Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-15

AT STROKE OF MIDNIGHT.

The January moon rode high in a
midnight sky. The leafless branches
sWayeu nolslly in the winter wind and
their restless shadows wandered back
and forth over the frozen ground.
The distant roar of the surf and the
nearer wailing of the wind came faint
ly to the sick. room. The nurse was
dimly conscious of them as she bent
over the pillow where lay the sick man,
with face averted.
1.-THE crisis will come about mid
night" the busy physician had said,
when leaving. Medicine can do moth
ing more for him. If he rallies, it will
be miracle"
Suddenly, with a piercing shrek, an
express train shot across the land
scape, was seen for a moment ablaze
with light and then vanished. The sick
man heard it and started up, his eyes
flashing, every muscle tense.
Port your helm, lad! Hard a-port!
Aye, that's it. Now ease her up; all
right now, but close shave; I'll take
the watch on. Go below and get
some sleep, if you can
The nurse drew him back upon his
pillow and laid a cool hand upon his
fevered brow. 1t seemed to soothe him
but still he talked.
Hes only lad" he was saying.
Little he knows what it is to watch
the night out with his eyes as wide
awake as the stars in heaven above.
O, Sweetheart, Sweetheart"
Instantly the hand SO gently caress-
ing his head was still. For moment
the nurses heart ceased beating ant
her breath came short. She knew
that high forehead and the wavy
black hair. Two years had made him
old, and a beard now concealed the
sensitive mouth.
But that she would have been with
him two hours and not have known
him. All these thoughts passed like
lightning through her mind. Then
the habit of self-control asserted it
self, and once more her hand moved
soothingly across his brow. There
was magnetism now in the touch.
80, grille, girlie'' he was saying;
"you did not know what it meant to
me when you sent me away. You will
never know how many nights l have
dashed the helm and let her drift, while
threw myself on the bunk and wept
and sobbed like a child. You were all
had TO live for. But, thank God, you
will never know. You are happy"
Something like a sob escaped the
compressed lips of her who bent over
him. No, she had never dreamed it
was like this. He was always so silent,
so reserved Most people lived down
disappointment, she supposed.
The sick man moved restlessly, and
spoke again. The scene had changed.
Jack, old boy. the next wave will
swamp her. You've wife and I've
nobody. I'm going overheard. If it
happens, goodbye God bless you
He was in the water now, swimming
for life. Its going to be tough pull"
he muttered once, but sweetheart,
must see you again" Presently he
gasped and opened his eyes-eyes that
saw nothing. Where are they? All
right? Thank heaven"
Then he relapsed into stupor. In
voluntarily the nurse felt for his pulse.
1t was becoming feeble.
Could she snatch this man from the
clutch of death, who seemed so sure of
his victim? 1t must be. She was not
only a nurse. She was a woman.
He was lying quietly now with folded
arms. She knelt at his side and, I'M
folding his arms-such empty arms
laid her head on his shoulder. He held
her there, but knew it not.
"Rob," She whispered the name in
his ear.
Her voice went down into the depths
of Inconsistencies and sought out the
soul cropping there in the darkness.
He opened his eyes. those dark eyes
she knew SO well. and locked at her in
wonder. Rob" she repeated, Il love
you!
The cock-crowing and the morning
came at last The physician found his
patient sleeping quietly.
1.-THE tide has turned" he said.
He must have strong vitality or he
couldn't have pulled through the
night"
And, as he closed the door behind
him, he added to himself, Miss Hart
10 skilkul nurse. Marion Abbott
43