The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-09-22

10 blame, but every time I think of him
. / see Ralph, ghastly and bloody, stand
ing beside him. If he does not 20
away il viii drive me madr'
Leonard heard the message, aud
Obeyed. Within the woek he was gone,
a brolleu-hearled man, caring not what
might happen to him.
After awhile Lucy regaiued her form
er strength, and, if anything, more
than her former beauty.
Her brother married, and brought
! young wife home. Then Lucy felt that
she could carry ont q plan which had
+ become the desire of her heart.
Ella could step into her place in the
cottage and minister to the comfort of
q hor father and brother, and shs could
/ be spared for the work of mercy which
called her forth with such voice.
/ Though innocent she had caused the
size ding of human blood. She would
atone for it b. trying to save life hence
forth.
/ she left the country village where so
much misery had befajen her, and
making her WY to London, sought
and obtained work as q nurse. The
more dangerous tie case. the more
/ eager was she to try what her skill
/ couid accomplish. Tn her work of
mercy, peace gradually came to her,
and she learned to look at the past with
| clearer oyes, and 10 realize that tho
punishment Of banishment which she
| had forced upon Leonard was Oaly the
] fruit of q morbid feeling which had
/ possessed her that all mnst suffer for a
/ sin which one alone had cOmmitted.-
| She had grown to think Of him kindly
and pitviugly, and would uuhesitating-
/ " have extended the hand Of friend
sLiD to the ''pOOr boy''-as she ever
designated him in her thoughts-had
she met him.
One morning she received an early
oaH from the proprietor Of IN hotel
close By, at which she had more than
once attended. The worthy BOniface
was in a state Of great excitement
''Aliss GarWOod," p" he began, nervous
" lingering the tOpmost button of his
coat, ''pve 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 Il make no difference to one like
you, who never asks if it's friend or
enemy; so 1 came for you as soon as
possible"
you did perfectly right, Mr.. Brown.
I viii gss few things together and ao-
company you at once"
Accustomed rs Lucy had been to
various kinds of suffering, she had nev-
er before had herpOwers 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
fancias Of pursuit and endeavOrs TO e5-
cane from imagined dangers.
Lucy sat by the bedside in her plain
gray dress,
Worn out with incessant watching
she hal fallen asleep, when suddenly
she was awakened with q start bT feel
ing q touch upon her hand. she open
ed her eyes wOuaeriRgly, and met an
intelligent loJk from the patient-his
first since she had come to nurse him.
He had reached out to touch her with
mis- wasted fingers, and as she now met
his Glance. said feebly:
Il thought You were, like everything
elso-a shadow; but sec yOu are fish
and blood. What's the mauer?-hov
cama I horea'
'.Yau nave been sick; but you are
with friends. Now Won must be con-
tented without talking. In due time.
when YOU grow strong, you NAV talk
all you visu-now yoU must 90 to
sleep"
and with 4 coataataL SIGH the sick |
man drifgel OF ag7in into s.uubar.
81 IL wcut On Tor several days. Al [
tarnate s.eaH and nourisHmeGt made uD F..
the sum OF the patients life. THon /
things changed. The restless. dOmi- /
Bsering spirit of manhood had re- /
awakened, and 1t began to assert It. ]
self
But what think you wer3 his first |
words? They We're, 'Lucy, don't YOU ]
know mGa'' !
"Wuo arc y1u?' she asked. with q
culver in her voice, halt-faIring, half |
hoping what his answer might be.
Il am Leonard Car5lOnel I ca.ue !
buck to steal Il look at the girl l have /
loved SO faithfully and true, and then !
/ meant to go away again. Bu. it /
wasn't to be. Now, LucY, you have /
saved my life! don't YOU think vou /
ought to let past things DO forgiven /
and forgotten. AMI make that life Of /
some use lo mo2"
Il never blamed YOU, Leonard, so L
have nothing to forgive" said Lucy,
TREMENDOUSLY.
Then let by-gones be bv-gones,
Lucy, and let us turn over a new leaf,
now upon the threshold of the new life
yOu have given me q lease Of Be my
wife, and promise you I'll do my best
to N axe you happy"
II have only been an instrument in !
tho hands of God, Leonard. You must
thank Him for your recovery instead of
me-"
Il do thank God with all my heart,
but want to thank Him for an even
more precious gift! May 1? I want
you"
And Lucy became the wife Of him
who had loved her so truly through all
these long and weary years Of Gppar-
5utlY hopeless Waiting.