an seemed entirely to
cease. The doctor stepped hastily forward, felt his pulse and placed his
hand over his heart. "Is he dead?" said Mrs. Baynard, in a calm voice,
but her face was pale as marble. The doctor made no reply but raised his
hand as if to enjoin silence, and he quickly applied powerful draughts
to the soles of his feet: if these took effect they might have hope. In
a short time the patient made a slight movement as if from pain, and the
physician hastily called for wine, saying, "Life is still there, and if
it can for a short time be sustained by stimulants, he may rally." Ere
the morning sun rose, the doctor expressed a hope that the crisis was
past, and that he would recover. For several days, he lay weak and
helpless as an infant; but the doctor assured us that he was slowly but
surely recovering. Soon after he was so far recovered as to spend a
portion of each day at our place of business.

I received a letter from Charley Gray informing me that he intended
spending several weeks of the summer at Elmwood, and urgently requesting
me to meet him there. I had intended visiting Elmwood before receiving
his letter; I had only been once there during the three past years, and
I felt the need of a respite from the cares of business. My sister also
expected this summer to return home, having spent four years at school,
and I looked forward with much pleasure to the time when we should meet
again in the dear old home at Elmwood. Time had worked a great change in
me since I left that home eight years before. Providence had smiled upon
my efforts to assist my widowed mother and sister. Through my means my
mother was now placed in a home of comfort and affluence, and my sister
had received a thoroughly good education. I was still prospered, and of
late was fast accumulating money. Never before, since leaving the
paternal roof, had I felt so strong a desire to rest for a time beneath
its shelter, and as the time drew nigh I could hardly control my
impatience. At home again! I realized this happiness in its truest
meaning, when I found myself again beneath the roof that had sheltered
my childhood. Flora too was there, but so much changed that I could
hardly recognize the little sister who had ever looked up to me for
protection and love. The very evening after my arrival Dr. Gray called.
His call surprised us a little as the hour was late. He came in with his
old good-humored laugh, saying: "Do not be alarmed, for thi