Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-09-08

more, or could make her understand
even now that she loved her, but i
was too late, and the consciousness of
her loneliness evidently haunted Es-
perance, for to-day, mixed with her
entreaties to her father and Gaspard
to come to her, were piteous descrip-
tons of forlorn helplessness.
! The time was so very critical that
the doctor remained for some hours,
the nurse and Cornelia stood by the
/ bed, too, though there was little to do
but TO watch that terrible struggle
between life and death
In the evening, the dean came to
the door, as usual, to make inquiries,
and the doctor brought him into tn
room, having prepared him for the
worst. He was quite overcome, and
the mere sight of Esperance was a
| shock to him, as she lay pillowed
high, her forehead bandaged, her
brown eyes wild and glittering, her
face drawn with pain, and crimson
with the flush OF fever.
She was moaning Gaspard's name
piteously enough, and the dean felt a
keen pang of remorse as he remem-
bered how gladly he had seen the
| last of his nephew few weeks ago:
he almost wished him back again now.
! Scarcely knowing what he did. he
| bent down, and took Esperances thin,
/ burning hands in his. She had not
noticed his entrance, but this made
her look up suddenly; a glad smile
! passed over her troubled face, and
half raising herself with the strength
of delirium, she cried, Papa, papal
have you Gomez" then, falling back
again, said, much more quietly, Il am
so tired! Won't you carry me?"
She closed her eyes, and they all
watched In GREATNESS suspense, till at
length look of entire peace stol
over her features, and her quiet regu-
lar breathing showed that she had
fallen into natural sleep.
For two hours the dean stood in
this novel position, personating NJ.
de Mabillon, and patiently holding the
hands of his ola enemys child. He
was growing undoubtedly fond of Us
perance and, moreover, he felt some
thing of the sense of responsibility
which had been expressing Cornelia,
and had great terror of her death.
feeling sure that it would burden him
with that sense of outlines which
had haunted him when his sister died
II W ch al ha
cry for Gaspard; it rang in his ears
tormentingly, and though he reminded
himself that the Ceylon appointment.
was a very good one, he could not
but remember that if he had chosen
, he might easily have found a situation
for Gaspard in England t
On the whole, the deans reflections
were not very comfortable as he
watched his sisters child; and he
was relieved when after long sleep,
she woke up much more free from fe-
yer than tn 9y had ventured to hone
HIS hands being released, he,stole
away to the observatory and tried to.
forget his annoyances; but in spite
OF the attractions of his beloved
telescope, he was haunted all the
/ night by Gaspard's name
In the sick-room matters went on
very hopefully. Esperance toot some
nourishment, and then fell again into
a long, dreamless sleep, and in the,
= morning the doctor was so well sat
isfed with her Improvement, that Cor
nelia began to take heart again. She
slept az intervals through the day
and did not take much notice. but or
the following day she was much NOR
herself. In the afternoon, when tn,
nurse was lying down. Cornelia was
startled by sudden question in Es-
perence's weak voice. the English
words coming with a sort of hesitI.
ton: 49,.
"Gaspard does not know that L
am i'll, does he?" 80
Cornelia crossed the room to tn
bedside. p.
mo, dear; but now you are better
will write.
Perhaps l shall be well enough
soon to put in letter. What day
is it?'
1T IS Saturday, the 18th Of July.
We will write by the next mail, on
Friday"
( EsperaEce was to weak 10 talk any
more. She nay musing over Corne.
las words, greatly surprised to find
how long she had been III But she
had still many days Of pain and weak.
ness to look forward to, for although
she was out Of danger her recovery
was very slow and wearlsome. She
was as helpless as baby. and
though good and patient, she coull
not withstand the sense Of aching
loneliness that weighed upon her
spirits. Every one, was kind to her.
but she longed unspeakably for Gas
pard, and day after day she lay cry
ing quietly wiping away her tears
and trying to smile when any one
spoke to her, but far too weak TO be
able to control herself.
She saw a good ldeal OF Cornelia.