The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-25

sie'ciut'S' was going to beg Miss
Ashton to take an interest In her. and
your kindness meets my fondest
hopes"
Alovely blush of pleasure suffused
Nefiie's cheeks at the thought of be.
Ing a friend to Arthdr's sister. Oh,
could he think her worthy sf the
place she had always-she felt con-
vinced-aDpeared in her very worst
light to him, and. no matter how she
tried, could never, in her own opin.
ion, retrieve the Stiffness of their tirst
meeting.
Clara Raymond was warm-heart.
ed' imDulsive creature, like her
brother In many ways, and she and
her new friends became attached al.
most from the first mnment of meet.
ing. With all the enthusias tic ardor
OF such nature she hailed her escape
from control at sbcool and she spent
her first day at Fernley In rowing
among the flowers like a butterfly.
challenging her grave but happy
brother to run races with her, and
gambling with Psyche, Mr.. Wilton's
fayorite dog, until Nellie, who for
once had thrown aside her reserve in
Arthur's presence and Joined in her
gayety, begged her in fond anxiety
to rest awhile lest she should exhaust
herself.
Nellie's forethougnt was not un-
needed. Next day Clara did not rise
from bed. She had severe chill.
followed by severe headache and
pains so severe that she could not re-
press her means.
Nellie had been with her from the
first complaint and now never left
her. On the third day, after a care.
ful examination of the case, DR.. Ray.
mond dispatched note to town for
another physician, and called Nellie
Ashton from the room. AS they
stood together face to face he was far
the paler and more perturbed of the
two.
1t was true that Nellie's blooming
beauty had undergone a chastening
change in the past few days; a deep
and earnest purpose marked the ex-
pression.of her lovely face, and in her
large dark eyes shone a sweet and
holy light that touched the heart of
the young doctor as never beam from
woman's eye had done before.
He tried to speak. but his words
came faint and difficult of utterance :;
at last, mastering his emotion, he
said:
"It is my duty to acknowledge the
worst. my dear Miss Ashton to pre-
pare others. and, as far as I can, pro-
tect against the dreadful calamity
that has befallen my poor darling.
Alas you must see Clara no more |;
she is victim to the smallpox"
II have known it, DR.. Raymond,
for some hours" calmly answered
Nellie; "the leading symptoms was
already familiar with; the others I
learned from medical work you left
in the library"
"You nave known it, and yet re-
manned in her room at the risk of
your life and beauty" cried the doc
tor, in voice choked with emotion.
The ghost of smile fitted across
NelIie's pale face.
"My life is in Gods hands, DR..
Raymond" she replied. eff it Is
lost to me in usefulness. shall die
WE'LL"
"No. no." said Arthur Raymond,
rousing himself to duty sit must
not oe it shall not be. We have no
right to demand such a sucrifice.
will see Mrs. Wilton, and at once pro-
curea hired nurse"
For an instant Nellie lost her tim.
idity; she drew close to Arthur and
laid her hand on his arm. "I have
written to my sister she knows all,
and consents to my course. Already
all communication is cut off from the
lower floor, and these two airy rooms
are left to the patient and me. Do
not talk of stranger, hireling,
when you know your sisters sensi-
tive life would sink beneath the con-
sciousuess of desertion by those she
loves. No, no; you cannot move
me. My place is here"
And there it was. The startled,
easily.frightened Nellie. at whom
her brother jested so constantly. was
suddenly transformed into quiet
heroine with a task before her from
which many a stout heart might
have shrunk and quailed, for Clara
Raymond's disease was of the viru-
lent form, and not only days but
weeks passed while that slender life
hung on thread, and they who low
ed her watched in prayerful dread of
| nll their care hein0 vain Rut the