Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-06-07

f.Ac litIaTtu Ipf All tilllsp, JulcSf Stl'
said. with intense calmness Don't
waste time trying TO persuade me to g.
away-thcy need your help"
She was not unreasonable in the last
although she would not be put away from
her fathers side when she felt that ho
needed her the most; but she stood asid,
to let them carry him into the house and
up the wide stairs to his own room.
He will recover from this a good dead
after an hour or SO, my dear, said Sil
George.
NO. Sir George, lie will never be any
better" she said, mournfrtfy. "lIo La
not strength enough to bear up against q
shock like that-he is SO old and SO frIil
Even Sir George could not think of any
thing to say-and, in his heart Of hearts
he confidently believed that his old 5'i,:ia
was dead already. There was the souHo
Of a hanson dashing up to the door ;nc
then the doctor came hurTying in.
"Yes-lvc heard all about it" he sal !
as Nancy met him. "A pity-a pity. :
shock like that is nasty thing TO fight
against at Mr.. Earlc's age; however, II
go straight up, if you please, Miss Earle
Well, yes-I think You had better let II,
60 first. won't keep You in suspense OF
away from him moment longer than i,
absolutely necessary. Then he, too, dis
appeared up the stairs, and Nancy sal
down on the sofa again to wait for news
with the best patience she might.
"fou want TO be going-your dinner,
she said, YEARLY, to Sir George.
"No-no-I am dining at the club-any
time will do. could not leave without
hearing what the doctor says, in an,
case" he replied. hastily; and SO they sal
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 hushed and quiet cham
Der above. DR.. Davies did not keep then
/ waiting very long, for in about twenty
minutes he came down again. treadine
quietly, as medical men do. Nancy ros,
and went to meet him.
1--WE can do nothing at present." II,
said, gently; "for an hour or so YOU
father must be kept perfectly quiet; but
have given Darby complete instruction:
: what to do until the nurse comes. will
send one in at once, unless you like t.
/ wire to St. Johns House for one-use my
name, and ask for Nurse Provis if she i.
/ there. will come back again in al
! hour"
81 may 60 up to him. Nancy asked.
ooh! yes; but have you dined? No
Then get glass of wine and some strong
soup, or something of that kind befor,
! you do so; and do not touch him or dis
turb him in any way, even if he seem.
uneasy and restless. He knows nothing
and at present, suffers nothing whatever.
very WELL" said Nancy, obediently.
Sir George st. Leger badc her good by
then, saying that he would look in on hi:
way home later in the evening and asl
after his old friend. "And if there il
anything that can do, you will comman,
me?" he added.
ooh! yes, Sir George, will indeed, an,
thank you SO much, 3" returned Nancy.
And ct last she was free to go upstair
into her fathers room, to go and sit be
side him, to watch him as he lay helples
and unconscious upon his bed, wi
Darby, his faithful man, at hand to do Il
that medical skill could advise, until :
nurse should come. And after while s.:
came. A small, slight, brown hair.
woman. with fair, pleasant face, az
good, bright, hazel eyes. She came in
il. she had lived in the room all her l.,
her footsteps making no sound, her Ii"
gown no rustic, and she stood beside Il
bed and looked down upon her new p.
tient, while Darby repeated in whisDo
the instructions which the doctor L..
given him.
And then Darby went down to get h
supper. and Nancy crept round to he
side.
do you think lie will die, nurse?" s!l
asked, with world Of entreaty in he
looks and tones.
The nurse turned her bright eyes upo'
her.
Il think that he is very ILL.," she said
guardedly.
"But do you think he will die?" Name
persisted.
with great care he might pull roun
again, returned the nurse, unwilling t
commit herself one way or the other.
So Nancy went back to her place agai
and took up her occupations Of watchin
the set gray face on which the darke
shadows were fast stealing. She kne,
only too well what the nurses unwilling
ness to speak conveyed, and there was II
hope-no hope!
Oh! what sad, sad hours they were
with the old man who had been so muc
to her dying before her, and in her min
the continual thought of that other Oh
stricken down in the full measure of hi
youth and strength, and lying-if it ws1
not all over before this-in disconfor
and misery. without one loving hand I
help him. And then she thought of tn
unhappy, headstrong. passionate boy
who was not 20 years old yet, but VIII
had wrecked her life and had sent he
brave and gallant lover to his death-fo
had there not risen up that obstacle to tn
marriage, Jim Beresford would have LEI
tho service or have exchanged into
home regiment many months ago.
Darby crept into the room again afte
awhile, and the nurse put up a warnin
finger that he might make no noise.
'Is he worse?" tho man asked. and i
an awed whisper. but the nurse onl
closed her lips shade tighter. and KEEP
her eyes fixed on the sunk and haggar
face.
DR.. Davis came very soon. having II
need to ask questions or make examins
ton. only. indeed. raising his eyebrows
little as he cast glance ut the uncon
scious figure.
But no did not 60 away. He stood q
the foot of the bed and waited. But no
for long! The minutes passed slowly by
The little clock on the dressing tabl
licked steadily on. and the hands pointe
hard on the hotr Of midnight; no ON
moved or stirred. Nancy sat just wher
she had sat for several hours, her hand
pressed hard together, but no sound es
Gaping her lips or any tears falling fror
her eyes. And then the little clock bega
to chime the midnight hour, and ere tn
twelfth tiny stroke had rent the air, til
last Of the Earles had passed away, kille
by the news Of harm to the son who ha
never been but o shame to him. and with
out word or look for the daughter VIII
was only girl, who was born an Earle
yet an Earle that did not count.