The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-22

case of typhus fever A few days ago
the case became still more complicated
and difficult, by an affection of the brain
which supervened, and Monsieur Lee
ruce, not feeling himself strong enough
to combat these difficulties, considered
il his duty to call in another physician.
was, therefore, summoned. | found
the case, as my colleague had found it,
most extraordinary one. There was
not only physical weakness to combat,
but mental depression mental depres-
sion of so terrible and gloomy char
acter, that both Monsieur Leruce and
myself feared that should we even sue
| coed in preserving the life of the pa
tent, we might fail in saving his rea-
son.
How terrible! how terribler' said
Ellinor.
during the three days and nights in
| which | have attended him." continued
| the doctor, "we have not succeeded
until this evening in obtaining an inter-
val of consciousness; but throughout the
delirium our patient has dwelt upon two
or three subjects, which, though of
different character, may be by some
! chain of circumstances connected into
the one source of his great mental
wretchedness. Throughout his wan
behring's one name has been necessarily
upon his lips"
and that name is--?'
"Ellinor Daltonp'
MY own namen'
Eyes, madam, your name, coupled
with perpetual entreaties for pardon;
for forgiveness of great wrong-a
wrong done long since, and scrupulous-
ly concealed"
"A wrong done! Ii this is the per-
son suspect it to be, he never, never
was anything but the truest friend to
me; but for PHYS sake, let me see him.
This torture of suspense is killing me-"
lone moment, madame. | had some
difficulty in finding you, but mentioning
everywhere the name of the lady OF
whom | was in search, | fortunately
happened to make the inquiry of friend
of your aunt's. This good, devoted
Louise, here, was ready to set out on
her errand of mercy, and | thought that
you might feel, perhaps. more conf
dence in her than in me.n
At this moment the door of communi-
cation between the two apartments was
softly opened, and the other doctor en-
tered
Il have prepared the patient for your
visit, madame he said; but YOU
must guard against shock to your own
feelings in seeing him. He is very i'll. "
I'm danger?" asked Elinor.
"Unhappily, yes-in very great dan
gerr'
Throughout the brief interview
with the physician, Ellinor Dalton had
said to herself: Whatever it is that
must be endured by me. l will bear it
bravely-for his sake | will bear it
bravely." Her handsome face was
white as death-the firm, thin lips rig
idly locked over the closely-Shut teeth
the dark and mournfui gray eyes tear
less and serene. but her heart knocked
against her breast so loudly, that she
seemed to hear the heavy throb of its
every pulsation in the stiffness of the
room.
Her worst presentiments were real
lied
Horace Margrave lay with his head
thrown back upon the piled-up pillows,
and his attenuated hand stretched list
lesSly upon the eider-down counterpart
which was wrapped about him His
head was bound with wet linen, over
which his nurse had tied a handkerchief
of scarlet, whose vivid hue made his
white face seem by the contrast still
more ghastly. His dark brown eyes
had lost the dreamy expression usual tC
them, and had the bright and feverisf
luster of disease. They were fixed
with haggard and earnest gaze, upon
the door through which E.linor entered
AT last!' he cried; with an hysterica
cry. AT lastr'
She pressed her hand tightly over hel
beating heart, and, falling on her knees
by his bedside, said TO him, very quietly
Horace-Horace! what is this? Why
why do find you thus?''
He fixed his great lustrous eyes upon
! her, as he answered.:
= What is it, Ellinor? Shall l tel
you?"
T "Yes-yes! if you can tell me with
: out unnerving yourself
Unnerving myself!'' He laughed
with bitter, unnatural cadence. I'm
i nerve myself-look at thatr' HI
n stretched out one thin, half-transparent
I hand, which trembled like an aspen leaf
until he let it fall listlessly upon tn,
+ quilt. ''For four years, Ellinor, l hav,
d been slowly burning out my life in on
It long nervous fever, and you tell me no
n to unnerve myself"
r He gave me restless, impatient sigh
q and, tossing his weary head back upol
the pillow, turned his face to the wall
Ellinor Dalton looked round the room
in which this brilliant, all-accomplished
# admired and fascinating Horace Mar
grave had lain for eleven dreary days
d eleven dreary nights.
O 1t was small apartment, comforta
. bly, furnished, and heated by stove
" On the table by the bedside a Book o
Hours lay open, with a rosary throw
across the page where the reader ha,
I left off. Near this was an English Tes
n lament, also lying open. The Sister o
Mercy who had been nursing Horac
Margrave had procured this Testamen
n in his own language, in hopes that h
O would be induced to read it. But tn
/. sick man, when sensible, spoke to he
e in French, and when she implored hin
J. to see priest, refused, with an impa
;, tent gesture, which he repeated whe
she spoke to him of Protestant clergy
=, man, whom she knew. and could sum
= mon to him.
y To BE CONTINUED.
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