The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-06-24
HOPES HUSBAND.

The scene was so peaceful, the balmy
air blowing over the glowing lawns
and among the blossomed shrubbery,
the river meandered by it's flowing
banks with such caressing motion,
the effect of a 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
hurt!' anil much running to and
fro.
MIR. Increase Always did not like UNI
pleasant things to happen under his
roof, it put the house in bad odor to
have person killed or injured there.
So when he had been up to DR.. Ellen's
chamber with the doctor and seen the
unconscious man resuscitated and his
wounds dressed, he spared no time in
spreading the report that DR.. Ellen had
been hurt little while cleaning a re-
volver, not mnch harm done, a mere
scratch. The doctor advised quiet for
day or two. but the young man would
soon be about.
AS for the patient himself he said
nothing, but lay for three days and
nights with his face to the wall, where
the dansiDg window vine and fitting
birds kept 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. Cof-
fee, the rich widow, whose rooms were
in the opposite wing looked in, he
started up and began talking vol
ubly.
Il know she loved me; she told me
so. We might have been happy-and
instead this! She has married that
brute for his money-her father willed
it so-and there is no hope! All is at
an end! o, I loved her so! She had
my whole heart. was bound up in
her, heart and soul. O, Cleone! Gle.
one!.'
Mrs. Coffee, with her brown, wrinkled
face, and yellow old laces, stood still
and listened.
1T was no boys fancy" went on
the weak, hoarse voice, while the dark
blue, beautiful eyes burned like Goals
of fire. II have waited and worked
for Ler two years. l had no wealth to
give her, but I had a home and COM
tort and love. o, God!''- des-
perate gesture ''can it be that she
will not miss'mv love?''
Then the weak brain seemed to reel,
and the sick man fell dizzly back upon
the pillow. Mrs. Coffee wet her own
filmy lace handkerchief in ice-water,
and laid it upon the burning fore cad.
He has taken bad turn, send for
the doctor at once" she said to the
nurse
All the evening she remained at the
bedside, hearing that mournful cry,
"Cleone! Cleone!'' but the physician,
on arriving, administered an opiate,
and the patient became insensible until
morning.
But Mrs. Coffee came into the sick.
chamber often after that-an odd within
for one of her luxurious habits-to
share the night~watches too; but she
persevcrcd, though tho effort plainly
told upon her, until the crisis had
passed; and the sick man looked up al
her, one morning, with conscious, ask.
ing eyes, too weak to speak a word
A smile wrinkled her brown face; she
nodded reassuringly:
Eyes, you are sick, but getting
along Nicely
She left him more to the care of his
nurse after tnat-a gentle mulattC
boy. Darby-and in two days joined
an exploring party who went up tc
the axes in carriages, and was absent
a week. She was q smart. enterpris'
ing old lady. Mrs. Coffee.
Robert Ellen could hardly have told
which was worse, the burning deliriun
or the weak convalescence both were
frightful. When he could endure thu
latter no longer, he paid his bill. or
dered passage in the next stage, anC
sat white and weak. upon the piazza
waiting. Mrs. Coffee appeared.
''G0ing back to the city? though
so. Don't do anything of the kind
Go home with me. The season is ove]
here. I start tomorrow. insist upol