THE LAWYER SURRENDERS.
Among those who felt the touch of the awful disease was Edward Salmon,
the lawyer. For days it had its strong clutch upon him, but he battled
bravely, and Marie and Milton were tireless in their tender care and
solicitude. Most of the time he lay in fevered unconsciousness, not
recognizing those by whom he was surrounded. Often death approached
so near at hand that Marie shuddered in dread, and Milton was full
of grief on her account. At length, however, the struggle ended in
victory, and Edward Salmon lived.
When consciousness had become fully restored, and the danger was over,
Marie had Milton go away. She had resolved upon her course of action.
One day when Mr. Salmon, in his smoking jacket, weak and pale, sat
thinking, Marie, cuddled up to him, and stroking his hair. He knew
something was coming, for, like her dear, dead mother before her, that
was the girl’s way.
“Father,” she said, “you have been ill, very ill, but thank God you
have been spared.”
“Yes,” said he, “and through your noble devotion.”
“We did the best we could,” she said, slyly.
“We,” he said, “what we? Did you have help?”
“Yes, in your fever, you did not know, but it was Milton who braved all
danger, and with me, sat up night after night, watching your slightest
movement.”
“And I hated him so,” said Salmon. “He has heaped coals of fire upon my
head, and has nobly shamed me.”
“Father, believe me, the eye of love cannot be deceived,” appealed the
girl. “You have misjudged Milton.”
“Perhaps,” said he, “my darling, I have. I surrender!”
In a moment, for joy, she was sobbing on her father’s breast, and he,
too, could not restrain a silent tear.
“Bring Milton to me,” said Salmon, “he shall not outdo me in
generosity; if he will but love and cherish you as I have done, I’ll
ask no more.”
But a brief period elapsed and a happy trio were in conclave at the
lawyer’s residence.