The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-02-08

tacls, and she had frequently cured
them. She had magnetic touch, and
she felt sure that she could charm away
her friends suffering, but still she hesi
tated. While she hositated she heard
him groan again. That deciood her.
eff he were my young son or my
brother" she said to herself, 81 could
not let him lie there suffering, and l
believe care for him almost as much
as though he were. Why should l be
silly and prudish?''
Finding no good answer to this ques-
ton, she went bf k to her hammock
and brought her own pillow. Then she
gently raised Mr.. Weeks head and slip
ped the pillow under it. Seating herself
on the bench, she made few magnetic
passes over the sufferer S forehead.
The effect of her soft, delightful
touch was magical The patient lay
there, feeling his pain ebbing away, a
delicious languor stole over hi4-l, and at
last he slept. He had tried once or twice
to express his gratitude, but she had
gently forbidden him to talk.
When he at last awoke, some hours
afterward, he found himself covered
with Mrs Stanton's shawl, but the lady
had left him. AS the remembrance of
the light touch of her fingers came back
to him he told himself that she was the
dearest woman in the world.
"She is my sister or my adopted
mother,'' he said.
But does one thrill at the touch of
ones sister or ones adopted mother?
Does one feel heavy and dull in her alb
sence, but at rest and perfectly content
in her presence? Does one feel that with
out the soci ETY. Of ones sister the whole
world would be blank? This was now
the state of Mr.. Weeks affection for
Mrs Stanton. He never thought of her
age To him she was perfect i'll all re-
spects.
Next day something occurred that
distressed our young friend very much.
He found Mrs. Stanton in tears.
She was sitting on her favorite seat
under the elm close to a purling brook,
and the thrushes were singing breezily
above her head. Her feet We're half
buried in the fronds of fern, and the
air was soft and balmy. Yet her hand
kerchief was held to her eyes, and she
was certainly weeping as if her heart
| would break.
Mr.. Weeks remembered how kindly
she had comforted him on the foregoing
day. and he felt that he could not leave
her to indulge in her sorrow alone. He
must try to comfort her. She had an
open letter in her hand, and he now
came forward and asked her to tell MIN
the cause of her trouble
''Oh, Mr., Weeks" she said sit is
cowardly and wrong in me to give way
| So. She struggled to check her sobs
and in few moments became more
composed. Then she said:
Il have just learned that my little
fortune has been swept away"
She went on to explain that her busi-
ness agent had persuaded her to allow
| him to make some investments for her
that had resulted most disastrously, and
| that she was now almost penniless The
very small sum that might be saved
would not suffice to keep her above
want
81 am only unnerved by this sudden
news,' she said, with faint smile. 81
| shall soon be stronger and Drawer.
was a governess for one year before
married, and shall go back to teach
ing No doubt it will really be the best
thing for me. What does it matter?''
Mr.. Weeks was overcome with coll
Germ and pity. He could not bear the
| idea of his dearest friend entering upon
such a life of drudgery.
''She is no longer young" he said to
| himself, land it will be cruelty hard
for her." He was silent a long time.
He had all ample fortune and no one
| but himself to think of When at last
| he spoke, it was to endeavor to persuade
Mrs. Stanton to accept loan, the half
Of his fortune, anything if only she
| would allow him to provide for her COM
fort But she rejected all his generous
offers firmly and gracefully.
mo, she said, Il could not possibly
| allow you to assist me, although | fully
| appreciate your great kindness. But
there must be no inequality between
| friends, and cannot be under so great
an obligation to any one"
She persisted in saying that she must
leave the cure soon and make arrange
ments for her future life as a teacher
| AT last he left her and went to take a
| long stroll by himself. He went to the
top of hill that they had often climbed
together and then sat down to think
The idea of losing his friend filled him
with alarm. As he pictured to himself
what life would be without her, as he
recalled all her sweet words and ways
something new seemed born in his
heart.
1t had only needed this last expert
ence, this longing pity which made him
yearn to comfort her, TO enlighten his
mind as to the real state of his feelings.
II love her!' he cried aloud. 81 can
not give her up.
|. And now the whole character of the
man seemed to change. He no lon
ger the diffident, irresolute, shrinking
young fellow that he had been. He was
a man, with a mans strong will,
He sprang rapidly down the hill and
returned to the cure. At last he reached
the spot where the happiest hours of his
life had been passed. Mrs. Stanton was
still there. He went boldly up to her.
Mrs Stantcn," he said as he seated
himself by her and took her hand in his,
81 cannot give you up. l love you with
all my heart, and cannot bear my life
| if you refuse me. / have come to beg
you to be my wife" "