punished for her mistake by losing
him, and Oh how could she live, feel
Ing that 10 was in any possible way her
fault that his precious life bad been lost
All her hopes and unselish aspirations
20 become useful were just then as
though they had never been, aud in her
augUishej self-reproach aud hopeless
despair she uttered low bat most bitter
moan, that stirred the hearts Of her
friends with profouudest pity. Even
the unheediug ears Of the Injured man
seemed 20 take note Of it, for be moved
uueasiiy, aud cIasped the slender fingers
tightly iu his own. His eyes rested on
her as he reused from his brief troubled
sleep; but his disorjered mind saw. not
Eiuor but his mother. lie gazed an.
pealiugly into her face, aud said. ear
nestly;
go, mother have you at last re-
Tented? II you have, I viii bless Won
forever. say that you consent" and ne
grasped Elinors hand couyulsively and
half raised himself up.
"Humor his fancy, and say anything
he Wishes" whispered tie Doctor, las.
tly. cit will never DO 20 let him excite
himself in this way"
Elinor bent forward aud s,roked his
fevered brow with cool, soft fingers,
while she said, with infinite tenderness:
"Everything shall be as you wish,
Frank, II you will only get we'll"
He sank back satisfied. still holding
her hand, and murmuring:
Chow good you are, motherr
Her loving touch seemed to soothe
him, and it was not long before his eyes
closed, and he fell into a more naturgl
sleep than had before visited him.
The Doctor Whispered to Elinor to
leave him, and, after some difficulty,