The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-08-27
LOVE WORKS

death resulted in many cases from the in
iuries received.
Among those whose death was hourly
expected was the patient of whom the
doctor had spoken. She was a young
girl of perhaps eighteen, Of such exquisite
loneliness that amazed and delighted all
who beheld her.
She was picked up insensible at the
scene of the wreck, and had since lain
~voicelesS, senseless, immovable as a marble
statue, at a farmhouse to which she had
been carried. Who she was OF where
she belonged remained an impenetrable
mystery, although her description had
been widely advertised.
Several noted physicians had interested
themselves in her case, but and all
confessed themselves baf1ed IN her strange
condition. There was no apparent bodily
injury. = Each slender, rounded limb was
as free from spot or blemish as when it
came from the hands of the Maker. The
fair body was equally as perfect, save at
the first a small blue spot had been found
next the spine.
The heart beat naturally, the breathing
was regular but faint. When liquid food
was put into the dainty mouth it was
swallowed. But the jaws remained firmly
set, and the limbs when lifted fell in a
lifeless manner.
For eight long weeks she had lain IN
this state of i~nsensibility, with closed eyes
and pale hands crossed upon her breast.
Scores of people had been to see her and
gone away, her exquisite image indelibly
impressed upon their hearts.
Contributions had been freely made for
her benefit, but now some new object of
pity engrossed the tickle public, and the
project of removing her to some charitable
institution was being discussed. DR..
Forbes and several others sat about the
room. The girl looked like an angel as
she lay upon the clean, white bed, her
long hands crossed above her heart, her
face like marble in its impassiveness, yet
warm with life. She had a wealth of
golden hair, and it lay about her like a
veil. The discussion had become heated,
DIR. Forbes c%ontending for delay in re-
moving her. Suddenly all were startled
by a clear, sweet voice exclaiming:
"Do not hesitate, gentlemen. Cart me
off to the poor-houSe at your earliest con-
venience. No other place could be so
Su1loOIC " 0OSA q uOC1COO C1O0.
All turned in utter amazement to find
a pair of dark eyes regarding them mock
DR.. Forbes instantly sprang to her side.
ooh, there isn't any change, doctor,
save that my tongue is loosened, and l
can open my eyes,"
This proved to be the case, but a little
later she found that she could move her
head. There the improvement ended,
however, much to the good doctors re-
gret. They piled her with questions, but
she resolutely refused to disclose her iden-
tity, only admitting her name was Eden.
She urged them to take her to the Charity
Hospital, saying it was. where she be-
1t was at length decided to leave her
where she was until further effort could
be made to induce her to disclose the ad-
dress of her friends. That she belon ged
to some good family was apparent from
her refined appearance. Her clothing
was elegant and costly. A dainty watch
and chain and other valuable articles of
jewelry had been found upon her person.
All this but deepened the mystery.
When DR.. Forbes left the farmhouse,
he made his way to one of the most ele-
CANT suburban residences the city boasts.
He received a cordial greeting from its
mistress, a delicate, proud-looking, elderly
lady, in widows weeds.
After a short conversation on different
topics, DR.. Forbes said abruptly:
"MrS. Scare, you said the other day
you had nothing to live for, since your
son had disappointed you so grievously.
1 have come to tell you where you can
get a beautiful toy, human, but one which
can never turn against you"
Then in rapid, earnest words, he re-
lated the particulars / have already given.
The result far exceeded his anticipation.
Mrs. Searle was faulty only in her pride
of birth and position, her heart being kind
and easily moved to pity. She at once
rang the bell, ordered the carriage, and
upon its being brought, entered il with
the doctor, and was drieven to the farm
house.
DR.. Forbes explained to the helpless
girl what arraD gements had been made
for her comfort, and he never will forget
the look of horrorh her dark eyes expressed
at mention of Mrs. Searle's name. At
first she refused even to see her, but at
length consented. AS the lady bent over
her, infinite pity in her still fine eyes, she
murmured reproachfully:
If you had only come for me three
months ago? 2"
" Where were you then 2" asked the
doctor, quickly.
"In a FOOLS paradise" she replied,
bitterly.
So the waif of the wreck was taken to
the elegant home of Mrs. Searle, and DR..
Forbes was content. The lonely woman
lavished the most tender, compassionate
care upon her, but often inwardly won
dered at the strange look with which
Eden regarded her.
Mrs. Searle had been a widow for e v
eral years. She had bat one child, a son,
whom she worshipped with an idolatrous
love. He well merited all the love be-
slowed upon him, being handsome, cour-
teous, refined, but not infallible. as she
fondly imagined.
He proved himself only human by one
day falling in love with a lovely girl far