Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-21

him on a litter that had been provided.
l examined him now and found that
in addition TO the broken arm Mr.. Hard
wick had sustained other injuries, none
of them necessarily fatal, still placing
his life in great danger. | attended to
his wounds and had him removed to his
house, which was fortunately near. Then
returned to the mine. All that woful
day as the sun set that night there
were sorrow and weeping in almost
every humble home in the town.
! lost no time and the other doctors
were also kept busy. L visited Lilies
father about every two hours and adj
ministered such remedies as l thought
were needful. | asked Mrs. Hardwick
if she wished another doctor, but she
answered
ooh no. You saved my husbands
life and l have every confidence in your
skill. Let the other doctors attend to
the rest of the poor men"
We had all of us enough to do that
day and many days after.
No more explosions followed, but all
the wounded men we're not rescued at
once. Some Of them were buried among
the loose masses Of coal, and had to bc
dug out
Many who were given up for lost were
brought up alive after all hope had been
abandoned. But the valley was full Of
sorrow and grief, too painful to dwell
upon.
attended Mr.. Hardwick through the
long illness that followed, and with the
help Of God brought him back to health
and strength as the hawthorn was in
bloom, and the robins began their spring
songs among the old elms.
saw Lille daily, and her sweet
face became dcarer to me every time |
met her. She found time to visit
among those on whom tho hand Of God
had been laid, speaking words of com
fort and healing. 4 true womanly
woman-such as are given to bring men
nearer to God than aught else can do.
It was a beautiful balmy evening
when | paid my last professional visit
to her home-thc perfume of spring
violets in the mir and the dewy mist OF
early nightfall lay over the valley.
found Lille sitting alone on the
sidcsteps Of the porch, her laccwork
lying in her lap.
at is too dark to work, DOCTOR" she
said, pleasantly. II am taking adyan-
tage Of the lazy hour. / like to sit here
and enjoy the perfume Of my yiolets-
you know have perfect mania for
flowers Do You remember ! wore
hot-honsc rose that morning-that ter
rible morning ! do not think shall
ever love roses again-theirs scent brings
it all back to me. One can hardly i'm.
agimc associating anything terrible with
tho perfume Of a rose, but do"
/ sat beside her and spoke on all sorts
of subjects except the one nearest my
heart-that / had not courage to men,
tion.
/ paid my visit TO Mr.. Hardwick and
told him it was unnecessary for me to
see him again in my professional capac-
ity.
Come all the same, nv dear fellow
come as a friend" he said, pressing my
hand cordially.
His wife, a sweet, mothcrly woman,
seconded the invitation, and l babe
them all goodnight. Lille sat on the
steps, though. had seen her fitting
about the house while talked with her
father; as passed out she held ont her
hand to me, saying:
Hero is something for you, doctor.
No, DO not look at il till you are at
home"
Without another word she vanished,
leaving in my hand small. white pack.
age. As soon as was in my surgery /
opened the paper; there lay the rose my
love wore in her bosom on the DAY Of
the explosion, and on the paper. in
her own pretty handwriting, the words
Of the poem / read to her among the
maple trees.
1t was late, but 1 did not sleep until
/ saw Lille again, and heard from her
own dear lips that she loved me. Her
parents consented to our marriage, and
we are happy. The perfume of roses
has for me no horrible associations.
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