The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-06-12

his youthful traits, came the rough fea-
lures and sinister eye of the adult Rob
inson. Through this chaos of faces
Mary's, too, came up, just rs ! had
seen her when she stood at the door OF
her room, bidding me good night, her
eyes large with terror, and her hand
stretched out to me for help---for help
alas which how could | give her?
For was he not her husband? And Is
1t not to her husband that woman
must cleave?
Suddenly my heart stood still. The
little woman herself crept noiselessly
from the bed-room--her face looking
horribly wan in the moonlight-cross-
ed the paror and knelt in the accus-
toned spot. Her hands were raised
above her head her upturned face was
convulsed with an agony of appeal;
but for Il time no words came from her
lips; she sank PROSTATE on the floor.
"Willie has gone from heaven-gone
from heaven! | have lost him! oh,
where is he?" Then she glided back
as silently as she had come, but the bit
ter moan sounded in my ears the long
night through.
The next Il. orning she wore the same
stony face. | stayed with her three
weeks, and then returned to my own
home, which had, meanwhile, been
thoroughly renovated. / could sit in
peace before my fireplace now, without
fear of storms or risk of draughts. |
could sit in peace, outwardly, but my
mind had little rest. At intervals Of
two or three days | went over to see
the little woman. Month by month
her face grew smaller and her eyes lar
ger and brighter. Their glitter haun-
ted me.
More than year passed. One cheer
ful morning, in early spring, was
ironing in the kitchen: pleasant
breeze came through the window; the
blithe birds without made the orchard
vocal with their lively twitterings, and
a bed ofstrawberries in the garden de-
lighted my eyes with its white BIOS
SONS. Life seemed pleasant to me this
bright morning, and my hands moved
briskly at my work.
a shadow fell across the ironing board
and caused me to look up. There was
Mr.. Robinson, standing in the door.
way. The weather. beaten face had chang.
, ed much in the year-an unhappy yeai
il had been to him-but its events had
, stirred the gentler parts of his nature
; He looked even sadder than usual thi.
, morning, and his voice was low ant
d subdued
d "Miss Jemima, my Mary seems low
er than common; she's clean given on
t and gone to bed. My rough hands ant
o ways amt no account in the sick-room
= wouldn't you just step over and see
7. you could help her any? | wouldn'
y ask it if could get along without"
IS "Instantly," ! replied, putting o
Il my bonnet. ~ will lock up the hous
4 and go back with YOU"
Y I found Mrs. Robinson lying on he
: bed, the room darkened. She locke
: up and smiled-a sweet, dim smile
e then, closing her eyes, she lay quit
c still. Hour after hour, that | sat b.
h her bedside, she nevermoved nor spoke
Il In the evening | sent for the vilag
= doctor-a quiet, meek little man-wh
shook his head, looked doubtful, am
y left some powders.
e. And so she lay for five days and feu
a nights. Sometimes she was fcveri,i
o and would turn and mutter; but usl
1t ally she lay quite still, her small, thi
n hands folded, and that wonderful smil
Is on her face. The evening Of the fft
'e day the room was intensely still NJ
d Robinson and | sat watching the cali
< face, white rs the pillow beneath i
Suddenly light broke over her feat
I'd urcs. She flung her arms upward with
a murmur ofjoy: "Willie, am con
at ing!'--sank back, her breathing grUv
l ing shorter and feebler-a gentle, scar,
Is perceptible struggle, and the little We
)" man was gone from her pain, rom h
y longing, from her fond delusion-goi
IN to world of light and peace, whe
all delusions vanish-gone to Il wor
u, where, ere long, there will be anoth
meeting; and then Willie will be reco
ng nized and welcomed by that iaithi
ch heart and loved forever;
ry Meanwhile, bent old man still liy
DE in the house over the way. He, too,
'c- going fast. His hair is white--a softo
IL ed light shines in his eyes: his mou
I'd, falls easily into tender smile VIII
III you speak to him of Mary, his wife
gh heaven. Perhaps-who can tell ?-s
to is watching him thence; her Willie |
lie coming gentlcr, more spiritualiz,
zen through his loving heart, his lone
"A life, and the guardian influence exert
ed over him from another world than on
'as -LppiRcoWs Mdgdzine.
rk,
AN EXCELLENT LAw.-Thc Legis
ture of Ohio has enacted law for whi