, 1882-06-23

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had also thought of this, and when
he reached the street in the rear, he
found Mr.. Clinton had been rescued,
alive, but frightfully if not fatally
injured. He knew too we'll the low
ing hearts at home to venture to send
there the burned, manned husband
and father without warning; so bid
ding the men who carried him fol
low, he sped through the streets to
carry the tidings What was the
fire, the loss of property, even beg
gary, compared to this calamity ?
Even in the midst of his horror and
pain, he was glad that the words al
ready spoken to Mr., Clinton gave
him the right to offer comfort and
assistance to Mrs. Clinton and
Maggie.
The scenes that followed might
have tried even stouter hearts than
those of the two loving women who
bore them so bravely. They had no
time to more than realize the dread
full news before they We're obliged to
give active service to the sufferer.
The surgeons made long examina-
ton, and longer yet were the minis
trations for relief. The wife in the
room, the daughter outside, were
kept busy for hours, to prepare cool
ing lotions, linen bandages, and
other means of assistance for the
half conscious but keenly y-suffering
old man, whose life was the most
precious boon they asked Of Heaven.
The injuries, terrible as they We're,
proved to have as yet so slightly af-
fected the vital powers, that, although
the surgeons gave but little hope of
recovery, they all declared there was
no immediate danger of death.
Weeks followed, where time, sleep,
everything was cheerfully sacrificed
to try to ease the sufferings of the
invalid. Night after night Wilfred
Mansfield watched by the bedside of
the man he had hoped to call father,
nursing him with all the gentleness
of woman, and giving him the ben
eft of his young, strong arms for the
constant changes of position he
fancied would ease his pain. He had
become so frantic with suffering that
opiates were given in quantities that
would have been frightful under
ordinary circumstances, and lotions
were applied almost hourly to the
terrible burns. But there came a
night when all pain ceased, and sleep
came to the tired eyelids. The doc
tor called late upon the weary nurses,
and gave Wilfred the directions for
the night. Privately he said to
him
"The chance for life is one in q
thousand. If he wakes, conscious,
give him this medicine at once, and
repeat it every half-hour till I come
in the morning. He may never
wake. "
There was but little sleep except
ing in the sick-room. Mrs. Clinton,
yielding to Maggie's earnest wishes,
lay down, dressed, to try to rest, and
Maggie-pale, weary Maggie
watched beside her. They had been
kept ignorant Of the crisis approach
ing, but they knew the danger Of
death had been great from the first
hour.
1t was early dawn when Wilfred
Mansfield came softly to call them.
Mr.. Clinton lay gasping, dying, and
they stood beside him while Wilfred
fastened for the doctor. But before
he returned, all was over.
In the distress and agitation, no
body saw how white and rigid the
face of the young man had become.
Friends thought he was over-fatigued
by his many nights of watching, and
even the physicians spoke admiring-
ly Of his devotion and the strength
of constitution that could endure
such a strain of care and wakeful
ness.
He was the only one to save Mrs.
Clinton and Maggie the trying duty
of experimenting funeral arrange
ments, and later the details of wind
ing up the business affairs thrown
into disastrous confusion by the
fire. No thoughtful act was omitted;
every jar to the sensitive hearts that
care could avert, was spared them,
and they were relieved from the
pressure of immediate want by the
information that o thousand dollars
had been rescued from The business.
Nobody but Wilfred Mansfield could
have told where that was found.
The lawyers in vain tried to save
dollar, though they found no debts.
The fire had destroyed everything,
even the few bonds Mr.. Clinton had
given his life to try to save. But
from the hour when Wilfred Mans
field called her to her dying fathers
side, Maggie knew that he was
changed. He was kind, thoughtful,
and attentive, but he was never low
ing The words of comfort he offered
were spoken with averted face and a
choked voice, and when she longed to
lay her head upon his breast and sob
ont her prief. he went hastily AWAY