Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-12-11
She sat down upon the rugs and claspcd

have lIli lhOu VI ihfNOth'i' h'N'o-
sity grasp this magnificent young man
was terrible. lie had the flashing eyes,
the lordly micn, the cxultant step-for
thus had little Miss Turpin been won't to
classify the somewhat alluring personal
attractions OF young Blake-he To be
come the prey of an adverse destiny
Miss Turpin's breakfast that morning
was failure. BY dint of long practice
and an exceedingly gracious gift of
housewifery she had always managed to
get up extraordinary little meals for
herself 1t was ms if II little sooty angel
sat up aloft in the chimney and assisted
the culinary efforts of the lone little
,yom,M. Her toast was of brown the
most golden, her coffee was of Mocha
the most delicious, her bit of steak SO
juicy and appctizing, that sometimes
poor Blake. in the ncighboring room,
with some chunks of brown bread float
ing help'cssly in chalky fluid before
him. finding this savory odor under his
nostr,,. raised his clcnched hands mt the
stern wall between them in envy and
despair.
But even the little angel in the chin
ney became impatient with the behavior
ofsittle Miss Turpin that morning. The
LITTLE woman. usually so practicable and
capable, while straining her ear to listen
to faltcring, stumbling steps in the next
room, deliberately burned the toast and
boiled the coffee, and the sooty wings
spread themselves, taking flight in dis
appointment and disgust.
She held her breath rs the familiar
footstcp passed her door, and slowly one
by one went down the wormcatcn stairs,
Oh. where was he going? What would
he do? She had read sometimes of an
evening, when working hours were over.
the shaded lamp upon the table at her
side, the-coals lcaping and blazingin the
rcfulgent CRATE, hcr.littc slippered feet
who, having neither money, means nor
content. had drifted into a moment of
frenzy and despair, and thus lcaped the
awful bar that separated the known
from the unknown, content 10 risk any
fate but that which awaited them here.
She had read thus of poor, strange un-
foTtunates, and her heNt had achcd in
their behalf. But now7 Well. now
her heart had almost ceased To beat.
She put away her work-of what avail
was il, all blottcd and blurred by her
tears or ruined by her shaking bru>h'
All day she feared and trcmblcd al
nightlall some intuitivc hope caused her
to brighten the fire. cook dainty meal.
and. placing tho table opposite the door.
leave the cosy room open on the wind
swept, gloomy corridor.
Then she waited and waited. The
clock struck at midnight; then one. two.
three from q uoighboring bcliry. The
meal was cold, the fire bu, ned low the
chill, gray morning had almost dawncd.
when ut last il came; ycs-thank God
faitering and slow; but it was his foot
step; none other could quicken little
Miss Turpin's pulse.
He reached the landing, the door Of
her room. Why, truly, hc did pause
yes. and Stagger in.
Any other woman but this. perhaps.
would have rccoi.cd with disgust and
horror and, above all. with fear. for the
young man WAS evidently not himself
His hair damp and dishcvclcd, hung in
heavy disorder about his face and neck
his eyes CLASSY and iurid. blazcd upon
hers; a red flame burned in his CHEEKS,
4 slight foam ilcckcd his trembling lips
He fell into the chair at the table. and
looked wonderfully upon tho food before
him but that which would have been
franticaly dcyourod six hours before
was like the ashes Of bitterness TO him
now. He had not tasted food for thirty
six hours. But IL was not hunger that
tortured him; il was thirst--an appall-
ing thirst.
He drank the pitcher Of water from
Miss Turpin's hand and looked plead
. ingiy for more.
DO not be afraid 10 give the patient
water" he murmurcd. eagerly. I'm
cases Of fcbrile debility they sometimes
suffer-suiier. | recommend. by all
means, watcr-watcr-watc Then he
| fell back with groan OF agony.
Miss IurpIn ran out of the room and
/ down stairs, pounded on the door of the
| German tailor below. who. with his
/ wife and five children. was onioying in
/ sleep the only immunity granted them
I from endless labor and toll, badc him
! fly for the best doctor in the noighbor-
| hood ran up the stairs again like n deer,
and found DR.. Blake inscnsble. his
head thrown back upon the chair. hi 1.
/ eyes half closed, his stontorious breath
| ings audible in the corridor below.
The little German returned with the
| best medical aid in the vicinity. even
/ that of the eminent DR.. Havershaw him
self
Ailthis fuss and confusion had aroused
Mr.. Shadrach. who followed them up
the stairs and protruCed his long. hairy
chin in the doorway.
1t is, perhaps, best that you should
know, madam, said the surgeon to lit
tie Miss Turpin, "that Il is u doubtful
case. Your husband Is in very criti-
cal condition. II this worthy man will
assist me we will get him To bed. Our
only hope will be powerful sedative,
to be given at once"
The worthy man alluded to was Mr..
Shadrach. whose eyes almost left their
sockets when he found the doctor pre-
pairing 60 put his young lodger in Miss
Turpin's bed.
Why-wby." he gasped. looking AT
Miss Turpin. this won't do, will it?"
Miss Turpin bowed her head. She
could not speak, but it seemed to her
that her heart made all the noise that
was ncccs airy. It's convulsive throbs
moved the shaw she had thrown over
her shoulders.
Don't chatter here" said the doctor,
thinking Mr.. Shadrach was addressing
lin, TVat Ip rssIaF 4 hiH xutt aUI 81