The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-02-23

she has brooded over 1t IN fear and
trembling, and, all unconsciously, her
finely strung and sensible nature had
fallen prey to the terrible influence.
To-day" said l, sis the twenty
ninth of May. If left to herself Cor
della will die before the fifth day of
June is passed. She is so far a pass.
i've victim under the fatal shadow of
the augury. We must get her over
that fifth day alive If we can do
that, she is saved"
"How can we do it? asked Mary
"Will you help me p
''To the very last possibility of my
power" was her heartful reply.
"Then," said /, you shall be her
nurse. Let her know nothing of our
meeting; and, above all, hint not that
| know of this sibyl's augury."
This twenty-ninth day of May was
Tuesday, and the fifth of June would
come in just one week-the very next
Tuesday.
On Wednesday visited my patient,
and she introduced to me her dear
friend Mary Larkin; and we acted our
parts so well that she suspected not
that we had met before. She said
that Mary would remain with her.
OF course | was glad | had prepared,
with great care, a sleeping potion as
powerful as / dared to administer and
had furthermore taken Mr.. Gregory
into my confidence, and also the old
nurse, family relative.
"To-night," said /, in my final
charge TO Mary, "do you keep Corde-
liza awake as much as possible, and
before daybreak give her the sleeping
mixture Watch her narrowly, and
let no noise be made in the house"
As had directed, Mary Larkin suf-
fered no sleepto visit her patients
eyes until well on toward Thursday
morning, when, at three o'clock, she
administered the opiate in a bit of
spiced wine. In short time Cordelia
fell asleep, and the little mantel clock,
upon the dressing case, was stopped.
When the day broke the room was
thoroughly darkened, and the hush of
midnight reigned. She slept until five
o'clock on that Thursday afternoon,
and as she gave signs of awaking the
, clock was set agoing. Her nurse sat
, just as she had sat fourteen hours
before.
"Have you been asleep, Cordelia ?"
, The patient sat up aud looked
around.
"Is this you, Mary?'
eyes"
"What time is it ?"
"Why,- are you wandering? You
, have just taken your wine. Do you
| want some more? ?'
, Cordelia looked at the clock. The
rays Of the nurse-lamp full upon its
) face, ana she saw that it was half-past
r three.
| 81 thought had slept" she said.
Y Mary laughed, and told her she had
had no time to sleep.
| Presently the patient asked for
t drink, and another opiate was admin
+ isteIed.
y In this way we brought her over to
Friday morning, and she had lost a
y day. 1t was the morning of the first
i day of June, and she thought it was
f Thursday, the last day of May
e was sure she could safely bear a
: repetition of the experiment and
p moreover, l was anxious to be as fal
= on the safe side as possible. During
l. this Friday, which she thought to be
e Thursday, l administered invigorating
diet aud cordials; and during tl,is
Y same Friday night Mary Larkn con-
e tinued to keep her charge awake at
o before. At half past three, on Satur
r day morning, the opiate was admins
:. tered, in draught for which the
d patient had called of on her own ac
8 cord, and sound sleep was the result
d The clock was stopped, and the win
}. dows battened and all IN the hous,
> put upon orders of silence.
e The sleep lasted until past TIVE
J. o'clock of Saturday afternoon, at whicl
a time Cordelia awoke, finding Mary b.
n her side, with the goblet in her hand
If The nurse-lamp was burning lowly, it
it rays falling upon the dial OF the clock
+. which was now ticking away at tn
@ hour of four
1t AS before Mary adroitly led he
II charge to believe that since taking he
n draught she had only dropped off int
Is a momentary doze, and that it was noN
four o'clock in the morning. Cordt
d liza asked for more drink, and thus a
II opportunity was offered for giving tn
er last opiate, which had prepared wit
le the utmost care and precision.
g Cordelia slept again, and awoke nc
n until the dawning of Sabbath morning
N She had lost another day, and though
/ full sure that the morning beams wei
lie for the ushering in of Friday. NJ
er Gregory had made an arrangemer
to with the sections of the two vllag
churches that the Sabbath bells shoul
I'd not be rung; so the day passed, al
OF the patient dreamed not how time ha
ou slipped away. She was living throug
es Sunday, the third day of June, al
- she believed it to be only Friday, IL
first day of June.
~ On Monday administered cordia
he stimulating and invigorating. Tue
day, the Fated Day, come, and Co
!, della tried TO smile as we gave her a
d. surance of returning health, But HI
y smiles were of resignation, not of hop
ne On that Tuesday evening, whic
mt to her mind was the evening of SUI
day, she held my hand, and asked II
er to be with her on the morrow
"To morrow" she said, ''is Il
. fourth of June. l would like to ha,
IN those whom / love near me on tn
a day. l shall be permitted to speI
Gu that day with them but / may II
rs spend anotherl'
H. | kissed her upon the brow, al
os promised that | would obey,
80 Wednesday morning came,-tI
sixth day of June--bright, calm, al
beautiful. BY my directions Ma
had administered generous stimulaI
and our patient was feeling the thr
of a new energy. 1t was near T