The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-12-01

Had watched it all, ne'r ceased to smile
go: bless her Eurty face! She he
\ regular Tomboy, ssrtinlee!"
REX'S DELIRlUM.
1T certainly is great bore!" exclaimed
Mrs Alfred Ridley, in tones quite other
wise from the dulcet falsetto with which
that lady was apt to regale society,"
Just at this time, toov' echoed the young
ladies, in much tho same injured voice.
''But, my dear. what was to be done?"
appealed the master of the house. TN the
name OF common humanity, was to leave
the poor fellow, tho victim Of the criminal
carelessness of one Of my own gamekeep-
ers, welter1ng in his own gore, lying Oh tho
damp ground, dying, perhaps, when within
hundred yards OF my own house,"
"But who is he? Nobody knows" con-
tinued Mrs. Ridley. How can allow ms
daughters to wait upon q stranger? Mel
Their can spare time myself; and to leave
him to the mercy of the servants seems in
hospitable and strange. Besides, he may
die, and we shall have all the horrors of a
resident corpse"
Spite of his perplexity, Mr.. Ridley could
not repress smile.
"A resident corpse!"he repeated AT
| all events, Mrs. Ridley, such visitor is too
! transient to be termed resident"
1T is very we'll for You to make sport
OF any inadvertant expression NV excite
n1ent may call FORTH, retorted his wife.
But for all that I may repeat that at this
| time you should have had him carried to
the cottage Of the .:,an that shot him. Ina
fortnight We give ball.: as you know, to
! welcome the return of Rex Ronalds. If
this stranger is very i'll we shall not be able
to do SO, and you know how many plans
we have builded uron it."
"Yes. Which is it 10 be9 Is May or
| Ella selected for this conquering hero?'
There is no occasion for levity, MI.
Ridley. Neither May nor Ella lack for
| suitors; but never the less I had hoped
that MIR. Ronalds would be attracted by one
| or the other of them. And the old friend
| ship existing between the families, and his
| return after fifteen years residence abroad,
warrants us in showing that we appreciate
| bis presence among us. He Was but lad
OF fifteen when he babe as good-by. He
! returns a man of thirty"
And Mrs. Ridley's face frightened with
the advent Of happier thoughts.
Meantime, the subject of all this CONVEX
sation was stretched full length on his back
in one Of the comfortable upstairs bed
| rooms. gradually recovering consciousness,
with its unhappy accompaniment. Of realiza-
ton of intense physical suffering.
half involuntary movement caused q
! deep eroan to escape from his white lips.
: ONE one passing the open door heard and
entered-a little, delicate figure, clad in
deep mourning.
her golden hair tight cooled about the little
bead, her dark blue eyes and rose flushed
cheeks.
Shrinking somewhat, as if the sight of
pain hurt her, yet nerving herself to the ef-
fort. she approached the bed
IF you can bear it a moment I will try
and make you more comfortable" she
whispered.
And in few minutes the sufferer felt
that his head had found fresh, cool place
and his wounded arm better support, for
which he tried to look his thanks. He
could not speak them.
"Ah, Miss Armstrong! you here?" ex-
claimed Mrs. Ridley, standing on the TIRES
hold, and speaking in a tone of rercepti-
Die relief, as if seeing way out Of the diff
ticulty into which she had found herself so
! unexpectedly plunged. "Would YOU mind
You know I have SO little time, and nv
daughters are so young and inexperienced;
besides with them
The fever had risen, the inflammation
in the wound increased;a painful opera
ton was necessary.
The doctor looked about him for m as
sistant.
"You. my child? No, no." he said. a.
Rhona indicated herself. Il need a wom-
an, n OF nervous child"
Il was twenty my last birthday" she re-
piled. II will not fail you"
Once or twice her cheek blanched, but
she never once relaxed her hold. She went
through her part bravely; then. when all
was over, tainted lead away.
But fortunately her swoon Was short.
and left 10 i'll effects behind.
For two weeks, night and day, she
watched beside the sufferer. It was she
who soothed his delirium, Who moistened
his parched lips. who loosened his bandages
when they pressed, who walked while he
slept.
Occasionally Mrs. Ridley would tiptoe to
Tie door.
II can 10 no good she would say, II
must not run myself down. Mr.. Ronalds
may arrive now any day. Do you think
the young man will have recovered suffi-
GENTLY to enable us to give our ball?"
She stopped, hesitating.
i understand, Mrs. Ridley" answered
the young girl. lam used to nursing, and
all the time I can spare from the school
room l will relieve you gladly"
L will excuse yeu from the schoolroom.
The children can have holiday. I should
like you to he always present to receive the
doctors directions. and to see that they are
carried oat''
Left alone, kohra Armstrong returned to
he bed. who arc you that they leave YOU
with me?' sue Thought to herself "Ah, if
You could exchange places with this Rex
honalds how they would vie with ench 9th
er IN their care Of you! But, Pshaw! am
growing uncharitable. NV life is hard
ening ME. Poor fellow! Whoever YOU
may be, you look as though you had hard,
long siege before your which verdict the
physician Strengthened when he made his
call.
but that he recovered ut all the doctor
said he owed to his most faithful nurse.
The rose flush had ali died from her cheek
now; tho eyes had that large, heavy lock
only nights Of sleepiessness give and the
golden hair hung in two large bruids away
below the slender waist.
1t required less time to arrange it thus.
But one night, watching alone, the crisis
passed. He opened wide inquiring eyes
upon the little fairy vision who had minis.
tered in all his delirious dreams.
lis it May or Ella?'' he asked.
She thought he was de'irious still.
1T is neither" she answered, rising aud
approaching his side. only the children's
0overness."
He held out his hand very feebly, and
she, to humor him, placed hers within it.
His fingers closed tightly over it. and thus
holding it he fell asleep.
She dared not waken him. 1t was the
sleep which might buy his life. There was
no cnar within her reach, she feared to
move. and SO she stood imotionless through