Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-29
IS S.AB E L.:
From Shop to Mansion.

From Shop to Mansion.
 and sweet voice whispered In her cnr: "Uear auntlc aY mamma was not we'll, l have como to help you nurso Uncle Harvey" It was Lillian, and Isabel leaned her head
 wearily on the young brides shoulder, and
 commenced the acquaintance with burst of tears.
 Lillian hod 0 rare fa oulty in sick-room;
 her steps were so noiseless, and she was so far removed from fussiness, and with an excellent memory, she could always be depended on to carry out every direction of the physician.
 Isabel could rest, 80 far as her overwhelm- ing anxiety would allow her to, with perfect confidence that Mrs. Montford and Lillian were doing all for him which could be done The delirium had given way to heavy stupor, and there must soon be a change for the better or worse, and tho change was | awaited with breathlcss interest.
 "Do not grieve 80, dear auntie," said Lillian, gently, when Isabel, overcome by the thought that he might die, had given way to violent weeping. "Uncle Harvey has such q grand constitution, you know why. am perfectly astonished at him for being sick at oil, 1t Is an unprecedented performance on his part, lean assure you" Hcr gentle raillery was better in this case than sympathy, and hope sprung up anew in the wife's heart, and she began to look forward more cheerfully to the expected turn in the disease.
 It was her night to watch with him, and she took her place by the bedside with 0 more hopeful spirit than she had cherished since he had been sick.
 About midnight she noticed that he Av.4n bod IL to him, she noticed with heart throbbing with delight that there was a faint sparkle of moisture on his hitherto parched and strained forehead; she took her handlzer- chief and gently wiped 1t off, fearing she might be mistaken, but no, 1t was true, and In few moments 1t reappeared end she knew he was better. "Oh, God, thank Thee," she cried, as she sank upon her knees in mute thanksgiving.
 Perhaps the great emotion of her heart awoke 8 sympathetic chord in his, for in a few moments he opened his eyes, and, look ing at her with glad recognition, whispered, feebly: 'Isabel."
 My love! my darlingl" she whispered softly in his ear He seemed to struggle with memory "You do love me, then," he whispered
 faintly.
 "Better than my life, dearest love-" she ooAAS 60AIAy pASoSAuS ACA IIpS u Alio' l. He smiled wearily, like tired child, and with look of ineffable content dropped off to sleep again, while she sat by his side in tumult of joy.
 'How Is he7" said Mrs Montford, who came in to relieve her watch. "He Is better," she whispered. "He knows me and spoke to me-"
 "Thank the Lord for His merciesl" said the good woman, fervently, and, taking Is- al &Sa fzl~> T., child, 'now go to bed, dearie, and sleep like top until morning" The sun was high when the overtaxed wife awoke from her long and dreamlcss slumber; the slumber of sweet relief after long days and nights of weariness and ag onizing suspense, and she hurriedly dressed herself and went into tho sick-room. Lillian was thero, and her husband was awake. He greeted her with a smile, in- fantile in It's weakness, yet full of love and trust, as she bent over him and whispered glad words of love and thenkfulness into his ear
 "Have I, then, been so very sicka" ho asked, feebly, as her tears of joy fell upon bis face.
 II think, Uncle Harvey, you deserve good scolding for giving us such Q scarc," Lillian answered for her. If 1t hadn't been
 for my excellent nursing there's no know tuH "uuI WOulQ udVc udppSueu 10 yOu Aunt Isabel and that big-eyed doctor wore glowering over you like couple of lunatics
 when oame to the rescue" He was too weak to reply to her lively sallios, but he pressed his wifc's hand with a feeble energy.
 It seemed as If shc could not be demon strative enough after tho long period of cold indecision through which sho had
 passed; she knew now that she had loved him for months whom she had imagined
 herself grateful only, and she sighed as
 she thought how his kind and noble heart
 must have been wounded by her coldness,
 and she strove to mako amends by showing
 him every phase of tenderness her full
 heart could devise.
 Al think must go home how," said Lil-
 Han, playfully, the next day. II have res- cued onS forlorn man from premature
 fate, and shall have another to drag from | the brink of despair If do not get back to Ralph. Mamma says he wanders to and fro like the disconsolate ghost of Melan- choly"
 ] visit was to be such doleful affair as this,"
 said Isabel. "But, indeed, Lillian, you do | not know how much you have helped me-" "I assure you take full credit to myself 1 for all Ihave done," she answered ,willfully. | "I do believe Uncle Harvey got up this Nt- | tic diversion just for the purpose of testing
 the affection of his friends" ''Then l deserved to be disappointed,
 didn't II" he said, weakly. He enjoy ed her
 bright raillery, as 1t showed him that ho | was once moro among flesh and blood peo- pie instead of the dim and ghostly forms | among which he had moved during the weeks when his diseased fancy had distort.
 ed every thing about him into unreal shapes. Isabel was not disappointed in Lillian i; 1 the bright, sweet girl was just the gener. | ous, whole-souled little woman she had i'm | agined her to be, and a warm affection had sprung up between them. "You have forgiven me, then, for marry | ing your unclea" Isabel said, mischievously. 1 as they were waiting in the drawing room | for the carriage which was to take Lillian | away.
 | "Yes.n she replied promptly ttand have