Beulah - Page 289/348

"She seemed to think she could render no assistance; and, fearing

that all would be over before we could get here, preferred my coming

at once and writing to her of his condition. Ah! she is miserably

fitted for such scenes as you must have witnessed." And the gray-

haired man sighed heavily.

"What! can she bear to commit her husband to other hands at such a

crisis as this? How can she live away from his side when every hour

may be his last? Oh, is she indeed so utterly, utterly heartless,

selfish, callous? Poor Eugene! Better find release from such a union

in death than go through life bound to a wife so unblushingly

indifferent!"

Her face was one flash of scorn and indignation, and, extending her

hand toward the restless invalid, she continued in a lower tone: "She has deserted her sacred post; but a truer, better friend, one

who has always loved him as a brother, will supply her place. All

that a sister's care can do, assuredly he shall have."

"You are very kind, Miss Beulah; my family are under lasting

obligations to you for your generous attentions to that poor boy of

ours, and I--"

"No. You understand little of the nature of our friendship. We were

orphan children, warmly attached to each other, before you took him

to a home of wealth and lavish indulgence. Were he my own brother, I

could not feel more deeply interested in his welfare, and while he

requires care and nursing I consider it my privilege to watch over

and guard him. There is Dr. Asbury in the hall; he can tell you

better than I of his probable recovery," Ah, reader, is "Friendship but a name?

A charm that lulls to Bleep,

A shade that follows wealth or fame,

And leaves the wretch to weep?"

Mr. Graham remained at the cottage, and, having written to

Antoinette of the imminent danger in which he found her husband,

urged her to lose no time in joining him. Unluckily, he was ignorant

of all the information which is so essential in the occupation of

nursing. He was anxious to do everything in his power; but, like the

majority of persons on such occasions, failed wretchedly in his

attempts. Almost as restless and nervous as the sick man, he only

increased the difficulties he would fain have remedied, and Beulah

finally prevailed upon him to abandon his efforts and leave the

room, where his constant movements annoyed and irritated the

sufferer. Eugene recognized no one, but his eyes followed Beulah

continually; and when his delirium was at its height only her voice

and clasp of his hand could in any degree soothe him. In his ravings

she noticed two constantly conflicting emotions: a stern bitterness

of feeling toward his wife and an almost adoring fondness for his

infant child. Of the latter he talked incessantly, and vowed that

she, at least, should love him. As the weary days crept by Beulah

started at every sound, fancying that the wife had certainly come;

but hour after hour found only Mrs. Williams and the orphan guarding

the deserted husband. Gradually the fever abated, and a death-like

stupor succeeded. Mr. Graham stole about the house like a haunting

spirit, miserable and useless, and in the solemn stillness of

midnight only Beulah sat by the pillow, where a head now rested

motionless as that of a corpse. Mrs. Williams was asleep on a couch

at the opposite end of the room, and, in the dim, spectral light of

the shaded lamp, the watcher and her charge looked unearthly. Faint

from constant vigils, Beulah threw her arm on the bed and leaned her

head upon it, keeping her eyes on the colorless face before her. Who

that has watched over friends, hovering upon the borders of the

spiritland, needs to be told how dreary was the heart of the

solitary nurse? And to those who have not thus suffered and endured,

no description would adequately portray the desolation and gloom.