The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-10-16

All, that word undemonstrative, how
often is it made to excuse mere indif.
ference, or downright cold-hearted-
ness! In fact he was not worthy of
such a wife, for he could not compre
hend her nature, or it may be, would
not SO rise out of his mere selfishness
as to get clearer vision. Be that as
it may, he starved her by withholding
the food her spirit craved with a never
dying hunger; and she paled and fad
ed in his sight, wasting to ghostliness,
and receding, until she passed the vale
through which none ereturn-passed, as
many wives pass year by year, killed
by the same disease.
80 man, consider and be wise, ere the
days of darkness come, when it will be
too late Is there pale face in your
home? Do loving eyes look at you in
wistful sadness from sunken orbits !?
Are You in daily fear that blast fall
ing down suddenly will sweep to the
other side the spirit.like form which,
once absent from your dwelling, will
leave all its chambers desolate? So
far the physician has failed. Medicine
does not reach tie disease. Sea. bath
ing, mountain air, mineral springs-all
have been tried, and still the white face
grows whittier, the shrinking form more
and more alternate, the eyes sadder, the
spirits more depressed. You have
done and are still doing all in human
power to save her. No-something
yet remains! Try loving words and
deeds. Lay your hand, as Of old, ten
derly on her head, smooth the hair
with soft caresses; look.. down, with the
look that blessed her years ago, into
her dimming eyes, and let them take a
new lustre from your own; tell her
that you love her, for this will do her
good she is hungering for the words
has hungered for them, oh 80 long
and so wearily (! until faint with wait
ing. Give her the food for lack of
which she has been dying daily for
years. 0 man! again l say be wise,
ere the days of darkness come, when
it will be too late"
Hermann paused, laid down his pen,
and leaned back from the table.
eff / could have said all that was in
my thought; but language is so made
quate The ideas that throng my
mind lose half their clearness when I
attempt to express them. All, if |
knew that this poor work would not
die-that it would save one life falling
for lack of love-"
Another leaf in his Book of Memory
was turned by an unseen hand, and on
it was written: "Cast thy bread upon
the waters; for thou shalt find it after
many days"
"Let it 90 forth he said, in a more
cheerful voice, rising from the table.
"If the seed is good it will fall into
good ground somewhere. Man sow
eth, but with God is the increase"
! 1t went forth; and, like all good
seed cast from the sower's hand. fell
by the wayside, on stony places,
among thorns, and also into good
ground. God knew Of the increase, il
Hermann did not. 1t was part of his
discipline to have faith and patience.
A month or year may have passed.
1t matters not. Truth never dies
never loses its vitalizing force. Sitting
alone, with a troubled countenance,
was man scarcely yet touching the
: meridian of life. A periodical which
: had engaged his attention lay half
closed on the table beside him. The
trouble in his face was mingled will
surprise, as though he had just received
painful revelation.
sStarved to death - There was =
shiver in his voice. ssIs that indeed
possible ?" b.oa 81 ,sas
Even as he said this, the door opened
and a woman came in, with almost
noiseless feet gliding slowly across the
apartment. Her face had the exhans
ton and pallor that long sickness leaves
behind, and was yelled by a tonchins
sadness. She did not lonk toward tn,
man, hut his eyes followed her as sh,
:, moved about the room with An expires
, sion of deep and yearning interest
After obtaining what she sought, thu
wOman-still without seeming to b,
:, conscious of the mans presence->re
. tired to the door through which sh'
had entered, and was passing out
> when the man, speaking with sup
pressed feeling, said, 2eas
"Florence
d. There was evidence Of surprise i
o the woman's manner as she passed an