The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-08-26

PAIR OF SOFT ARMS STOLE AROUND EbR.
her with blank stare, not conprehenoing
or caring for the intelligence which would
hare made him so happy in health.
She kissed his fevered face and bathed it
in tears Of contrition as she bemoaned the
answer she had given him in that last
moment Of partial sanity, when he had
asked her if she loved HIM. And yet, how
could she have answered him differently,
without being sure Of her own feelings.
Mrs. Montford had brought her skill and
experience into the sick-room at once, scorn-
ing DR.. Conroy's proposition to install a
hired nurse there, and had shared the
young wife's vigil with unwearied devotion.
Oracle wandered through the house dis
consolately, and even Lottie's unvarying
sweetness and care could not console her
for the loss Of her parents society. A tele-
gram had been sent to Mrs. Stanford at the
first, and as Isabel was sitting cne day in
the darkened chambers, her hands clasped
over her face in deepest detection, the door
opened and light step entered the room.
& pair Of soft arms stole around her neck,
and sweet voice whispered in her ear:
'Dear auntie, as mamma was not well, 1
have come to help you nurse Uncle Harvey"
It was Lillian, and Isabel leaned her head
YEARLY on the young brides shoulder, and
commenced the acquaintance with burstot
tears.
Lillian had rare IA Guilty in sick-room; ;
her steps were 50 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.
'EDo 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 q grand constitution, you know :;
why, an perfectly astonishe6 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 throboing
szl.- +r,,%% Eos, ynSr
of moisture on his hitherto parched and
strained forehead; she took her handker-
chief and gently wiped it of, fearing she
might be mistaken, but no, 1t was true, and
in few moments it reappeared and 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 sympathetic chord in his, for IN a
few moments ne opened his eyes, and, look
ing at her with glad recognition, whispered.
feebly: Isabel"
IN y love. my darlingm 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-" she
said, gently pressing her lips to his.
he smiled wearily, like tired child, and
with look of inefable content dropped of
to sleep again, while she sat by his side in a
tumult Of Joy.
s.How is hea'' said Mrs. Montiord, who
came in to relieve her watch.
sHe is better" she whispered. 'sHe knows
me and spoke to me-"
Thank the Lord for His rlercies!" said
the good woman, fervently, and, taking Is
abel in her arms as if she had been her own
child, s'now 60 to bed, dearie, and sleep
like top until morning"
The sun was high when the overtaxed
wife awoke from her long and dreamless
slumber; the slumber Of sweet relief after
long days and nights of WEAKNESS and ag-
onizing suspense, and she hurrieoly dressed
herself and went into the sick-room.
Lillian was there, and her husband was
awake. He greeted her with 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 thanktulness into
his ear.
"Have I, then, been so very sick2" he
asked, feebly, as her tears Of JOY fell upon
his face.
81 think, Uncle Harvey, you deserve
good scolding for giving Us such scare, "
Lillian answered for her. ''If it hadn't been