LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2424, 12 January 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

BEX’S DELIRIUM. BY BELL BLOSSOM. • It certainly Is a great bore I’ exclaimed Mrs Alfred Bldley, In tones quite otherwise from the 'dulcet falsetto with which that lady was apt to regale society. • Just at this time, too, ’ echoed the young ladies, in much the same injured voice. ‘But, my dear, what was to be done?’ appealed the master of the house. *ln the name of common humanity, was I to leave the poor fellow, the victim of the criminal carelessness of one of my own gamekeepers, weltering in his own gore, lying on the damp ground, dying perhaps, when within a hundred yards of my own house ?’ ‘ But who is he ? Nobody knows, ’ continned Mrs Ridley. ‘ How can I allow my daughters to wait upon a stranger? Neither can X spare time myself ; and to leave him to the mercy of the servants seems inhospitable and strange. Besides, he may die, and we shall have all the horrors of a resident corpse.’ Spite of his perplexity. Mr Ridley could not repress a smile.’ • A resident corpse !’ he repeated, 4 At all events, Mrs Ridley, such a visitor la too transient to be termed resident.’

‘ It is very well for you to make sport of any inadvertent expression my excitement may call forth ’ retorted his wife. * But for all that I repeat that at this time yon should have had him carried to the cottage of the man who shot him. In a fortnight we give a ball as yon know, to welcome the return of Bex Ronalds. If this stranger is very ill, we shall not be able to do so, and you know how many plans we have bnilded upon It.’

* Yes. Which is to be ? Is May or Ella selected for the conquering hero !' * There is no occasion for levity, Mr Ridley. Neither May nor Ella lack for suitors ; bnt nevertheless, I had hoped that Mr Rona’da would be attracted by one or other of them. And the old friendship existing between the families, and his return after fifteen years’ residence abroad, warrants us in showing that we appreciate hia presence among us. He was but a lad of fifteen when he bade us good-bye. He returns a man of thirty.’ And Mrs Ridley’s face brightened with the advent of happier thoughts. Meantime, the subject of all this conversation was stretched full length npon hia back in one of the comfortable upstairs bedrooms, gradually recovering consciousness, with its unhappy accompaniment of realisation of intense physical suffering. A half-involuntary movement caused a deep groan to escape his white lips. Some one passing the open door heard and entered —a little, delicate figure, clad in deep mourning. She resembled on exquisite pansy, with her golden hair tight coiled about the little head, her dark blue eyes and rose hashed cheeks.

Shrinking somewhat as If the sight of pain hurt her, yet nerving herself to the effort, she approached the bed. 4 lt yon can bear it a moment I will try and make yon more comfortable,’ she whispered. And in a few minutes the sufferer felt that his head had found a fresh, cool place, and his wounded arm a better support, for which he tried to look his thanks. He could not speak them. 4 Ah, Miss Armstrong I you here ? exclaimed Mrs Ridley, standing on Iho threshhold, and speaking in a tone of perceptible relief, as if seeing a way out of the difficulty into which she had found herself so unexpectedly plunged. ‘Would you mind relieving me in the case of this young man ? You know I have so little time, and my daughters are so young and inexperienced ; besides with them—’

She stopped, hesitating. * I understand, Mrs Kidley,’ answered the young girl. I am used to nursing, and all the time I can spare from the schoolroom I will relieve yon gladly.’ ‘ I will excuse you from the schoolroom ; the children can have a holiday. I should like you to be always present to receive the doctor’s directions, and to see that they are carried out.’

Left alone, Ehona Armstrong returned to the bed.

4 Who are yon that they leave you with me ? ’ she thought to herself. 4 Ah, if you could exchange places with this Rex Ronalds, how they could vie with each other in their care of you! But, pshaw! lam growing uncharitable. My life Is hardening me. Poor fellow! Whoever yon may be, yon look as though yon had a hard, long siege before you ! ’ which verdict the physician strengthened when he made his call.

The fever had risen, the inflammation In the wound increased; a painful operation was necessary.

The doctor looked about him for on assistant.

* Yon, my child ? No, no 1’ ho said, as Bhona indicated herself. ‘ I need a woman, not a nervous child.’

* I was twenty my last birthday,’ she replied. ‘ I will not fail yon.’ Once or twice heroheek blanched, but she never once relaxed her hold. She went through her part bravely ; then, when all was over, fainttd dead away. Bat fortunately her swoon was short, and left no 111 effects behind.

For two weeks, night and day, she watched beside the sufferer. It was she who soothed his delirium, who moistened his parched lips, who loosened the bandages when they pressed, _who waked while ho slept. Occasionally Mrs Ridley would go tiptoe to the door.

‘ I can do no goad, ’ she would say, * I must not ran myself down. Mr Ronalds may arrive now any day. Do yon think the yonng man will have recovered sufficiently to enable ns to give onr ball ?’ But that he recovered at all the doctor said he owed to his most faithful nurse. The rose flush had all died from her cheek now ; the eyes had that large, heavy look only nights of sleeplessness give ; and the golden hair hung in two large braids away below the slender waist.

It required leas time to arrange it thus. But one night, watching alone, the crisis passed. He opened wide Inquiring eyes upon the little fairy vision who had mingled in all his delirious dreams.

* Is it May or Ella ?’ he asked. She thought he was delirious stilly ‘lt is neither,’she answered, rising and approaching his side. ‘ Only the children’s governess.’ He held out his hand very feebly, and she to humor him, placed hers within It. His fingers closed tightly over it, and thue hold ■ it be fell asleep. She dared not waken him. It was the sleep which might buy bis life. There was no chair within her reach ; she feared to move, and so she stood motionless through the long hours until dawn broke ; her limbs trembled beneath her weight; she was overcome by fatigne, when at last he wakened to find her still standing. ‘ How long have I slept ?’ he asked. ‘ Four hoars, I think,’ she answered. * And yon have stood all that time ?’ * 1 feared to waken you.’ Ho made no reply, but lifted the little hand to h)s lips atd kissed it. 1 How long havo I been ill ?’ he questioned, later. * Almost three weeks, sir.’

‘ And they brought me to Oak Lawn ; I remember that; but Mrs Ridley and the girls —where are they t' •You know' them then, air?’ That la strange, for Mta Ridley did not seem to recognise yon ; but they are very busy now ; they are expecting the return of the young heir to Roland’s Manor, who is to be laden down with festivities.’

* Shades of my grandfather ? What have I done to deserve this ?’

• What do you mean ?’ ‘Only that 1 am Rex Ronalds, and that I could almost bless the wound which has given me this respite. I was on my way to call, when that stupid gamekeeper mistook me for a partridge and put a ballet through my arm. ’ * And you are Mr Ronalds ? Oh, how sorry they will be !’ ‘ What! Why, I thought yon told me they were kind enough to count on my return?’

‘ Yes, yea—bnt sorry that they could not have helped me nurse you. I—l—doctor— ’ Bat the newcomer upon the scene had barely time to catob in his strong arms the slight young form before It would have fallen heavily to the floor, 4 Used np,’ he said, with an ominous shake of the head. ’ I don’t think she has slept six hours iu a week. You’ve given me two patients, young man, but I tell you one thing—she has saved the sexton and the grave digger one.’ With which cheerful homily he strove to bring back life and consciousness. But the doctor could no longer complain of lack of nurses. How that the patient was convalescent, and that he had acknowledged his identity, they swarmed about him like bees in a hive.

May succeeded Ella, and Ella May, while Mrs Ridley bustled about, all motherly kindness.

‘ It’s too bad, Rex 1’ she wculd declare. I know the girls would have helped you get well sooner; but really yon looked so very disreputable, all covered witn blood, and I am so guarded with them. To all of which the young man listened silently. Day after day he missed hla gentle little nurse. The thought that she was ill and suffering because of her faithfulness to him distracted him. He would rather sleep than waken, for in his dreams she came to him,and once again be could fooljtho velvety touch of the small white hand. Bnt it was almost harder when, through the doctor, he learned that she had recovered and had resumed her usual duties, though not to him. Bis room saw her no more.

Once he ventured to speak of her to Mrs Ridley.

‘ She la occupied with the children,’ she answered. ' They have already lost too much time.’

'Mamma, she must have auipsoted all along! ’ said May. 'Of course she did. Designing little minx ! ’ said Ella.

‘Never mind, my dears. He was delirious moat of the time, and besides, he is not likely to see her again.* Which prophesy seemed in a fair way of being carried out ; for when, a fortnight later, his health gave him no further excuse for remaining at Oak Lawn, and he returned to Ronald Manor, he bad not been able to see Rhona, even for a few simple words of thanks. In her own room she heard the sound of carriage wheels bearing him away, and a quick pang of pain darted through her heait

‘ Ah, he is a man ! ’ she whispered, *He forgets, bat I —remember ! * Bat next day she dime In from a solitary ramble with flushed cheeks and sparkling eye. What had eha seen in her walk ? Perbans he had not forgotten !

The master of Ronald Manor was affianced How the rumor spread, none knew; bat all learned it, as they understood that a grand ball, to bo preceded by tableaux, was to be given in honor of his fiancee. It was a crushing blow to Mrs Ridley; but she was already looking into the future. ' Never mind, my dears 1’ she said to her disappointed daughters. I We must make out selves vastly agreeable, and propitiate her all in our ability, for she will be a power in (he neighborhood. ’ The eventful evening came at last. A flutter of curiosity pervaded the elegant assemblage as they sat In the ball-room, waiting the rising of the curtain upon the tableaux ; for it was suspected that In some of them would be found tho victor of the prize. At last the curtain rose and fell. Picture succeeded picture. All were beautiful, and won enthusiastic applandlts.

Then the last was announced. It was “The Sleeping Beauty.” Theenrtainlifted. Upon a couch iay a young girl, sleeping, her lips half parted In a smile, her long, yellow hair, unbound, covered her like a veil, and falling swept the (floor. People held their breaths. She was the impersonation of an exquisite dream. Who was she ? Who could she be? Pour alone of all that glittering multitude knew' and three women turned white with envious wrath. The man w*a glad for the little girl’s luck. The curtain fell, but rose again upon the prince, who oama to rouse her with a kiss. It was their host, but when he had awakened her, he proudly slipped her hand within his arm, and led her ont among his friends. It was Ilhona Armstrong, Mrs Bldley’e late governess. ‘But how bad she captured him ? ’ asked one of the dear five hundred.

‘She nursed him while he was 111,’ answered Mrs Kidley; * and between yon and me, my dear, I don’t think he’s quite recovered from his dellrlnm yet.’ 4 Nor ever will, I trust,’ broke in the clear voico of her recent guest. ‘ Mrs Kidley, by the way, you have not yet congratulated my bride.’

Which Mrs Ridley forthwith proceeded to do, in her most honeyed accents and her most gracions smiles ; for had she not prophesied that she would be a power in the neighborhood, and were not her daughters still upon her hands T Oh, heart of woman I truly than ait most fearfully and intricately made.