"Oh! that my life may fade away as gently as those tints, and that I may at last rest on the bosom of my God."
Darkness closed around—the soft hues melted into the deep blue of the zenith as she stood communing with her own heart, and she started when a shawl was wrapped about her, and the window closed.
"As ministering physician, I cannot allow such neglect of injunctions. How dare you expose yourself after my express direction to keep close?"
"I have kept very closely all day, and did not know that star-gazing was interdicted."
As she spoke, a violent fit of coughing succeeded; he watched her anxiously.
"Do you suffer any acute pain?"
"Occasionally I do; but nothing troubles me so much as an unpleasant fluttering about my heart, which I often have."
"You must be very careful, or your cough will increase as winter comes on."
Mary repressed a sigh which struggled up from her heart, and inquired if there was any news.
"We cannot learn exactly what is transpiring within the Alamo, but feel assured the crisis is at hand; some excitement has prevailed in the garrison all day, and it is confidently expected in our camp that the assault will soon be made."