There stood Miss Clifton arrayed in her gorgeous bridal costume, looking gloriously beautiful, though certainly as no bride ever looked before! The raging fever had given the brightness and richness of the carnation rose to her complexion, and imparted a supernatural light to her eyes, that burned and flashed, and seemed to strike fire as they sprang from one to the other of the intruders, with a mad, joyous, defiant glance!
The alarm of her father was unlimited, unspeakable! He darted from the room, and almost precipitated himself down the stairs in his haste to mount and dispatch a servant for the family physician. And while he was gone, Georgia and Zuleime, by coaxing and humoring the phantasy of the poor girl, succeeded in undressing her and putting her to bed—she still raving about her marriage, and sometimes breaking out into a wild laugh, and once telling Georgia that she, being a married woman, had no right or business to be officiating as bridesmaid.
It was near morning when the doctor came. After examining the state of the patient, he pronounced her disease to be brain fever, brought on by over-excitement of the nervous system. He wrote prescriptions, and remained with her until they were administered. And then he departed with a promise to return early in the forenoon.
Mrs. Clifton, of Hardbargain, was summoned, and lost no time in hastening to the sick room of her daughter-in-law, as she chose to call Carolyn.
For many days the struggle between life and death went on, and no one, not even the medical attendant, was able to form an opinion as to which power would eventually conquer.
Mrs. Clifton had taken her station by the bedside of the patient as permanent nurse, and she constantly refused to yield her post to any other person. And it was to her vigilant attention, quick perceptions, and intelligent treatment, that all the family ascribed the recovery of the girl. For the crisis came and passed, and Carolyn Clifton lived.
But no sooner was the patient pronounced out of danger, and the excitement of anxiety over, than the nurse herself fell ill. And Mrs. Clifton, exhausted, prostrated, entered her carriage, and was driven to Hardbargain.
CHAPTER XIII.
ARCHER CLIFTON’S SKETCHES.
The deepest sorrow that stern fate can bring
In all her catalogue of suffering,