Beulah - Page 271/348

"Oh, sir, I am so glad to see you once more!"

He took her hands in his and looked at her gravely; then made her

sit down again on the step, and said: "I suppose you would have died before you could get your consent to

send for me? It is well that you have somebody to look after you.

How long have you had this fever?"

"Fever! Why, sir, I have no fever," she replied, with some surprise.

"Oh, child! are you trying to destroy yourself by your obstinacy? If

so, like most other things you undertake, I suppose you will

succeed."

He held her hands and kept his finger on the quick bounding pulse.

Beulah had not seen him since the night of Cornelia's death, some

months before, and conjectured that Dr. Asbury had told him she was

not looking well.

She could not bear the steady, searching gaze of his luminous eyes,

and, moving restlessly, said: "Sir, what induces you to suppose that I am sick? I have complained

of indisposition to no one."

"Of course you have not, for people are to believe that you are a

gutta-percha automaton."

She fancied his tone was slightly sneering; but his countenance wore

the expression of anxious, protecting interest which she had so

prized in days past, and, as her hands trembled in his clasp and his

firm hold tightened, she felt that it was useless to attempt to

conceal the truth longer.

"I didn't know I was feverish; but for some time I have daily grown

weaker; I tremble when I stand or walk, and am not able to sleep.

That is all."

He smiled down at her earnest face, and asked: "Is that all, child? Is that all?"

"Yes, sir; all."

"And here you have been, with a continued, wasting nervous fever for

you know not how many days, yet keep on your round of labors without

cessation!"

He dropped her hands and folded his arms across his broad chest,

keeping his eyes upon her.

"I am not at all ill; but believe I need some medicine to strengthen

me."

"Yes, child; you do, indeed, need a medicine, but it is one you will

never take."

"Try me, sir," answered she, smiling.

"Try you? I might as well try to win an eagle from its lonely rocky

home. Beulah, you need rest. Rest for mind, body, and heart. But you

will not take it; oh, no, of course you won't!"