The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-23
then came forward with glistening eyes
and red lips apart.


print dress and white ruffled apron of
the st. Franciscan corps of nurses, and
set diligently to work earning her own
living.
a year had passed by, and DR.. Wal
lace send word that nurse was wanted
for a smallpox case in the city. The
Sister Superior of the ST. Francescans
looked dubious at her women.
"Who will go?' said she-and Hilda
Harrison stepped forward.
81 WILL" said she. 81 have no fears of
the eontagion, and Iwant to add to my
experience"
So little Hilda packed her bag and
went.
The housekeeper of the great Fifth
Avenne palace was wringiug her hands,
half-terfified out of her senses; the
other servants had taken preeipitate
leave.
''And Miss Lennox went this morn
ing" said she. 81 should think she
might have st ,yed."
"Who is Miss Lennox% questioned in
noceht Hilda.
The old gentleman's granddaughter
that ne has brought up and petted like
a cosset lamb" said Mrs. Hurst. ooh.
the ingratitude of some folks And if
Judge Harrison dies"
Hilda looked up quickly from the
bottles of carbolic acid she was unpack
ing.
''Is this Jduge Hagrison's housew said
She
"Why, of course it is" answered Mrs.
Hurst. Didn't you knowP'
| "No, I did not know" Hilda said.
"But, of course, it makes no difference
whose house it is"
"Who are youw Judge Harrison asked,
hoarsely, as the light foot crossed the
threshold.
II am the nurse from st. Francesca's.
They call me Hilda.'
"Hilda whatY
"Never mind my other name," said
the young girl, with gentle authority
that had come to her from months of
practice at weary sick BEDS "They call
me Hilda; and you are not to talk and
excite yOursed.
"Do you know you are running great
risk"
"That is my business to run risks"
Three week elapsed The crisis of the
disease was past. The old man, wea-
kened indeed, and sadly disfgured, was
able once mole to sit up in his easy
chair; and Hilda, who had watched over
him with a vigilance and tenderness
which he fully appreciated, was arrang
ing fresh flowers in a vase on the table
"Hilda," said he slowly, "where has
my granddaughter Marian been all this
timew
"She went away, sir, when you were
first taken i'll, She was afraid of the dis
ease"
"And she left me?''
"And left you, sir"
"There was gratitude!" he muttered
hoarsely. "And when is she coming
back?'
HiIda laid down her roses, and looked
with pathetic, feeling eyes at him.
''She will not come back at all, sir"
she answered. "We dared not tell you
before, but-but her fight was in vain.
She died of smallpox last week.
The old man turned away with
smothered groan.
"Hilda," said he, "you will stay with
me? You will not leave me alone? Nay,
do not speak. know who you are. /
recognized your name when you first
came. You have looked at me with
your fathers eyes many a time since.
Hilda, think God has sent you to me-"
"Oh, grandpapa!" And Hilda knelt
weeping beside his chair, scarcely able
to Believe that his loving arms were
around her neck; his tears dropped on
her brow. "Oh, dear, dear grandpapa!
/ have so longed for some one to love
for some one to love me-"
And good little DR.. Hooper was well
satisfied with the result of Hildas ex-
pertinent at earning her own living.
"Heaven manages these things better
than we do" thought he, as he remem-
bered his attempt at softening Judge
Harrison's Ainty heart more than year
before.