Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-07-28
moved ner eyes from the sufferers

moved ner eyes from the sufferers
face. @
Poor Venus, through watching and
caring for, and sympathizipg with AS
trea, had come to love her best In all
the world. And now she watched this
terrible crisis with something like the
intense anxiety that a mother feels for
her sick child.
At midnight there was change In
the patient; a cool and gentle perspir-
alton came out upon her ,fOrehead.
And the heart of Venus beat high with
hope, until she happened to think that
there was such a thing as death-damp
upon the brow of the dying, and this
might be it! and her head sank with
fear. She listened for the patients
breathing-it was soft and deep. She
felt her pulse--it was quiet and regu-
lar. Venus heart rose again. While
the poor creature was undergoing
these agues and fevers Of hope ana
fear the night was slowly passing.
At length, when the nurse-lamp was
going out and the daylight was coming
in, Astrea calmly Enclosed her eyes,
and looked at Venus.
Venus was too intensely excited to
and hold her breath. She was afraid
might dissolve the charm of conval-
essence. and send her patient back in
to the night Of death.
At lenght, after serenely contem-
plating her nurse for few minutes,
Astrea in small, feeble, thread-like
voice, spoke, and said:
"Ecnus-"
'"rhank de Lori. exclaimed til ewo-
man.
"Rut. Venus" .,...
"And thank you, too, honey, for COM
Ing to lifev'
Eyes; but. Venus, how came l hereY"
Here, honey?"
Eyes: here in this bed! Did you I'M
dress and put me herey'
YES. honey; of course 1 did"
"But why? Did go to sleep while
sitting watching in my chair?" she ill.,
ruirell, striving to recall the events IF
the last night of her consciousness
then. With sudden thought but imper
,rct memory. she exclaimed, "Oh,
heaven! remember! l remember"
Now. don't you go for 'stlrb your
t1lnd. chile. Thank de Lor' as you're
Slive"
81 remember! I remember! When
the wicked man wrested the dagger
from my hand. and had me at his
llercy. l tainted with hOrror!'
Venus, who most distinctly remem-
lered that Astrea had done anything
else but faint, upon the occasion re-
terred to. now opened her eyes with
establishment.
Yes: | remember quite well that
lny heart stopped beating, my eyes
failed aE;l lost consciousness! can
remember nothing after that. oh, We
nus. what happened next? The man
left the room without further mOlest-
ing ,ne. did he not? Bad as he was,
lee would not injure a helpless swoon-
ing woman. Oh, answer, Venus! he
left the room did he not!'
'Yes. honey. certney. to be sure he
cid, Immediate" replied Venus. who
supposed it would be the correct thing
to- agree to all her patient said.
".And then you undressed me and put
me- to bcd?'
Yes. honey; that l did. good
"-And you have been sitting by me
and watching me ever since:"
Every blessed minute since"
"And never left me for a moment?"
"No: nor for half a moment, myth
err"
81 hope that man has not been in
here again"'
mo, honey; YOU may take your davy
that he hasn't, nor thought OF it, ny
Their"
"Venus?''
'What, honey!'
cit was three o'clock this morning
when that man came in and frightened
me 500"
"Yes, chile"
"And now-it must be near siX?"
'"True, honey"
''Then have been lying in this state
of Inconsistencies for three hOurs!
Eyes, honey; and 'haps little long
err"
"And. oh, Venus, am so weak! 1t
is q trouble to breathe, and greater
trouble to speak. My breath tiutters
downward like the flame of a candle
that is going out"
Don't you let it, honey! for good
ness gracious sake, hold that same
candle steady till fetches you some
thingw exclaimed the nurse, in great
alarm. as she hastily poured out and
brought to her patient strengthen
ing and composing drink.
Astrea drank it, and fell into light,
easy, natural sleep. Poor Venus
dropped on her knees and fervently
thanked heaven fer the restored life;
but quite forgot to ask forgiveness for
all the fibs she had told.
DR.. Herlzimer. anxious for the sup
posed poor girls" fate, came early in
the morning, and, after seeing his pa
tient. promo unced her quite out OF dan
| ger and doing well.