Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-06-07

pared, ice and bandages ready, and Bessie was
. tender, fearful little help to her. Presently
they heard the slow rumble Of wheels, then
the heavy gronping steps Of men carrying o
dead weight through the hall and up the stair
ease, and whispers Of s4aks care, mind the
turn, that's right" and Fred. Field was laid
upon his bed, . hsifdeadsbody The room was
cleared; even Bessie who wished to do every
thing, was taken Out, but the pale, quiet wife
whose handAxsre icy, il il true, but 50 very
steady that she could give eaicient help 10
Uncle Hale is his painful work, Was the only
one retained BY him, for Dr.. Hale loved Belle
dearly, and understood her better than any
one in her husbands family. aI
Days Of great danger followed, whom life
just Hickered ON the lips; but Fred. Field Was
o strong man, and mature came swiftly to his
rescue. A fortnight afser ths horrible acci>
dent which had brought him % near death, he
opened his eyes on Belle, who stood beside him
with . face that seemed gazing out Of cav
crn.
II have had tough tussle for life, have
not Belle" he said,sina weak whisper, as he
drew her haegard face down TO his with trem-
bling grasp. Belle could not speak she tried
to smile, kissed him and smoothed lis pillow;
Fred turned his head over to. the cool place,
and thought, almost said sloud, 'Thsnk heav-
eni Belle is not . tragic woman. Ifshe were
to make scene over me now believe it
would kill me; but her coolness and silence
will build fellow up,n
He looked At his wife greatfully, and was
lulled back into . sweet restoring sleep, by
the cool touch Of her steady hards on his acll-
ing brow and face, as she renewed the wet
cloths and administered silently to his COM
fort. Nor did Belle FielL break down when
the danger was over, Is the Doctor and Fred.
feared. Such women rarely do. They 60 on,
bearing crisis after crisis. until some day at
mid life, when everything is calm about them,
each one sitting down to enjoy the harvest Of
youth, while overlooking the coming young
ones planting their life-felds-then heart
trouble springs up, mysterious come and 20
Of the pulses, and the strong, steady mother
and wife, who had borne like sturdy oak so
many blows that even those who had loved her
most tenderly thought her immortal and invul-
ncrablc-sudicnly fails, sinks down before
them and is gone, leaving void no human
being can FIJI to her family.
We shall not follow Belle Field TO that Pc
riod of her life. Maybe it never came. We
fancy not, for Fred was very careful Of her in
all their long future. This perilous accident
had discovered to both the hidden springs of
each others character. A true respect and
even iharkfulness for Bellies reserved SELF
contained nature sprang up in Fred's head
and heart, while thrilling appreciation of
Fred's frey spirit pulsed through her. There
never was any explanations; once and once
only, did Fred allude to the past. 1t was one
evening when they were out driying-the Sec
ond anniversary of the sweet June day of their
bridal
"Just two years, Belle said Fred as he
reined up Judge at the SUNNI. of little hill,
to look a, glorious sunset. 'Just two years
wife, and whatever we might have felt this
time last year, ! DO not think either would un-
do it now
Judge started forward pace or two, fy
had stung him, and Belle, CHASTITY pale gasped
out
ooh, Fred never speak Of that again.
Fred looked awsy, and drove ON in silence
for awhile... The first words he spoke we're
very practical.
allow we'll the fields are looking. We shall
have iins harvest
But when they reached home, and he lifted
his wife out onto the door steps, there, in sight
Of the silent stars, and the cool stiffness Of
the vine.eovercd gallery, with June roses and
blossoms pouring out libation Of odor around
them, Fred held Belle for an instant close to
his heart lifted her calm fair face to his, and
kissed her without saying word; then hus-
band and wife entered their beautiful home,
and met life and the world with as firm faith
and trust in each other as if they had exhaus>
ted hours Of poetieal explanations, and morbid
scenes Of forgivings and repentings.