The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-08-09
THE LOVE CURE.

| Lucia ". JeDrftS.
THE LOVE CURE.
q Aunt Emily, that girl will be the death
of me-"
The speaker, who had raised himself to a
sitting position to deliver the energetic pro-
test. sank back upon lounge with Sigh
Of utter exhaustion.
| The room shaded from the summer sun by
window awnings, expensively furnished
and speaking of invalidsm IN every detail
was painfully quiet but from an apartment
not far away came the sound of rich con-
tralto voice, INDUCING In the most astounding
gymnastics Of which the human voice can
be supposed capable, while rapid lingering
upon the key board supported the vocal
acrobatic feats. What the original air might
have been could hardly be surmised in the
right scales, trills, cadenzas, and nourishes
with which 1t was embellished. Suddenly
a sweeping rush of notes, crash OF chords,
and the piano lid fell with a bang that
startled the speech above quoted from Craig
Warrington. Aunt Emily-Mrs. John Ches.
ter-a blue.eyed widow, with one idol, her
nephew, sighed as she answered:
She Is q great trial. Craig But we
must endure II for a month or two"
Down the burn, Davy, love" floated In
the open window, and in moment tall,
handsome girl OF seventeen came up the
porch steps, having made circuit Of the
house from the drawing-room window.
Dear" said Mrs. Chester, holding up q
warning finger, " do try to be q little quieter.
Your cousin Is very nervous this morning.
:" The idea Ola man not twenty -four hav-
ing any nerves." said Helen Warrington,
| nntfinU nSita tha 1nCa tvo IN, 60 Int
the room. Poor little fellow" she added
in soothing tone, approaching the lounge,
" did 1t want to be quietf"
Craig flushed under the keen sarcasm OF
the great black eyes, looking down upon his
tall figure, but said, rather fretfully:
People in rude health have no idea of
the suiferings of invalids.'
"I suppose it is shookingly vulgar to
have no aches or palms," was the reply,
90 but refined laziness was never my tempta.
tion."
"My dear, sickness is not laziness." ex.
claimed Mrs. Chester.
"No--but-''
That was all; but again Craig flushed un-
der the scrutiny of the dark eyes.
grating of wheels upon the gravel and
voice calling Nellie caused Miss Warren
ton to dash through the open window again,
aud In another moment she was standing
beside buggy, in which was seated an
elderly gentleman.
"One more drive, Nell 2" he asked.
''Wait until get a hat, papal''
She was seated beside him moment later,
her face very grave.
"What have you been doing ?" her father
asked.
"singing to keep from crying. It's SO
hard to let you co."
| all 1,,,ks
Your poor aunt is certainly alone in Nice,
and some one must go to her. will return
as soon as possible. In the meantime this is
a pleasant home.'
Pleasant |" the girl cried, with an ex-
pressive grimace. "Papa, you are a doctor.
Tell me if my cousin Craig ia really sick p"
eyes and no.''
Z" thought as much"
Z" He is certainly delicate, and both his
parents died very young. But he pets his
ailments till from dwarfs they become giants.
If Craig were poor man he would probably
overcome all his weakness. AS rich man,
he will probably die in few years OF sheer
want of purpose and exercise. He is dys-
psptic from lying about on beds and lounges,
instead of walking and riding. He takes
cold by keeping himself ever in an artificial
atmosphere"
And he has nerves." said Nellie, con-
temptuously.
"Unfortunately he has, kesnly sensitive
Ones" was the grave reply, with only self
indulgence to foster all their vagaries. I'm.
derstand me, Nell, your cousin does suffer,
more than you can realize, and he will
suffer more and more as he encourages his
troubles.''
Wants shaking up?"
Exactly-mentally and physically."
Zone thing is certain,' said Nell ;
"either he or will die before you return.
feel smothered every time go into the
sitting room, and he grOans every time
raise my voice above whisper. 1t is too
bad, papa, to see him so. l think he is the
very handsomest man ever saw, and he
converses well, toO.''
ga fine fellow" the doctor replied, with
a quizzical look Nellisward, but unobssrved;
but want to talk about You now. While
am gone"
And the doctor began long string of
directions, for this, his only child, he was
leaving for the first time in her life. 1t was
bitter work for both, but they had made
duty aud sslf.sacriGce watchwords for so
long, that there was no hesitation when
these called for separation. DIR. Warning
toms sister, widowed at Nice, was iii,
and her brother had been summoned to
bring her home. In the time of his absence
Mrs. Chester had consented to give Nellie
home.
II reused Craig Warrington's chivalry the
following morning to sss the still, white face
of Helen turned from the last look at the
carriage taking her father to the depot to
start for New York. For q moment Mrs.
Chester thought the girl would faint, but
she rallied, saying, with dreary smile:
I'VE were never separated before. But
promised papa not to fret. But he let's me
help him. When left school year ago he
had teachers for music and language come to
the house for two hours every day. The
rest of the time work for papa. have a
ward iu the children's hospital nnder my
care, and sew for the patients and keep
the laboratory of that ward In ORDER"
Keep II in orderf" questioned Mrs.
Chester.
See that the medicine bottles are always
filed, ban dages rolled in the drawers, lint
scraped, sticking plastsrs ready, the instru.
msnts at hand, and everything In order for
instant use. In case Of an accident life may
hang on one second for promptness or delay.
Papa has taught me how to act in smergsn-
cies, before physicians or surgeons can be
| summoned" -.
ga female DOCTOR" said Craig, with a
suppressed sneer in his tone.
"No. CousinCraig, hut, hope, an efficient
nurse. / have no desire to step out OF
woman's true sphere or usurp any OF the
duties and privileges ofa man. But try
to do faithfully such duty as lies under my
hand. We are very rich, as you know, aud
papa is training me to fill noble, useful
place in the world as far as can I"
Forgive me-" said Craig, frankly, 81
was rude"
Helen bowed gravely, and walked out OF
the room, to visit one or two of the village
patients her father had left under her care.
And Craig, half pettishly, wondered why
her words had left such sting. Hewas
rich, too, but what human being was the
better for any noble use of his wealth. His
home was luxurious, and the most elaborate
OF invalid devices were arranged in his he'd.
room and sitting room, but he could find no
comfort that morning. Ills easy chair might
have been full OF thorns for any ease lie
found there; his novel had lost its interest,