The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-02-19
HhAn | WAS silent.

best of Them she was won't TO remark, re
quire a little looking after, They can't be ex
pected to take us.much interest in ones at
fairs as ones relations:' Her comments d
not give me much uneAsiness, however.
l went home one day a little earlier thai
usual. | thought u quiet chat with my house
keeper. over the dining room fire. would No
be unpleasant. had begun already TO taxi
more interest in her than l wss prepared I
acknowledge 20 myself.
/ pictured, MS | hurried home, the cheeTfu
room, the table handsomely laid, and MRS
Smith in her neat, quiet dress, sitting by tn
fire, with a book or work, waiting for the Gin
ner to be brought up. As l reached my Owl
door, however, found it open, and three chill
dfen taking u most atfectionate farewell OF thei
mother. l had never cared enough for anyon'
before 10 experience sucE an emotion of Je"l
ousy. But | ,hInk no other word adequate.
ly described nv feelings as / walked into th'
parlor and shut the door. Presently Mrs. Smiti
made her appearance. t-r4 Z
i am sorry, SIR she began
mo- at all, madam.
'Oh bur l am l remember your stlpulation
about The children, perfectly. | presumed yc'
would have no objections 10 their coming some
times in your absence. and | like to see then
as often as | can, but they shall rot be here
again at any hour you are likely to be home.
She must have though: me III ungratlou'
bo0r, Tor l growled out mereIy-'No matter,n nj
matter ct ali. IS.
was ia an i'll humor. The pleasant an
ticipations with which l hurried home had no
been realized. Moreover, / was becoming tot
much interested in my housekeeper, to iiks tt
be- reminded that others had strong claims up
on her. That evening i Sat on one side of the
bright FIRE and Mrs.4Smith on the other. | Ro'
hor urnxces-it's one Of my Wins. / loved
when l was Il boy, to make pictures in the frf
and the habit and | have grown old together
We had sat silent Tor some time. l was watch
ing two embers, two little beats sailing or
lovingly side by side. AT length asked abb
rup!ly:
He was a merchant. He was in y dry good'
finn. and able to give us every luxury until he
TAI. Led. a.. -.. ..s.
So that was il. He had failed and died, AND
eft her all those children to support | looked
ir!o The fire again. The boats had drifted faI
apart and were sailing down a fame covered
rver- .... r.r --..s ...
He on the Que side, she On the other.
unused on. half s~orrewfuily, Until at length
J said, speaking unconsciously aloud
Perhaps l could have stood the children j
it weren't for thinking she had loved sOthe-
body else. She'd be looking back all the time
anu comparing "o Will W.
'Sirf
Nv voice hal attracted Mrs. Smiths atsen.
ton from her book, but she had evidently not
understood what ! said, and WAS looking "
enquiringiy Thank fortune for that. | laugh
ed s%t..Isttle nervously, | imagine.
.Nothing-l was not speaking TO you. In
fact, l think l was talking in my sleep
She looked down again and ! watched hel
instead OF the fire. She mas pretty. prettiel
than | had gwen her credit for at first. | thought
too, that she might be younger than thirty ,as
survey, d he's now. There was a delicate peacs
blossom Ola her cheek, an Innocent, Amos
girlish expression on her face. Well cheeks
and expression were nothing TO me. L got W
dlsconsolately and went TO bed
The next d ay my sister-in-law came to see
me. AS usual she had plenty Of suggestions
to Mra. Smith, which that lady recei1ed in 81
ience, but with a peculiar twinkle IN her eyes.
at length Mrs, bishop followed me into the
library.
Well, Sandie,' she at length said seating
herself, since you do not feel disposed TO tuitl
my prediction and marry your housekeeper,
suppose l may speak of her freely have
thought from the first that she WAS a very art
full woman. have no doub that when she
came here she intended to marry you. She is
very attentive now, of course, she has her mo"
tivss. l can see. If any trial should come
you will find who are you friends.
Mrs. Bishop was right in this tor the trla
did CO me, aud I saw who my fiiend was, my
ow II friend.
l was taken i'll early in the spring. My sick
ness came on suddenly. | was attacked with a
severe h9adAchesand pains in the back. The
first two days Mrs. Bishop spent in assiduous
care of me-though 20 confess the truth her at
tentions were unwelcome, and l.would rather
by tar have been abandoned to the tender mer-
cies of my housekeeper, who raiely came lnst
the room when my pister>in-law was there. -
The third morning my physician pronounced
my disease .smali>puX. Even III that momeh'
of terror. | looked al Eliza Bishop. Her face
oaIed. | could see her hands shake, abe spoke
IN q trembling voice.
Il wish | could stay with you, Sandie, |
aoish | could If it were only for myself would
but my children. :
Il would not have you stay answered. J
trust you have not endangered yourself. u'oo
by, sister Eliza
She went ont of the room, and 1 turned 70 Mfs
Smith Hho was standing near.
Now Won must go also The Doctor Will Ind
some one TO nurse me. aud you TO must 1901
out tor your children
Unjust look out for you, sir. My duty lie
here, now. Live or die, | shall stay win yo'
as long "a you need me-
The little woman's voice was firm, and De
eyes shone with a clear ~resolute hight. l ma
not thought she possessed so much VIII an
courage.
Consider l said DO you realize all to
risk you run OF ioathsome disease and dis
agreement Perhaps a terrible death =
/ have considered all sir. and shall stay.
Was / selfish to allow it? Perhaps l was, gu
even III the hour OF deadly peril, | who ha'
never owed woman before, longeG 10 have he
al my side. TO share my danger. l need no
give the details of the sickness which followc
the weeks of terrible suffering, when my bod,
and soul would hardly hold together. 100
back upon il. strong man rs l am with shlYef'
ing dread. /,
l. was owing under God. to her that dealt
who stood waiting at my pillow day after day
at length passed by me.
What a nurse she was, vigiIaut, siesples:
untireing. Perhaps it was owing TO her calr
courage that she did not take the disease. Sh
seemed to be always near me aud YET she fouh
4 time to make herself look neat and even taste
fil as usual. Every thing in my room, ate
| was able to notice anything. was IN scrupu
Ious order. Delicate flowers, as fresh and sWee
as herself, bloomed on my table "a pieasan
dreamy half-light filed the apartment. VIVA
a change from tho Old boarding house da,s!
was thinking of all the gracious care an
tenderness a. | sat up for the frs. time at Oh
window Mary-I had learned to Gail her S
during nv illness-was out of the room, but th
tokens of he's presence were all around me =
Presently she came i'll aud sat down by N.
side e .a
.Mary,I said, almost involuntaIily. l hav
! been thinking l ought TO thank you for saVin
my life. And vet | do not know that 4 al
grateful. Life will be of no value unless yo'
share il. With you for my wife, l could
happy but if you cannot love me, you mlgt
as well have let me go by the board.
1 had spoken as l teb-serious'y and sadiy
but a merry twinkle danced in her eyes.
$50 you think you could stand not only II
children, but my having loved some one else
EsThen you heard 'he focllshspeech afsersll Ii vi
nos mean, for your ear. Forgive it,. You 81
too good for me, any way.3I ask nothing bett
if you can love me, than to take you just as u
are
Children and ALL
: Children and all. I'll try and be a father
them. Heaven helping me-