The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-18


hau rell,c.~... suspi.
cion. He dared not exhibit townru ner any
sympathy-he might not extend to her the
most ordinary civility. If she fell Ill, II
fever supcrvened! how could he nurse her,
attend upon her? His touch must have a
Significance, he knew that; for. as no bore her
insensible form, he embraced rather than
currie.l the precious burden. Could he look
upon her in her suffering without betraying
his forbidden love? And then would not his
attentions aftlict more than console?
Chewing the cud such bitter thoughts. he
passed the night without noticing the change
which was taking place over the island.
from his reverie, which had replaced sleep; he
looked around, and then became sensible OF
the warnings in the air.
The sea-hirds flow about vaguley
and absurdly. and seemed sporting
currents of wind; yet there was but littlo
wind down below. Presently clouds came
flying over the sky. and blacker masses gath
cred on the horizon The sea changed color.
Hazel knew the weather was breaking.
The wet season was Mt hand-the moment
when fever, if sucl, an invisible inhabitant
there WIS on that island, would visit them.
In few. hours the rain would be upon them,
and he reproachcd himself with want of cure
in the construction of the hut. For some
hours he lowered around it, before he ven.
tured to approach the door, and call to
Helen. He thought he heard her voice faint.
Is, and he entered. She lay there as he had
placed her. He knelt beside her, and WIS
appalled, at the change in her appearance.
Tho poor girls system had received q
shock for which it was unprepared. Her
severe sufferings at sen had strange to say,
reduced her in appearance less thun could
have been believed; for her physical en,lurace
proved greater than that OF the strong men
around her. But the food which the island
supplied was not suited to restore strength,
and the nervous shock to which she had been
subjected was followed by complete prQstra-
ton.
Hazel took her unresisting hand, which he
would have given II world to press. He felt
her pulse; 1t Waa weak, but slow. Her cheeks
were hollow, her eyes sunken: her hand drop.
ped helplessly when lie released it.
Lenving tho hut quietly, but hastily, he
descended the hill to the rivulet, which he
crossed. About half n mile above the boat
house the stream forked, one OF its branches
coming from tho west, the other from the
east. Between this litter branch and Ter.
rnpin Wood, was stony hill; to this spot
Hazel went. and iel to the gathering hand
full ofpoppies. When he had obtained SUI.
made small fire of chips, and, filling his tin
bailer with water. he set down the peoples to
boil When the liquor was COOL he measul ed
out portion and drunk it. In about
twenty minutes HIS temple began to throb, q
sensation which was rapidly followed by
nausea.
1t was midday before he recovered from the
effect Of his experiment sufficiently to take
food. Then he waited for two hours,
and felt much restored. He stole to
the hut and looked in. Helen lay
there us lie had left her. He stopped over
herr her eyes were half closrd, and she turn.
ed them slowly upon him: her lips moved u
little-that was all He felt her pulse again;
1t was still weaker and slower. lie rose and
went away, and regaining the courthouse, he
measured out n portion OF the poppy liquor,
one third Of dose he had previously taken.
and drank it. No headache or nausea sue.
ceeded; lie felt his pulse;it Became quick and
violent, while IL sense OF numhness overcame
him. and lie slept. 1t was but or few min.
utes. He awoke with throbbing brow. aud
sOme sickness; but with u sense OF delight at
the heart, for he had found an opiate, and
prescribing it's quantity.
He drained the liquor away from the pop.
py leaves, and carried it to the hut. Measur.
ing with great cure a small quantity, he
lifted the girls head and placed it oher lips.
She drunk it mechanically.
Then he watched beside her, until he breath.
ing and her pulse changed in character She
slept. He turned aside then. md buried his
face in his hands and prayed fervently for her
liie--prayed MS we pray for the daily bread oil
the heart. He praped and waited.
[To DE Continued