Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-09-29


smile once more. His eyes seemed TO close
Of their own accord, and he was asleep
again almost directly. Lucy slightly
changed her position. but still she sat by
him, and still she held his hand. "For
once" thought she, Il have done some
thing that has not been an injuryto him.
Thank God Gamer
Now that she could see his face she
saw how pale and thin II WAS. She was
looking sorrowfully at it when the nurse
awoke and came to her.
"What change you have made in him,
ma'am!" said she. "It is surprising what
love can do"
Lucy was so shocked that she almost
dropped his hand but bethought herself
in time and sat still.
"He has raved about you, and his love
for you, and his despair about something
or other"
"About what?" inquired Lucy.
"Nay, miss, j don't know; despair is a
part of the business. took no particu-
lar notice Of what he was saying"
Lucy began to think that he was sleep
ing so soundly she might steal away from
his side. This woman's talk made her
feel uncomfortable. She drew her hand
away so gently that he certainly could not
have felt it but no sooner had she done so
than he half turned round and said some.
thing which she did not hear.
"YOu will be having him wide-awake
again, ma'am, if you don't take care"
whispered the nurse, anxiously.
Lucy took his hand once more in hers,
and once more he was still. The nurse
now saw how weak and i'll the poor girl
was herself, and came and put glass of
wine to her lips, and gave her a cushion
to lean against; without this Lucy must
have tainted. ~s
Lucy herself was in half sleep when
she heard him say, "Nurse, I feel very
well this morning!"
Sand so you ought with beautiful
young lady sitting there and holding your
hand lovingly like that the whole long
night through. Most folks would feel
happy. She's asleep now, poor young
thing"
"What she does for me nurse, is only
done out of pity"
The nurse looked wise. ~ don't feel 80
sure of that, sir" said she.
''She is fast asleep, nurse"
Lucy was, so to speak, fast asleep and
wide awake too. She heard, but could not
move.
"How do you feel about eating some
thing, sir3" was the good woman's next
speech.
~ believe am hungry-but I ought to
be dead,' he added with certain degree
of grim humor.
"On this Lucy's hand closed tightly on
his, and with a great effort she opened
her weary eyes. The nurse went to bring
some tea.
"Do not use that dreadful word," said
Lucy to him.
'You have, think, saved me-" replied
he. ~ wonder whether the doctor will
say am better"
II never can forgive the DOCTOR" cried
Lucy; she ought to have let me come to
you sooner. He had no right to conceal
from me that you wished to see me-
Why did you wish so much to see me7"
ITO tell you something"
'But you have not done it."
'You are not to be told'un just before
I die"
Lucy was silent.
"You must be very tired" said he.
"No, 1 am so happy. You are better?"
"Yes, 1 am better. Thank you for all
that you have undergone to make me So"
"What have 1 undergone that would
not most gladly undergo again for your
good?"
She had withdrawn her hand from him
it was lying on the arm of her chair
His eyes rested on it. He held out his
own beseechingly. After an instant's
hesitation she laid her hand frankly in his.
He looked at it, then at her. "Just for
one moment" said he; Il do not misun-
derstand you"
"Take your hand away" said he, in a
short time; II do not like to give it up
and ought not to keep it."
Lucy left it where it was.
"Even if you attached all the meaning
to what you are now doing that it is posi-.
BILE to attach, my duty would still be this
said he, kissing her hand, and gently put.
ting it away from him.
81 do not understand" said she.
81 love you, DEAR" was his reply; 81
always shall, but I am in no position tt
WOO you for my wife. wish you were as
poor as am
"a minute ago." said Lucy, "you asked
me for my hand-put yours in mine now
for one instant" and very timidly she..held
out hers. He looked doubtfully in hel
face-what was she going to do9 He held
forth his hand. She did not lay hers ir
his, but she drew off her posy ring-the
ring which had been her fathers and hel
grandfathers betrothal ring-and she
placed it on his finger.
He had not forgotten the motto:-
My love for thee
My life shall be.
and said in joyful amazement, "Is it pos