The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-08-12
A LADY'S TACT.

The scene was so peaceful, the balmy air
blowing over the glowing lawns and among
the blossomed shubbery, the liver meander-
cd by its flowing banks with such caress-
ing motion, the effect of pistol shot upon
the still air was sharp and startling. Every
body at the Star House started and looked
at his neighbor. Then there was cry of /:
Doctor Ellen is shot Doctor Ellen is
hurt !" and much running to and fro.
Mr.. Increase Always did not like unpleas-
ant things to happen under his roof, it put
the house in bad odor to have person kill
ed or injured there. So when he had been
up to DIR. Ellen's chamber with the doctor
and seen the unconscious man resuscitated
and his wound dressed, he spared no time
in spreading the report that DIR. Ellen had
been hurt little while cleaning a revolver,
not much harm done, a mere scratch. The
doctor advised quiet for q day or two, but
the young man would soon be about.
As for the patient himself he said moth.
ing, but lay for three days and nights with
his face turned to the wall, where the dane
ing window vine and fitting birds kept a
pretty play of shadow which his closed eyes
saw not. He spoke only to answer his
nurse, paid little heed to others, until on
the evening of the fourth day, when old
Mrs. Coffee, the rich widow, whose rooms
were in the opposite wing looked in, lie
started up and began talking volubly.
:" know she loved me she told me SO.
We might have been happy-and, instead,
thisi She has married that brute for his
money-her father willed it so-and there
is no hope All is at an end o, loved
her sol She had my whole heart 1 was
bound up in her, heart and soul. o,
Cleonel Cleone!"
Mrs. Coffee, with her brown, wrinlled
face, and yellow old laces, stood still and
listened.
=" 1t was no boys fancy!" went on the
weak, hoarse voice. while the dnrk-blue,
beautiful eyes burned like Goals of fire. 81
have waited and worked for her two years.
had no wealth to give her, but had
home and comfort and love. o, God !"--
with desperate gesture" can it be that
sue Will MOI Hiss my love
Then the weak brain seemed to reel and
the sick man fell dizzily back upon the pill
low. Mrs. Coffee wet her own filmy lice
handkerchief in ice-water, and laid it uIjon
the burning forehead.
He has taken bad turn send for the
doctor at once" she said to the nurse
All the evening she remained OF the bed.
side, hearing that mournful cry, "Cleonei
Cleone!" but the physician, on arriving,
administered on opiate, and the patient be-
came insensible until morning.
But Mrs. Coffee came into the sicl-cham-
Der often after that--an odd within for one
of her luxurious habits-to share the night
watches, too; but she persevered, though
the effort plainly told upon her, until the
crisis had passed and the sick man looked
up at her, one morning, with conscious.
asking eyes, too weak to speak a word A
smile wrinkled her brown face she nodded
reassuringly:
. Yes, you are sick, but getting along
nicely"
She left him more to the care of his nurse
after that--a gentle mulatto boy, Darby
and in two days joined.an exploring party
who went up to the lakes in carriages, and
was absent week. She was smart, enter
prising old lady, Mrs. Coffee.
Robert Ellen could hardly have told
which was worse, the burning delirium or
the weak convalescence both were fright
full. When he could endure the latter no
longer, he paid his bill, ordered passage in
the next stage, and sat, white and weak,
upon the piazza, waiting. Mrs Coffee APP
peared.
"Going back to the city, 1 Thought so
Don't do anything Of the kind. Go home
with me. The season is over here. 1 start
tomorrow. insist upon it. knew your
father and grandfather before you. am
your friend. Go home with me-"
Ellen had no intention of consenting He
let her talk on. She had sat down before
him, with her kindly shrewd eyes fixed on
his weary white countenance.
You have heard your father speak OF
Theodore Dale, his old sweetheart that
was me. All, we'll, I have been widow
thirty years, and we keep open house at
Dovesdale-my niece, Hope Devon, and I.
Perhaps you have seen Hope-a brown-eyed
girl with q dimpled chin. She went to
school with Cleone Trafford"
She led his attention there, she saw by
the slow color creeping into his thin check
that his interest was aroused at last
"Then you know Miss Trafford ?"
Know her, bless your heart, yes Knew
her from child. Knew her parents and
all her family. She was the belle at Wash
ington two years ago."
Yes" full of panied vivid interest at
last.
Then she began to tell of Cleone Traf-
ford's wedding, for the sake of gaining her
point. And when she had gained it, when
the stage had rolled by and left the passen-
ger booked for the train still sitting on the
piazza at the Star House, she ceased to turn
the thumb screw.
A very taking girl; you were not indif-
ferent to her, Doctor Ellen; one is apt to
let out such little matters in delirium, and
no wonder; Cleone was great favorite,
had many admirers. You shall tell me
about it as we drive up. Here is my car
rage, take a seat" and much to his own
surprise Ellen found himself seated among
the luxurious violet cushions, his trunk
strapped to the back of the brett, Mrs. Cot
fee seated at his side and the road open be-
fore them TO Dovesdale. But it was nst
hard to be resigned to such situation, and