d hat donned, when the
messenger arrived. But she found it very difficult to get away from
the Burtons. These poor, grateful people could not bear to part with
her whom they almost worshipped as their preserver. Children and
mother pleaded almost with anguish for her to stay with them.

"I would like to remain, Mrs. Burton," replied Agnes, "but there are
hundreds being stricken down every hour around us, who have no one to
wait upon them, and who may perish before help can reach them. You and
these darlings are now comparatively safe, while others just taken are
in deadly peril."

Her kind remonstrance had its effect, and the Burtons now consented to
let her go.

All kissed her most fondly, bade her good-by, and called down the
choicest blessings of Heaven upon her head.

"God bless you, and keep you safe from the horrible fever!" were the
words still ringing in her ears, as the heroic and devoted girl
followed the doctor's man out into the street.

It was not raining now, but the murky, mist-laden atmosphere was
rendered like a damp, choking, heavy pall of gloom by the dense
volumes of pitch and tar-smoke with which it seemed to be perfectly
soaked, as a sponge is with water. It caused Agnes to cough violently
and continuously until she arrived at her new destination, which was a
private dwelling-house, apparently the abode of some one belonging to
the middle class of society.

"This is the place, Miss Arnold," said the man, "a young lady was
taken early this morning while she was visiting in the house, and a
few hours ago a Sister of Mercy, who was sent in to nurse her, went
down sick. And they're both in bed together."

Agnes could not account for it, but the moment she heard mention of
the Sister of Charity, a feeling came over her that it must be one of
the three with whom she had come hither in the cars.

Upon reaching the house, she found that her impression was
correct. Sure enough, tossing in agony and delirium upon the bed, was
Sister Theresa. By some mistake, a male nurse had also been sent to
this house, of which circumstance Agnes, however, was very glad, as
his services were very valuable until she had administered her first
simple remedies to the two patients.

As soon as she could, she thanked the man, and informed him that she
could now get along without him, and that he had better report to the
doctor for assignment to some other house.

He left, and Agnes now commenced her task of peril a