Year: 1878

III
we wait for such thing, We'll waitsfor-
ever" t..t. :
Then it will be with clear con-
science. Your father is an old man, and
1t might shorten his life, if you, his only
son, should prove disobedient and un-
grateful. l can not come between YOU
and your father"


Cyril listened to her with flashing
eyes. Q
"Then you, will throw me over? I
who worship the very ground your feet
have touched. Oh, Hilda, l did not
think it of you. My father was right, +"
he continued, gloomily. ''He said all
women ore alike-selfish and merce-
nary" aa


"Don't Cyril; I know you can not be-
lieve it of me! Hear me! If you were
to be crippled in mind and body, and
miserably poor, and no one else had a
prior claim to you, would work myself
to shadow for you, and consider my
self happy in doing SO. 1t is because
love you better than myself that will
not let you do wrong. But will prom
ise to go solitary and alone, SO far as
human love is concerned, to my grave,
so be that we can not marry. Dear,
dearest Cyril, 60 home to your father
and do as he wishes, fully and entirely.
Gods blessing will surely rest upon the
dutiful son."


Her voice broke. With wild i'm
pulse she threw her arms around his
neck and kissed him again and again,
between her sobs. 1t was her farewell.
The next moment Cyril was standing
alone in the porch, and the heavy door
was shut and bolted between them.


After few moments of bewildering
hesitation he mounted and rode away.
He could not but think forgivingly OF
Hilda, as he recalled her anguished sobs,
and felt her kisses burning upon his
forehead-she who had ever been so
chary of her caresscs.


Strive as he might he did not again
see Hilda. 1t seemed as though some
unseen messenger was ever on the alert
to warn her of his approach. At last
he grew desperate, and determined to
leave home. His father procured him a
for active service, and, as it was the
time of the Crimean war, he had no
difficulty in carrying out his purpose.
His regiment was one of the first sent
out.


Hilda heard of his departure with tear
full eyes. Still she did not regret the
course she had taken. Following the
noble example of Florence Nightingale,
she went to one of the hospital training
schools to fit herself to follow her sol
dier, if necessary, and nurse some poor
victim of the war back to life, or to
soothe his dying moments if he was
beyond help.


But other work was in store for her.
A letter from home brought news of an
epidemic of the most fatal type of ty-
phoid fever in her own village The
inhabitants were so alarmed that they
were leaving the place, and nurses could
not be obtained, SO great was the fear of
the contagion. :. The concluding item
was this: @e5 'H. e &.


esquire Atherton is down with it,
and of all the indoor servants at the
manor, old Hannah, who took care of
the mistress in her last sickness, is the
only one left. She declares if she leaves
the master in his sore need, it'll only be
sfeet first" 's


Without a moments hesitation, Hill
da went to the matron, telling her she
was needed at home, and procured her
discharge. Then, laden with her pre-
cious, newly gained knowledge, she
took the first homeward- bound train.


Old Hannah was seated at the mas
ter's beside, looking worn and weary.
AS Hilda came softly in, dressed in her
clinging gray flannel dress, with her
glossy hair. hidden by a close-fitting
muslin cap, she looked to the surprised
old woman like an apparition. Hilda
smiled and held out her hand as she
whispered: T.


''Don't you know me-Hilda, of
Deepdale farm? am here to help you.
l know what to do, SO don't be afraid to
trust me. LII watch the master faith
fully, if you'll go and take rest.'' .e


Something in the girls quiet, resolute
manner impressed the faithful old serv-
ant that she was making no idle boast,
or she would not have yielded up her
post. AS it was, weary human nature
asserted its claims, and she went gladly.
She soon came back with a bowl of
warm soup. 1t tasted gratefully to the
young nurse, as she had not broken her
fast since the reception of the letter.


After this, Hllda was left alone, with
the sick man. The night wore wearily
away, the silence only broke by the
restless means Of the sufferer, when
Hilda would straighten his pillow, and
pass her cool hand with q magnetic
touch over his forehead, thus giving
him momentary relief.


y After old Hannah was thoroughly
rested, she and Hilda divided the time
in the SICK room. and hu that means