The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-04-25

IL was Llllldu, anu isabel leaned ner leaQ
wearily on the young BRIDES shoulder, and
commenced the acquaintance with burst OF
tears
Lillian had rare ia Guilty 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, so 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 change
for the better or worse, and the change was
awaited with breathless interest.
''Do not grieve so, 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 grand constitution, you know
why, l am perfectly astonished at him for
being sick at all, it is an unprecedented
performance on his part, lean assure you.'
Her 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 a
more hopeful spirit than she had cherished
since he had been sick.
About midnight she noticed that he
/ breathed more naturally, and, going close
to him, she noticed with heart throbbing
with delight that there was faint sparkle
| of moisture on his hitherto parchGd and
strained forehead; she took her handker-
chief and gently wiped it off, fearing she
might be mistaken, but no, it was true, and
in few moments it reappeared and she
| knew he was better. 'Oh, God, l thank
! Thee" she cried, as she sank upon her
knees in mute Thanksgiving.
I Perhaps the great emotion of her heart
awoke sympathetic chord in his, for in a
few moments he opened his eyes, and, look
ing at her with glad recognition, whispered,
feeby: Isabel"
/ "My love! my darling! she whispered
softly in his ear.
He seemed to struggle with memory
'You do love me, then," he whispered,
family.
'Better than my life, dearest love,n she
said, gently pressing her lips to his.
/ He smiled wearily, like tired child, and
with a look of ineffable content dropped off
| to sleep again, while she sat by his side in
tumult of joy.
"How is he?' 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 mercies I" said
the good woman, fervently, and, taking Is
abel in her arms as if she had been her own
child, "now go to bed, dearie, and sleep
like a top until morning"
The sun was high when the overtaxed
7 frntr hn,. md
slumber; the slumber of sweet relief after
long days and nights of weariness and ag-
Hnizing suspense, and she hurriedly dressed
herself and went into the sick-room.
Lillian was there, and her husband was
awake. He greeted her with smile, in
fantile in its weakness, yet full of love and
trust, as she bent over him and whispered
glad words of love and thankfulness into
his ear.
''Have I, then, been so very sicks" he
asked, feebly, as her tears of joy fell upon
Ills face.
Il think, Uncle Harvey, you deserve
good scoldlng for giving us sucn q scai )"
Lillian answered for her. ''If it hadn't been
for my excellent nursing there's no know
ing what would have happened to you
Aunt Isabel and that big-eyed doctor were
sowering over you like couple of lunatics
HhS1 ShAiO W IuO ASoCuO'
/ He was too weak to reply to her lively
sallies, but he pressed his wife's hand with
a feeble energy.
1t seemed as if she could not be demon
strative enough after the long period of
cold indecision through which she had
passed; she knew now that she had loved
him for months when she had imagined
herself grateful only, and she sighed as
she thought how his kind and noble heart
must have been wounded by her eoldness,
and she strove to make amends by showing
him every phase of tenderness her full
heart could devise.
81 think must go home how" said Lii
liam, playfully, the next day. Il have res
cued one forlorn man from a premature
fate, and shall have another to drag from
the brink of despair if do not get hacsl to
Ralph. Mamma says he wapders to and
fro like the disconselate ghost OF Melan-
choly."
81 little thought that your long-talked-of
visit was to be such doleful affair as this"
said Isabel. "But, indeed, Lillian, you do
not know how much you have helped me-"
Il assure you take full credit to myself
for all l have oone," she answered ,willfully.
Il do believe Uncle Harvey got up this lit
lie diversion just for the purpose of testing
the affection of his friends.n
"Then l deserved to be disappointed.
didn't I!' he said, weakly. He enjeyad her
bright raillery, as it Shaved him that he
was once more 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;
the bright, sweet girl was just tbs Eeper-
Gus, whole-seuled little woman sle 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 uncle!" Isabel said, mischieyously,
as they were waiting in the drawng-room
for the carriage which was to take Lillian
away.
YES" she replied, promptly, '!apa have
given you my blessing, tiguratiVely speak
irg." Then more thoughtfully: Your case
Is only another demonstration of the fact
which mamma and have argued over ever !
since went in pinafores, that person's
position In life does not necessarily deter
mine all his qualities of head and heart"
"Well, what do you think of her2" said
Mrs. Stanford, after Lillian's return, and
when other inquiries had been answered,
II think Uncle Harvey might have hunt |
ed the city over without finding any one so
perfectly suited to him as Aunt Isabel, j" re-
piled Lillian, warmly.
."Even If she was a plebeian shop-girl," |
said Mr.. Stanford, with smile.
I'm afraid the blue blood of the Caring |
tons would boil if they should hear you |
speak OF their kinsWeman under That titie,n |