The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-01-08

Ihere was look of peace upon
SylTa's face which kept Mrs. Grey
from pouring forth the tide of remon-
strances which trembled upon her
tongue, and of which she had meant to
give Sylvia the benefit after the doctors
departure.
Perhaps he is right. It has given
my poor dear a motive to live for I'd
rather have her alive than lay her in a
coffin, even if she is going to turn into
sick-nurse. Though 1 can't bear the
idea OF pretty creature messing about
with physic and drugs and bandages,
and having to put up with the whims
of folks who've got the hypo and such
like" she muttered to herself, after she
had left Sylva's sick-room.
Thus was Sylva's vocation decided
upon, and her thoughts turned from
herself and her own sorrows to cluster
around the duties which would devolve
upon her as soon as she had strength to
undertake them.
Time passed on, and after the re-
quisite study and practice in the Nurses
Training School, Sylvia entered upon
her work in hospital There was no
duty, however arduous, that she proved
unequal to perform. No hand could
be gentler, or more steady, than hers
were it in holding a wounded limb for
surgeon to dress, or in supporting
and soothing a well-nigh exhausted
sufferer. The magic of her sympathy
was of as much use, in a spiritual sense,
as was her skilful attendance in a
bodily one. Thus, lifted up and out Of
herself, Sylva's mind was at peace. She
had no time for vain regrets in the
press of her multitudinous duties.
But to another had come a feeling
which was less pleasure than pain.
For, intimate as DIR. Franklyn had
grown with the young nurse thus en-
rolled among his co-workers in the
battle with sickness and suffering, he
well knew that his love for her was as
hopeless as though it had been at
tracted by one of the bright and dis
tant stars in heavens innumerable
hosts.
Often did he find her bandaging a
wound with deft fingers, or lifting a
draught of refreshing liquid to parched
lips, and at the same time the rapt, far
away look in her clear eyes told that
her thoughts were dwelling upon the
lover VINO rrrii..ssfrt be Sleeping fathoms
down beneath the foam-crested waves:
If there glimmered vain hope that
in time he might venture to sue for
Sylva's love, he relentlessly smothered
it in its inception.
Still, the heart of man is a strange
and complex piece of machinery, and
its workings are often most surprising
to the owner. So it was that for once
the strong honorable man found him.
self face to face with a temptation
which ranged the powers of good and
of evil in battle array within his soul.
The conflict was distressing one, but
right conquered at last.
Even Sylvia had noticed the change
in him, and had been distressed by it;
for to see friend in trouble was sure
to enlist her sympathies. The new soft
ness in her manner to DR.. FRANKLIN,
born of apprehensions in his behalf,
added another temptation to those
which had already beset him. But he
came off victor at the end.
Sylvia" said Dr. Franklin one
morning after his daily rounds through
the wards had been taken. Il have
strong enough to hear it?''
1OOh0u dG IlliIl
rs it bad news?n she asked.
ut is not always bad intelligence
that overcomes, SYLVIA he answered
gravely. 81 have heard of heart
breaking with too much joy"
''Dr. Franklyn, your words arouse
strange hopes within my heart! Do you
know that good news can only come
from one source? You do! 1 see it in
your looks! Oh, tell me the truth at
once! can bear it! l am strong-I
am not weak!'
''You are right. The intelligence
have for you will cause a new life tc
dawn for you from this time. Charlie:
Miller is alive, and have been the in
strument, under Providence, to restore
him TO his promised wife. Be calm
Sylvia, as you promised me you woult
be. / have arranged that another
nurse shall relieve you of duty thi
morning. So 90 and put on YOU
wraps and will take you to him."
We will draw veil over the meet
ing between the long-separated lovers
1t is of too sacred nature to be in
truded upon. Sufficient it is to say thai
their wedding-day followed swiftly up
on the happy time, and that DR.. Frank k
lyn gave the bride away, touching hi
lips to her soft cheek for the first ant
last time, as he offered her his heart
felt congratulations.
And Sylva's happiness was uncloud
ed by the knowledge that the frien
whom God had raised up for her an
her husband had any cause for sorrow
in seeing them united-so well did he
unseltish benefactor keep his secret.
have spoken of victory gained b,
DIR. Franklyn over himself, and l viii
in conclusion tell you of what his temp
tation consisted. Among his patient
at the Sailors Refuge he had com
across one who had been shipwrecke
and cast upon an uninhabited island
whence he had been rescued by pass
ing ship. He had found on boar
a man named Charles Miller, who ha
been picked up in an insensible cor
diUion, and cared for kindly. Whe
they had reached a certain port the
left the ship for stroll, and his con
panion had been impressed for mill
tary duty against his earnest declars
ton that they had no right thus to seiz
citizen of Great Britain. He himse
had escaped by out-distancing hi
would-be captors by running. Sine
that time he had heard nothing {
Miller, but supposed he was held t
strict military duty by the gibberist
talking foreigners.
A few questions convinced DR.. Franl
lyn that at last news had come {
Sylva's missing lover. Then a struggl
arose in his mind. Should he try
restore him to Sylvia, and thus destro
any possible chance to win her loy
himself, or should he allow her to IT
main in ignorance of his whereabouts
The sequel is known to us. 1t onl
, remains to tell how DR.. Frankly
! wrote to the British Consul stationed /;
the port where his rival had been thU
} unjustly detained, and demanded h
release, sending funds from his ow
purse to pay any necessary expenses il
Cured upon his behalf; thinking tn;
, one who had been so poorly dealt wit
: by fortune in one instance, must ais
be as impecunious as unlucky.
, But the last proved mistaken ide;
3 When Charlie was making his arrang
e ments to leave China he had sewed il
to his belt same valuable gems and
goodly sum in gold, and as it had e
S capped discovery he had returned ric