The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-12-13

/ and coming to me, as she had done now
more than four years before, she threw
herself at my fcct, and resting her head on
my knee, gave vent to tears. But these
were not like those, tears of nervous inccr.
titude, but Of real anguish.
In the midst Of them, footsteps were heard
approaching the door, Hastily she rose up,
and, drying her eyes, was busily employed
at some household work, when her husband
entered the room.
! He was very little changed. Time had been
lenient with him. Care had not inarred the
somewhat coarse beauty of his face. He
came in with the flush of health on his
cheek, and the bold, fre. step that told of
strength. He glanced round the room, and
seeing me, approached, and paid his compli-
ments with a certain Difference, though I felt
tina. my presence was an unwclco;ne sur
prise.
us not my dinner ready" he said in a
sharp tone. addressing his wife. " You
ought to know, about this time, that am
not to be made to wait. You have plenty
Of servants, Mrs. L., to prepare your meals,
and make sure Of punctuality but we poor
people, who must work ourselves, have need
of great order and system to have things
we'll done and timely. Eva, here, is always
belindhand She never has meal ready
in time"
4
"Oh, Hugh, it is seldom that | am NOR g
than two or three minutes behind time
But this morning was so i'll that had to
lie down awhile, and the children have been
very fretful.''.
Tears rose in her eyes, and spots of bril-
liant red burned in her chseks. saw that
an angry rcioinder trembled on the mans
lips, All htstenel to ayert it.
| Your wife seems very III, Mr. Ranney," +"
I said. :" Has she had medical advice? l
should say that rest and quiet were absolute
ly necessary for her"
"Oh, she's always ailing," he answer ed
carelessly. "Shc has something of cough
but never stop work for cough, and my
wife must fare as do. Doctors are all hum
bugs. in my opinion, and believe that eve
ybndy is better for good deal of exercise"
Of course he did, the bur'y giant How
could he, with every nerve and muscle in
stinct with health and abounding life, CON-
prshend the needs of fragile, tender wo
man like tender Eva.
~ tear you are mistaken about Eva,"
answered, as calmly as could. "She was
always delicate, and as her father died OF
consumption, she may have inherited ten
dency to that disease from him. At any
rate, think she should see q physician
have nourishing diet and perfect quiet
Have you any appetite, my dear ?' contin,
ued, addressing Eva. "Shall I not send
You some Of the nice brotes and jsllies Mrs
Bruce is so fond of concocting?'
But before she could answer Hugh Ran
ney's wrath famed out.
"You are q rich lady, Mrs L., and am
a POOR man. Bnt that's no reason you
should come TO insult me in my own house.
pm muster here; provide food for my fam
| ily I; good food enough for me, good enough
for them. Pm no beggar to be fed from a
rich mans table. Don't send any of your
messes here, or I'll pitch them out of the
window And don't you meddVe in my fam
ily, but please understand that your room is
better than"
did not wait to hear more, but hastily
kissing Eva,.I went out indignant, panied
and sorrowful. 1t was very hard to leave
poor Eva to such fate, but how could
contend with the brutal authority of the
husband. Evidently could do nothing at
least then.
Only once after that did see Eva, till
she lay upon her death bed. A neishbor
kindly took care of her children one day,
and she erept up to pay me visit.
She made no complaint, but could zee
that her heart was breaking, and all the
springs Of life failing utterly. A few days
more passed, and learned that she was un-
able to rise from her bed FASTENED to her
side then, fearless of her husbands wrath.
A stupid servant had been provided in this
extremity, but soon found that she WAS
unable to prepare any food that the poor in
valid could eat. In softened mood now
found Hugh Ranney, and he did not object
to my offer of supplying such comforts as
his dying wife required. Thoroughly
awakened, at last to her danger, his remorse
was terrible to behold He watched over
her almost tenderly, and really tried, in his
rough way to be very kind.
''But for my little ones should be g.
most glad TO CO." whispered Eva, on the
last day Of her life, Poor Hugh and
could never understand each other He
was so strong, and expected SO much of me
But it is over now. He will have gained q
lesson, and if he marries again am sure he
will be more kind and thoughtful"
I Hugh was frantic in his grief when the
last parting came. All the wild strong i'm.
pulses of his uttermost nature boiled over
IN his fierce sorrow and selfaccusation.
"She's the only one who ever spoke .
kind word to me. I'D been knocked abou,
the world from a mere child--kicked and
cuffed aad abused till | knew her. She
spoke the first kind word to me in her soft
voice, and did love her, Mrs. L., though
I've treated her SO badly. never thought
how weak and fral she was she used not