River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-08-24

light around the room. Little indeed,
and unfinished TO nothingness. One
scantily covered bed was all! But with
in saw sweet wee face that made me
forget all else. approached it and laid
my hand upon the pulse of the little
sufferer.
"Who are your she asked, drawing
back in alarm.
ale is doctor, Bessie; dear, good,
kind friend" replied her sister; and
from that moment sne became perfect
ly passive in my hands.
1t did not require one learned IN the
science of MGteria Medicd to see what
was required. / made the proper pre-
scription, saw that it was tenderly adj
ministered, told the eldest sister that |
would be back in few minutes, and re-
sisting all her attempts to light me
down stairs, CROPPED my way out into
the street. | had noticed an ed ing
house at but little distance as we came
along; and q statement Of the case,
backed by the all-powerful king of the
world, gold, soon procured the loan of
couple of chairs, fuel, light, and
proper food, and in a brief halfhour
air of comfort. Another hour and the
eyes of the child were closed in slum-
Der, and urged her sister also to seek
repOse, but in vain.
TAT least lie down and let me cover
you with my cloak" l urged.
No, DOCTOR" was the constant re.
ply, 81 cannot | am SO happy. 1t
must have been God that directed my
wandering steps to you"
And so we sat with the night wind
roariog without, watching the almost
angelic face of the peacefully slumber-
ing child-sat and talked of what
was more than anxious to hear. But
the conversation of those long, dark
hours, can be condensed into a very
brief space.
She who would have sold her body
for the sake of giving little longer of
| life to her sister, was the daughter of
at least supposed wealth. But few
wears previously, she could have held
her head as high as the highest. Both
birth and education fitted her for it..
But misfortune came-a series of dis
asters upon the land and upon the sea
against which no human forethought
could guard, combined with treachery
and ingratitude Of the deepest dye
swept away all. In their footsteps fol-
lowed the death of her mother, leav-
ing an infant of but few months old.
The fond father struggled against the
tide manfully for brief time-then
his health gave wayne followed his
wife through the valley and beyond the
shining river, leaving the elder sister
provide for the younger.
" For time" continued the poor
| girl, was able to live comfortably by
the sale of the furniture and articles of
value | possessed. Then-why should
| unbossom myself to stranger she
asked, stopping suddenly, and looking
me full in the face.
because" | replied with a smile, at
her earnestness; because you have
found a true heart, and one that can
feel for you"
eyes, may kind Heaven be thanked
/ feel that it is so. Well, | struggled
on, no, fought were the better word,
| she continued, with the lines about her
mobile mouth becoming suddenly
hard-''I fought for life, sometimes
teaching, sometimes obtaining little
needle work; in short, doing anything
that my strength permitted, until i'll.
ness come. Still | gave no way to des-
pair. Truly, was bound to the stake
"a sweet one, my darling sister. Of the
insults / received while seeking for
work, | shall not speak"
"And found no employment"
'None! Piece by piece | parted
with the little furniture L was the pos.
ssssor of, until what you see was all that
remained"
only poor child p
at is true"-I saw that she was nery
ing herself to tell me something that
was painful, very painful, and would
have stopped her, but she resolutely
| contnued-"it is true that money was
offered me by moIe than one man, but
| instantly and Indignantly hurled il
back in my insulter's face. Then
great Heaven upon this bitter night
with all of hope gone, determined tc
sell my body to some surgeon"
"What in the name Of Heaven could
have put such an idea into your head 2
81 t ont know cannot tell. Some
/ WH6IC Iidu CltlSl LCdlO VI ICfd VI
something of the kind"
You must have ben very desper
ate"
;'On the verge of distraction had
hut one dream-one desire, to save
my darling even single hour of pain.
"Have you no relatives p
She paused and turned to smooth
| the slumbering Bessie, and imprint 8
/ kiss upon the curl-wreathed and snowy
brow; and | thought what desperate
trials one like her must have passec
through in order to bring her mind tC
look calmly upon giving herself to the
knife and ribad jest of the dissectins
room. And | thought, too, of the
sterling truth of her young heart, tn 4
could resist the allurements OF golC
when so hedged by want and pain il
their terrible shape. | thought, too
but she interrupted me with:
"My kind friend-indeed, | mign
say my only friend-when God raised
up to me in an hour when all wa:
darkness, and misery, and black death
and pauper's grave was staring me II
The face-my kind friend-but | am
have been keeping you from rest"
"Mel A surgeons life is one that il
constantly broken in upon, and-wil
Won pardon mel have never had my
heart so deeply touched. or my feelings
so much interested, in all my life"
A faint rose-blush crept up from
the exquisitely nodded throat and
mantled the soft cheeks. She took my
hand and pressed it to her lips, leaving
a warm kiss lingering upon it.
When the morning light broke again
over the gay city, the storm had ceased
and nature smilrd-cold, it is true, but
brilliantly. There was q plentiful break
fast served in that little room that same
morning.
As / write these lines, / with some
at least, of my dreams of wealth and
position realzed) sit in cosy study
and listen to the wrathful bowling O
the storm without. There is beautiful
brown haired woman sitting near-s
sprite of a girl decorating a white kitter
with crimson ribbons ON the rug in
front of the glowing CRATE. look az
suddenly. Our eyes met. Are we
both thinking of the past? 1t may be
so. She seats softly behind my chail
and twines her arms around MY neck
"Darling, do you remember such 8
night as this year ago." she asks.
'Yes; ! was thinking of it"
''And of what brought me to your"
YES"
She bends still nearer to me. | fee
l. NV ahoaEs