The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-28

| waist.
| 1t required less time to arrange i
thus. But one night, watching alone
| the crisis passed. He opened wide, in
qufring eyes upon the little fairy vision
who had mingled in all his deliriou,
dreams.
us it May or Ellap'', he asked.
She thought he was delirious still.
s.It is neither,'a she answered, rising
and approaching his side. s'Only the
children 5 governess."
He held out his hand very feebly, anG
she, to h1mor him, placed hers within
it. His fingers closed tightly over it
and thus holding it, he fell asleep.
She dared not waken him; it was the
sleep which might buy his life. There
was no chair within her reach. She
feared to move, and SO she stood mo-
tionless through the long hours until
the dawn broke. Her limbs trembled
beneath her weight She was overcome
by fatigue, when at last he wakened to
find her stin standing.
+ 'tHow long have slept?" he asked.
''Four hours, / think" she answered.
'And you have stood all this time?'
81 feared to waken you.n
He made no reply. but lifted the little
IkstIIU u HIS up anu kISSeu
'|How long have been ill?'' he ques-
toned, later.
almost three weeks, sfr.n
.'And, they brought me to the Hurst
remember that But Mrs Castleton
and the girls-where are they?''
'sYou know them, sirp That is strange,
for Mrs. Castleton did not seem to re-
cognize you; but they are very busy
now. They are expecting the return of
the young heir to Templehurst, who is
to be laden down with festivities
ssShades of my ancestors. What have
/ done to deserve this?''
''What do you mean?''
''Only that l am the unhappy indi-
yidual you allude to, and that / could
almost bless the wound which has given
me this respite. | was on my way to
call, when that stupid gamekeeper mis-
took me for partridge, and put bull
let through my arm
'.And are you Lord BeaufoyP Oh,
how sorry they viii be!'
WHAT Why, thought you told me
they were kind enough to count on my
return?'' ~
Eyes, yes-but sorry that they could
not have helped me nurse you. II
doctor 81.
But the new conner upon the scene
had barely time to catch in his strong
arms the slight young form before it
would have fallen heavily to the floor.
Used up,'' he said, with an ominous
shake of his head. Il don't think she's
slept six hours in week. You've given
me two patients, Young man; but tell
you one thing-she has saved the sexton
and the grave-digger one. =
With which cheerful homily he strove
to bring back life and consciousness.
But the doctor could no longer COM
plain of lack of nurses. Now that his
patient was convaiescent, and that he
had acknowledged his identity, they
swarmed about him like bees in hive.
May succeeded Ella, and Ella May,
while Mrs. Castleton hustled about, all
motherly kindness.
Its too bad, Vane!' she would de-
clare. Il know the girls would have
helped you get well sooner; but really
you looked SO very disreputable, all COW
cred with blood, and / am so guarded
with them.''
To all of which the young man listened
silently. Day after day he missed his
gentle little nurse. The thought that
She was i'll and suffering because of her
faithfulness to him distracted him. He
would rather sleep than waken, for in
his dreams she came to him, and once
again he could feel the velvety touch of
the small, white hand
But it was almost harder when,
through his doctor, he learned that she
had recovered and had resumed her
usual duties, though not to him. His
room saw her no more.
Once he ventured to speak of her to
Mrs. Castleton.
''She is occupied with the Children
she answered. ''They have already lost
too much time.'
Mamma, she must have suspected
ali alongr' said May.
'@Of course she did, designing little
minxt7s said Ella.
Never mind, my dears, he was de-
lirious most of the time; and, besides,
he is not likely to see her again
Which prophecy seemed in a fair way
of being carried out; for when, fort
night later, his health gave him no eX-
cuse for remaining at The Hurst, and |
to Templehurst, he had not
been able to see Sybil Manners, even fol
q few simple words of thanks.
In her own room she heard the sound |
Of carriage wheels bearing him away, |
and a quick pang of pain darted through |
her heart.
'tAh, he is q man!' she whispered. |
He forgets, but remember"
But next day she came in from a soil |
ary ramble, with flushed cheek and |
parking eye. What had she seen in |
Ter walk? Perhaps he had not forgot |
en-.
The master of Templehurst and the |
many broad acres that surrounded it,
vas affianeed. How the rumor spread, |
lone new; but all learned it, as they I'M
erstood that grand ball, to be pre-
eded by tGb{e0slr, was to be given in
onor of his foncee.
8 1t was crushing blow to Mrs. Castle
on; but she was already looking in the
uture.
Z Never mind, my dears,'' she said to
er disappointed daughters. I'VE must
make ourselves vastly agreeable, and
ropitiate her in all our ability, for she
I'LL be power In the neighborhood.o
The eventfule evening came at last. A
utter of curiosity pervaded the elegant
sse1nblage as they sat IN the ballroom,
rafting the rising of the curtain upon
ne tableaux; for it was suspected that
j some one of them would be found the
ictor of the prize.
AT last the curtain rose and fell. Pic
IRE succeeded picture. All were beau
full, and won enthusiastic plaudits.
Then the last was announced. 1t was
The Sleeping Beauty The curtain
:. <,<S,,ol, To- =,