The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-01-21
WHOLE NO, 1t3f.

as saw much of 'nn, t were master
az did look at, and as sure as you.ro
alive, my dear, he'd brought him some
bad news or other; tor master'd gotta
look on his face as 1 never seed there
afore, though many and many's the
time I've seen it there since ri
s Mrs Denbigh felt uncomfortable.
Still, she felt that to discuss Philips
affairs with a servant, even so old aud
tried aservant as Isott, was not seemly,
and, rather repfoachngherself for hav-
ing listened so far, she began, swell.
Isott, when Mr. Denbigt is well,T / will
ask him about it, You may be sure"
"Do ye, my dear, do ye," said Isott,
interrupting her eagerly. ''Noy that
be the very reason why I've a teIled ye
all this. Suppose the master have q
got into debts with this here new fur
nishing, or suppose there be any trou-
bic as he've gots into, afore he was p
courting of you. Lord bless ye, young
men will be young men! Why, it's
only natural as he shouldn't like to tell
ye, and nothing ever put it out Of my
mind as that there queer, furrin-looking
chap were either bullying him for
money, or trying for to break oil his
marriage WI you, or sunl'at o. that.
So now, my dear, do ye try and mako
'an tell ye about it; for It is nasty
tiresome feel for man to have sun'at
as he's bound to keep from his missuS
Hark! He be a waking" RI vTT
He had indeed awakened With a
great start, and Elsie, going softly to
bis side, found him sitting up in bed,
and could hear him repeating under
his breath, very rapidly, the words;
"Fear not them that kill the BODY
that kill the body,-but fear Him that
can cast both body and soul into helEp
She was oveTpowered with horror and
alarm; but, in another moment, he came
to himself, and said in his natural voice,
as he sank back on the pillow, "Elsie,
how came you to be up at this hourT
You have not been WELL" she an
swered, keeping her voice steady by
an efort;, bnt, dimly as the night light
was burning, her white looks did not
escape his notice, and the next question
was in the sharp anxious voice shekney
so we'll --. ...-..-
"What have been saying to make
you look like thatiH sl
Nothing, dearest. | think some
texts from the Bible were running in
your head, nothing more
Nothing more, really" He held
her hand tightly across bis burning
forehead, while he seemed TO collect his
thoughts "Elsie," he resumed, in a
calmer tone, "listen to me. / believe
this headache aud teverishness are moth.
ing but the effect of work and worry
still, it may be the fever iii should
be, you must make me Que promise.
Let Isott nurse me, and don't let any
one else enter theroom, and don't come
near me yourself. Promise" D
II cannot, indeed, How can you
ask met" She cried, much hurt.
"Would not you despiSs any wife who
could make or keep such promiselpr
"Promise." he repeated. elsie.
you are driving me into a fever you
are driving me mad by refusing; you
don't know what do. Promise" aa
With a firm conviction that lie was
already delirious, she gave the required
promise, Trusting that she was not very
wicked in doing SO, without meaning
to keep it. --' Pa
"Bat hope you will be better to-
morrow" she said, as cheerfulIy as she
could. "Isott thinks you are only
knocked up by all youhaye lately done
1T is my own belief" be said, and,
still holding her hand clasped in his,
he soon fell into another Sleep a less
uneasy one this time, though still he
,moaned; aud mptterred. And at every
startled waking came the question:
"What have | been sayingl"sc \. e ..- ...
Towards morning, he grew qnieter,
and Elsie noticed, thankfully, that his
forehead aud hands were cooler, and
his face more Ike itself She stole To
the window anL-stoppel behind the
curtain to look At the dawn, which was
beginning to break; and as she leaned
her head against the glass, her thoughts
were busy with Isott $ suggestion. 1t
eomforted her to think that some old
debt or boyish fscrape Yasat the bottom
of her husbands strange words and
ways. That, she thought would ac-
count for everything. His uneven
spirits, his suspicious temper, his jeal.
Gus dread of what she might hear Or
see, would all be quite natural if he
were keeping some secret from her
Her eyes filed with happy hopeful tears,
as she pictured herself Winning from
him bis full confidence, aud giving him
in return the heartfelt assurance, thatno
extravaganza, or folly, or boyish error
could in the least diminish her love, or
lessen her respect, for him. oi2A Y
"When he is well, /" she thought, III
will ask him what he has on his mind,
and, ifhe will but tell me, all will be
we'll -. s-:
So mused. Elsie Denbigh, while her
husband within the room tossed aud
muttered in his feyerish sleepS aaud
withoutthe room the rcddening sky
was reelected in the black watersof the
a Il = Z