The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-10-18

| AeSIolati'es, anu Hiss w llDur liein DIlnSiy
assisted him. A telegram was despatched
exhorting the doctor to come upon the
evening train, now due in couple of
hours. The thin coverings over the suf-
ferer were replaced with heavy blankets,
beneath the cover of which they chafed
his limbs to restore the circulation of the
sluggish blood, and bottles of warm
water were procured in vain effort to
lmpart an artificial heat to his chilled
limbs. In the midst of their labors ,
startling message came. u
Murdoch called eleven miles in the
country. Deliver message on return"
The effect upon the two who read it
was in striking contrast. The daughter
sank into chair unnerved and hopelesA
the man flung the bit of paper to the
floor, and turned to her with an express
sion of contempt. Had he been other
than humble workman, one might have
fancied that he deliberately planned to
rouse the girl to action by his singing
words.
"For shame, Miss Wilbur; this is no
time to yield to selfish emotion, when
e'-indicating the pale and inantlmate
form on the bed--''so needs your help"
The girl rose to her feet, and, with
tightly compressed lips, moved swiftly
about the room, proving herself steady
and efficient aid. Forced back upon his
own resources, the young man bent all
his energies to work to meet and con.
quer the dreaded foe whose icy presence
had drawn near and was READY to enfuld
the form of the patient in an everlasting
embrace.
The sick man himself had passed from
the wildness of delIrum to the portentous
silence that attends an impending crisis.
No whisper passed his lips, but as he
followed their movements and passively
submitted to their efforts, they dared
not ask whether the calm eyes held
prescience of returning strength, or
greeted them with the mute farewell of
soul bound on its last lone journey.
AS nightfall approached, a change was
perceptible on his face. A look of ex-
IRENE wearing IS replaced the mute silent
watchfulness. His breath came in long,
weary respirations and his eyelids droop-
ed until they folded the eyes from sight.
Always mindful of the lesser strength
of his fellowwatcher Douglas swung the
sofa noselessly around until it faced the
bed on which the sufferer lay. Then he
turned to the girl.
You must lie down"
''But if he should need me- cannot
sleep"
lyon can keep your eyes fixed on his
face if you like. Hoard your strength
for the time when it may be required"
Without demur she yielded to his wish;
but as he tenderly wrapped heavy trav-
cling shawl around her she averted her
eyes from his face. Later on, her gaze
wandered from the quiet sleeper to the
features Of the man who sat graveIy re-
garding he. from his post beside the
pillow, and marked. a.e strong, intellect
ual brow, the finely mou.t.ed features,
and the decisive lines about the III. IA
and chin. Waiting by the mysterious
borderland which separates the world Of
atlectation from the world of reality, she
gave full sway to the questlouings which
had been fitting through her mind in
shadowy background during days of ag-
onized suspense. By what right dared
people set up artificial standards of hui
man worth, to measure q man by acct
dents of birth or education, rather than
fine inherent possibilities? And who
was it had said that the grandest tri-
umph on earth was that of the man who
proved himself the master rather than
the slave of circumstances? She looked
back to the influences of her own petted
life. What if poverty and abuse had
been allotted her in place OF the tender
and lavish affection which had smoothed
every obstacle from her pathway? She
knew very well she would not have been
woman who would have been superior
to circumstances. Had she one trait
which could have rendered her a better
or more sensible woman than poor little
Kitty Malone, her old nurses daughter,
who disdaned tho honest work for which
nature had fitted her, and frittered her
time away over the piano, only to marry
Of loo HI
days in misery and shame? OF all the
men of her own acquaintance, what one
would have stood by her so faithfully in
time of need as this man, whom from the
first she had treated with contempt AS
she reached this position in her thoughts,
almost involuntarily she extended her
hand and felt it taken in close, warm
grasp.
Following her meditations at one mo-
ment with clear brain, rousing by
starts to full comprehension of mo-
meutous period that was passing, and at
another relapsing into dreamy reflections,
nature gave way at last to the strain i'm
posed upon her, and she sank unawares
into heavy slumber.
Each minute of the night dragged by
as if weighted with leaden wings to the
louely watcher by the sick mans bed
side. With tense gaze bent upon the
sufferers face, he dared not change his
attitude lest some unguarded movement
should rouse the patient to that last
losing struggle with the unseen spirit
lowering near. A close observer would
have noted that the brawny fireman had
singularly altered during his self-elected
exile in Mojave. His face had thinned
pcrceDtibly, and the coarse healthful col
or that formerly redeemed his cheek had
wholly disappeared, while serious dig
nifty replaced the look of boyish good
nature that formerly characterized his
face.
An hour or so after midnight rumble
in the distance deepcned into sullen
roar, and hoarse shrek proclaimed the
advent of the early morning freight. The
sleeper on the sofa reused with a start
and met the significant look on the young
mans face, then listened in silence until
her ear caught the sound of hurried foot
steps coming up the quiet street. A
moment later the doctor entered the
door. Both nurses arose as he approach