The Russellville Democrat., 1881-06-16
HIS STORY.

least three days have not been called to any new cases, and at last 1 think may safely say that the cloud is lifted, which for the past month has laid upon this ill-fated town, where for so long fever and disease, bred of bad smells and bad ventilation and drainage. aggravated | by privation-for nearly all the mills have stopped on account of strike among the employes-haveh held sway. Iwrite hopefully and we'll I may; for, together with the joy of knowing that the woe about me is abating, into my own life has dawned an overwhelming and unlooked-for radiance. I will tell you bow it came about. AS one morning, mouth ago, went my rounds in one of the hospital wards, bending over a patient l saw g new uurse.
 l watched her moment unseen, when suddenly, as she slightly turned her head, recognized one whom had not
 seen for five years Notwithstanding the
 stiff regulation dress, and the close cap
 that confined her hair, I knew her--for was it not face that the more 1 had tried to forget the more it had remained engraved on the inmost tablets of my heart. had seen it first when dear friend had persuaded me to give myself a short time to recruit and rest, at his country home, the health which my ar- duoIs duties had impaired. I went, promising to remain month if nothing urgent called ne away. l found an ideal home, such as one reads of in books, sit uated in spot nature must have created with a smile upon her face. The hostess, a gentle, gray-h y-haiIed lady, made me cordially welcome. "A. friend of her sons was as her own," she said. There was another inmate of my friends home-his young cousin. A gay, radiant creature, with ' music as of rippling brooklets in her merry voice. and face full of fun and laughter, but without particle of earnestness un- derlying its varied expressions. 1 could see she shrank from me at our first meet ing, and learned the reason. was a cripple, and she was one 10 whose exu- berant health and beauty loving nature any deformity or weakness gave a sen- sation aimost oI repulsion. put as wv grew better acquainted, as the passing days opened up to us each others char acters, her manner toward me changed. Though she suspected it not the change was an important one for me. I had thought her incapable of any seriousness of feeling; now found my mistake. l had thought her superfcially fair, but soon came to find beauty in her girlish face, surpassing that of any other l had seen.
 The time flew by until the day came on which had decided to go, and it was
 well that it was so; for knew then that, almost unconsciously, an all-absorbing love had been growing up in my heart filter mate for me than a dainty hum- niing-bird would be for grim. sobre raven.
 Not for such as she was a work-day life like mine, even had not been as I was-diferent from my fellows-a cripple.
 So went away, thanking my kind entertainers and binding with cords of iron, my heart, which throbbed like a wild thing, when at parting she laid her Ii tile hand in mine and said che was sorry l was going.
 Sorry-and l, who was more than sorry, could only utter the merest com monplaces.
 To return to where I broke away into -reminiscences-
 As stood watching her, she turned and came towards me. 1 was not mis- taken. enough graver and paler than of old, before me stood she who was always in my thoughts. So l addressed her now.
 Miss Carleton, how can it be possible that you are here, risking your life in this fevered atmosDhereW
 She gave me her hand quietly, as if it had been but yesterday that we parted.
 T have been in the midst of the worst of it," she said, "for I came to D., naming town few miles dist been since, until yesterday, 1 was sent here to take the place -of . nurse who has been taken sick"
 1But your aunt, where is she?" I asked, land my friend, your cousin? I have had no word from him foY long time."
 An expression of sadness clouded her face.
 Did you not know" she exclaimed, that both my dear aunt and my noble young cousin, all had in the world to love and be loved by, were taken from me within one short month? Oh, it was hardl was almost beside myself with grief. Then l read of the suffering here, and the need of nurses. l was alone in the world, no circle would be broken by by my loss, and I thought, perhaps, in hard work could be able to drown my sorrows. So l came.
 As she spoke gazed with amazement at the brave woman before me. for. though young in years, "girl" she could be called no longer.
 "The first month took the fever" she continued, "but my perfect health brought me through quickly"
 Truly the ways of Providence are mysteriousl How little l ever thought that l should meet Vera Carleton in such manner and place.
 After that l saw her daily; saw her kneeling in prayer by the dying, or whining away the weary hours of con valescence by her beautiful, cheering presence.
 A month passed. It was cooler weath- CT now, and the fever was at an end. The time had come when my servlces were no longer indispensable, and 1 could re- turn to my home in London. l called to bid Miss Carleton goodbye.
 found her alone. We talked awhile, and suddenly, although my reason told me 1t was madness, impelled by an In- ward prompting could not resist, dis closed to my listener the love which had been hidden in my heart all tbs long years winch had passed since we