Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-04

the h.tle old gentleman. eagerly; Scr
tainly uet-notaing of the kind Eut it
was very great shock. of course, to our
dear old friend. and he had kind Of
seizure-a falntness. or something of that
sort. and they are bringing him home.
some Of the others, Ia his own carriage;
30 | took 4 cab aad hurried on to say it
would be scfer to get the doctor here as
quickly as possible Just precaution.
you know. ny dear. pressing her hands
ere he set them free.
Nancy put the hand which was nearest
TO him back into his.
How good you are. she said, turning
round at the same time. Jones, will you
send out at once for DR.. Daviesf Don't
let them lose u moment, Darby; you have
everything ready for my father. have you
noi."
Everything. ma am" said Darby. who
had been prepared for trouble of this kind
from the moment the young mistress had
told him the last news of the young
master
You would like me to stay until they
come or is there anything that can do,
nv dearr" asked Sir George. kindly.
''Oh. no There Is so little that any Of
rs can do" she answered. hopelessly:
but do stay. please.
So Sir George drew her down on to the
cory couch. sheltered by the tall Chinese
screen. and together they waited during
the few minutes. that seemed so inter
minably long before the sound Of the
carriage was heard without.
Naturally enough, Darby was the first
TO approach the carriage. and as soon ~
his eyes fell upon the helpless and
motionless figure of his master, he looked
over his shoulder at the butler and said,
imperatively: Get Miss Earle out Of
Sights paralysis.
Thus hidden, Jones did his best. but
Nancy was close behind him. Il am
quite prepared for anything. Jones" she
said, with intense calmness. Don't
waste time trying to persuade me to go
away-they need your help.
She was not unreasonable in the least.
although she would not be put away from
her fathers side when she felt that he
needed her the most; but she stood aside
to let them carry him into the house and
up the wide stairs to his own roon
lie will recover from this q good deal
after an hour or SO, my dear. said Sir
George.
mo. Sir George, be will never be any
better" she said. mournfully He has
not strength enough to bear up against
shock like that-he is so old and SO frail
Even Sir George could not think of any
thing to say-and, in his heart of hearts,
he confidently believed that his old friend
was dead already There was the sound
OF hanson dashing up to the door. and
then the doctor came hurrying in.
"Yes-Ive heard all about it. he said,
as Nancy met him. "a pity-a pity. A
shock like that is a nasty thing to fight
against at Mr. Earles age. however. I'll
90 straight up, if you please. Miss Earle.
Well, yes-l think you had better let me
60 first. won't keep you in suspense or
away from him moment longer than is
absolutely necessary Then he too. dis
appeared up the stairs, and Nancy sat
down on the sofa again to wait for news
with the best patience she might.
You want to be going-your dinner"
she said. YEARLY. to Sir George
"No-no-I ala dining at the club-any
time will do could not leave without
hearing what tho doctor says in any
case. he replied. hastily; and so they sat
on side by side while the clock in the cor
ner licked steadily on. not speaking much
rather. indeed. holding their breath to
listen for the first sound that should come
to them from the flushed and quiet cham
Der above. DR.. Davies did not keep them
waiting very long. for in about twenty
minutes he came down again. treading
quietly as medical raen do. Nancy rose
and went to meet him.
We can do nothing at present" he
said. gently: for an hour or so your
father must oe kept perfectly quiet. but
have given Darby complete instruct ions
what TO do until the nurse comes. will
send one in at once. unless you like to
wire to St Johns House for one-use M
name. and ask for Nurse Pruvis If she is
there. | will come back again in an
hour"
al may 20 up to HIM" Nancy asked.
OH yes. but haze you dined? No?
Then get glass OF wine and some strong
soup, or something Of that kind before
you do SO. and do not touch him or dis
turh him in any WAY. even If he seems
uneasy and restless. lie knows nothing,
and at present, suffers nothing whatever.
Very we'll. said Nancy. obediently.
Sir George St LeScr hadc her good by
then. SAYING that he wouil look in on his
way home later In the evening and ask
after his old friend And If there Is
anything that can do. you will command
me-" he added
"Oh, yes. Sir George, will indeed. and
thank you so much. " returned Nancy.
And at last she was free to go upstairs
into her fathers room. to go and sit be-
side him. to watch him as he lay helpless
and unconscious upon his bed with
Darby his faithful man, at hand to do oil
that medical skill could advise. until the
nurse should come. And after while she
came A small. slight. brown haired
woman, with fair. pleasant face, and
good. bright. hazel eyes She came in as
If she bad lived in the room all her life.
her footsteps making no sound, her light
gown no rustic, and she stood beside the
bed and looked down upon her new pa
tient. while Darby repeated in whisper
the instructions which the doctor had
given him.
And then Darby went down to get his
supper, and Nancy erept round to hcr
side.
DO you thinl, he will die. nurse?" she
asked. with q world of entreaty in her
looks aud tones
The nurse turned her bright eyes upon
her
Il think that he is very ILL., she said,
guardedly
But do you think he will der Nancy
persisted
With great care he might pull round
again. returned the nurse. unwilling to
commit herself one way or the other.
So Nancy went back to her place again
and tool, up her occupations OF watching
the set gray face on which the darker
shadows were fast stealing. She knew
only too we'll what the nurses unwilling
ness to speak conveyed and there was no
hope-no hopei
Obi what sad. sad hours they were,
with the old man who had been so much
to her dying before her, and in her mind
the continual thought of that other one
stricken Down in the full measure of his
youth aud strength. and lying-if 1t were
not all over before this-in discomfort
and misery. without one loving hand to
help him. And then she thought Of the
unhappy, headstrong. passionate boy.
who was not 20 years old yet, but who
had wrecked her life and had sent her
brave end gallant lover to his death-for
had there not risen up that obstacle to tho
marriage. jim Bercsford would have left
the service or have exchanged into .
home regiment many months ago.
Darby crept into the room again after
awhile. and the nurse put up warning
finger that he might make no noise.
lis he worsef' tho man asked. and In
IN awed whisper. but the nurse only
closed her lips shade tighter. and kept
her eyes fixed on the sunk and haGgnrd
face
DR.. Davis cane very soon. having no
need to ask questions or make exauina
tion. only. indeed. raising his eyebrows .
little as he cast glance at the uncon