The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-13

become the desire Of her heart.
Ella could step into her place in the
cottage and minister to the comfort Of
her father and brother, and she could
be spared for the work of mercy which
called her forth with such a voice.
Though innocent she had caused the
shedding of human blood. She would
atone for it by trying to save life hence
forth.
She left the country village where so
much misery had befallen her. and
making her way to London, sought
and obtained work as a nurse The
moro dangerous the case, the more
eager was she to try what her skill
could accomplish. In her work of
mercy. peace gradually came to her,
and she learned to look at the past with
clearer eyes, and to realize that the
punishment of Punishment which she
had forced upon Leonard was only the
fruit of morbid feeling which had
possessed her that all mnst suffer for
sin which one alone had committed. =
She had grown to think of him kindly
and pityingly, and would unhesitating-
1y have extended the hand of friend
ship to the ''poor boy''-as she ever
designated him in hef thoughts-had
she met him.
One morning she received an early
call from the proprietor of an hotel
close by, at which she had more than
once attended. The worthy Boniface
was in a state of great excitement.
s.Miss Garwood, y he began, nervous
ly lingering the topmost button of his
coat, eve come to you on behalf of a
stranger, who's been taken i'll at my
place. / know nothing at all about
the man, as he only got there last
night, and could hardly stand then for
weakness, and this morning found
him raving like mad. But I know
that'll make no difference to one like
you, who never asks if it's friend or
enemy; so came for You as soon as
possible.
..You did perfectly right, Mr.. Brown.
[ will get a few things together and ac-
company you at once" "a ss;;l4l
Accustomed as Lucy had been to
various kinds of suffering, she had new
err before had her powers taxed so fully.
The stranger seemed to know any diff
ference in attendance, and it was only
Lucy's soft touch upon his fevered fore
head which could charm away his wild
fancies of pursuit and endeavors to es-
cape from imagined dangers.
Lucy sat by the bedside in her plain
gray dress. .s- 1.s -.
Worn out with incessant watching
she had fallen asleep, when suddenly
she was awakened with start by feel
ING a touch upon her hand. She OPEN
ed her eyes wonderingly, and met an
intelligent look from the patient-his
first since she had como to nurse him.
He had reached ont to touch her with
his wasted fingers, and as she now met
his glance, said feebly:
81 thought you were, like everything
else-a shadow; but see you are flesh
and blood What's the matterP--how
came here?"
..You have been sick; but you are
with friends. Now you must be con-
tented without talking. In due time,
when you grow strong. you may talk
i all you wish-now you must go to
. Sleep r...
And with contented sigh the sick
man drifted off again into slumber.
So it went on for several days. Al
ternate sleep and nourishment made up
the sum of the patients life. Then
things changed. The restless, domi-
neering spirit of manhood had re-
awakened, and it began to assert it
self. .. a=-
But what think you were his first
words? They were, Lucy, don't You
know me?'
s'Who are you?' she asked, with. a
CULVER in her voice, half-fearing, half
hoping what his answer might be.
/ AZ am Leonard Carstone! / came
back to steal look at the girl | have
loved so faithfully and true, and then
1 meant to 60 away again. But it
wasn't to be. Now, Lucy, you have
saved my life! don't you think you
ought TO let past things be forgiven
and forgotten. and make that life of
some use to me?'' --E4 s.5 d
81 never blamed you, Leonard, so l
have nothing to forgive" said Lucy,
TREMENDOUSLY.
Then let by-gones be by-gones,
Lucy, and let us turn over q new leaf,
now upon the threshold of the new life
you have given me a lease of. Be my
wife, and 1 promise you L II do my best
to m axe you happy"
81 have only been an instrument in
the hands of God, Leonard. You must
thank Him for your recovery instead of
me-" sss zgsH
Il do thank God with all nay heart.
but l want to thank Him for an even
more precious gift! May IP I want
you" s 4Hs Fl g -ts1ses g
And Lucy became the wife of him
who had loved her SO truly through all
these long and weary years OF appar-
entity hopeless waiting. as- g al.s