The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-25

nef eyes, cola anu sun, With strips Of
linen across his bosom. broken, BAN
daged arm, and court-plaster holding
together the red edges of cash that
ran perilously near the temple, and she
knelt beside the cot, with an ashen pain
in her young face. as she Stroked back
the hair from his forehead.
After six years!n she whispered soft
ly. ''Oh. my love, after six years, dur
ing which L have striven to forget vour
face. to see it SO cold and white, But
you shall be more tenderly cared for
than though you had q sister near you;
and when YOU are well enough 10 know
ME. we part again"
For the crushed and wounded man
was Clarence Livingston. the kneeling
nurse the girl 10 whom he had refused
his dying father IN make offer of his
hand-Lena Munror.
Long days and nights followed each
other, and Clarence walked mp from
stupor 10 mad dclirinm. in which ht,
told his patient nurse all OF which she
already knew, and much besiptcs-tcld
her of the wealth he had vowed never
To touch, lying in his solicitors hands
for the girl he conld moi trace; of struggle
and trial which he had gone through,
which made her blue eyes dim.
But he said no word of any woman
whose love was his guerdon. aud she
was glad that was spared her.
Once, in midnight hour, when the
ward was silent and the lights low about
them, he suddenly put forth his unin-
jured hand and took one of hers, his
eyes brilliant with fever, were fastened
on her face.
'.My father loved you as daughter, -
he said softly, land told me YOU loved
me: but | did not believe, and | wanted
him to leave me free. Child. why did
you fly from me? Did YOU fear would
learn 10 love you?"
She bent her face. and tears flowed
silently down her cheeks.
1t was delirinm. she knew: but she.
who had been unable Ia forget, remem-
bered that long hour in the early night
too yividly not 10 again feel some of its
pain as she heard.
Ii was weeks later when, after Il long
sleep. lie wakened to full consciousness
one morning at day-dawn.
The lights were low, the scene spec
trail, as his languid eyes turned from
object to object
AT last they rested on the quiet figure
of his nurse, asleep in her chair. and
there they fingered.
How sweet and girliSh the weary face
was. under the stiff cap. and sad, too.
as though this life was not such as her
heart yearned for. And the hands "
ing idly in her lap We're so fair and
white and slender, dainty enough to be
decked with gems. fair enough 10 he
kissed. but too frail and white for tear
ing Of linen and lifting of dying heads,
he told himself
Then u sort of memory came to him
of those soft fingers on his brow, when
it had seemed burning: of that sweet
face bent over him in his delirium.
when he had taken il for the face of an
angel.
Ii was midday when he walked again
and found her bending over him. and
this time he recognized her.
'.Lena.' he cried, trying 10 put out
his hand.
You know me?'' she said softly. turn
ing paler.
Il now You, and / want to tell you, ="
he whispered family, but with warm
glow in his eyes-'.yOu are an heiress;
thsre is no need for you to do this work.
NV father"
Il know it all she broke in; ''and
that was why left Lynn as | did. Did
you think | would beggar you? And
your father had been kind to me. |
will not go back; will not take farth-
ing of that money; it is yours"
Then share it with me-" he said
softly, II would not ask you once, be-
cause did not love you.. / do now,
because love has grown in my heart for
you in an hour. Lena. Won have nursed
me back TO life from what must have
been very nearly death. VIII you learn
to care enough for me to share my fut-
ure?'
you love me?' she said imcreduious-
". "When did you learn that lesson?n
''At day-dawn, while l watched YOU
asleep in your chair. ere 1 knew who
you were. Lena, do not doubt mer'
Il do not" She knelt ut the cot and
put back his hair, as he had dreamed
she did while he was unconscious. "And
| will own TO you. Clarence, that | have
loved you always-since first saw you.
That was why fled from Lynn"
'.And now you will come back"
''For the same reason" she smiled,
although her lips were tremulous
Love sent me forth then; love recalls
me now; and l will share the posses
sions with you which were neither hon
cstly yours or mine, but can belong fair
ly to us together. Yes, Clarence, l will
go baek!''