The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-10-03
r, PA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, l8a

JaCkson eS you never rode before; and
the rest OF you put forth all your strength
and lift this beam"
And they succeeded In rescving tho
man, and bore him slowly and silently,
with all the strong vitality crushed out
Of him, up the road he had trodden SO
often-up the broad walk that had
echoed drearily to TIE sound Of his foot
steps less than year ago--into the
house he had been forbidden TO enter
again; and before them walked q vo.
man, with wild eyes and white, drawn
lips,
When tho doctor came out Of the
room. after all was done that he could
do, she met him at the door.
rs there any hope, doctor9"
81 cannot tell yet. He has 9 strong
constitution, and we will hope for the
best" said the good old doctor, while
the tears stood in his eyes.
For he had known and loved Stephen
Walker all his life.
Doctor" she said, grasping his arm
with passionate force, lyon must save
him-you must, you mustI Take all
have-money, lands, eyerythlng-but
save his Hep
you forget, my child, that the issues
Of LIE and death are not In my hands.
If any skill OF mine can avail to save
Stephen Walkers life, 1 think you know
1 need no blibe."
Forgive me, doctor 1 scarcely knew
what l was saying. I know you will do
all you can, and am good nurse
papa always said So"
Helen, you must not think Of nurs-
ing him. This strain on your nerves is
too great; you arc i'll already"
She laid slim, cool hand gently in
his.
Put your 1nseron my pulse, doctor
1t beats evenly. l must be brave and
strong for his sake. If I gave my life
for him it would poorly requite what he
has done for me-"
The doctor looked into the white,
pitiful face, in which no trace Of the old
pride remained, and read her secret.
cit shall be as you wish" he said,
briefly; "but you must let a nurse help
you. 1t will be terrible ordeal even if
he recovers."
She went into the darkened room,
where he lay in heavy stupor, and
knelt beside the couch. Presently he
opened his eyes and saw her there. A
glad smile lighted his face.
"Nell, Queen NellV' he said, softly.
and then, Victor, is he safe?"
Safe an unharmed, Stephen; but at
what costr'
'It is better so--better and easier to
die thus for your happiness than to live
through thewcary years Of exile looked
forward to-"
"Do not talk of dying" she moaned.
"Tou must live for my sake; for, oh, my
darling, l cannot live without youW
A sudden gladness transllgured his
face.
do you know what you are saying,
HelenP Did you care for me little af-
ter alp"
$50 much, Stephen, that, ii you arc
taken, there viii be no good thing left
in life for Inc but to lie down and die,
too-so much so, that / could never
have married Victor, though, like
coward, l sLrank from telling him So"
81 must live, dear" he said 81 can
not die now"
And then he drifted away into uncon-
sciousness.
1t was long days before he knew her
again--long, weary days, while the iron
constitution did battle with the fever
that consumed him, and often wien It
seemed that the battle was hopeless.
And through it all she never left him.
In that dark time, all that was best and
sweetest in Helen Vinton's nature came
to the surface. She had no thought of
concealing her love; her whole being
went ont in one passionate prayer that
he might be spared. And when the
crisis was passed, and he was pro-
nounced out OF danger, there seemed to
be no room IN her heart for her great
Joy and thankfulness.
They were married at Christmas, and
I don't think the most fastidious Of
Helen Ninton's friends ever looked upon
her as having made a mesalllauce, for
Stephen Walker won both wealth and
honor, and never did wife glory more in
her husbands success than she in his.
Victor took his sore heart away as
soon as Stephen was out OF danger. But
his trouble was not incurable, for he has
just brought fair, young girl home, to
L., .ss.t- Z L 1.