Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-01-28

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But the separation was even then de-
creed. Before the preparations were COM
pleted f3r the winters trip, Mary Warren
died.
All the energy of the past two years
seemed for a time stricken from the hus-
bands life. His business lanquished, his
enterprise remained unfinished, his life
seemed to have stopped again, and just
two nights before our story commences
his business house had been destroyed by
fire.
So he sat by his hearth on Christmas
Eve, hopeless, weary and heartsick. In
tiny crib in one corner of the room lay
sleeping child, the nurse having obtained
holiday, but Murray Warren did not
look towards the babe, nor seem to heed
II. presence. From the room below he
caught sounds OF music and gay voices /;
everywhere around him lite overilowcd
with happiness, and he sat in the dark a
widowed, ruined man.
| A rap at the door aroused him, and me>
chanically he rose TO open it. In the light
of the broad hall stosd man, on whose
face and figure were imprinted all the en-
ergy, life and common sense that Murray
! Warren lacked. OF the same age, yet
this man looked ten years younger. In
place of dark dreaming eyes, with fitful
CLEANS of genius, he had large well opens
ed blue ones, full of kindlinsss and good
sense in lieu of a stooping, nerveless fig
ure. he stood erect, with broad chest well
thrown out, a firm step, and the carriage
of an honorable, upright man, who fears
nothing except wong doing and SIM.
John Hancock this is kind Come
in,' was tn, greeting he received, while he
stoo / waiting at the door.
sMoping in the dark, Murray? This is
bad for you, man, and in moment the
visitor had lit the gas burner.
The first excitement of welcoming his
guest over, Murray Warren had dropped
into his old attitude by the fire.
Come, como, Murray, you must rouse
yourself. This will never do, and, with
all the eloquence of well meaning friend
ship, John Hancock tried TO rouse the
dropping. despairing spirit. There was
little response till he said : There is Sa~
die To th,uk of, Murray
Then the weary eyes were raised. Il
have ruined her, John. Every dollar of
my uncle's legacy was in the business
But the insurance
'Did not tell you The policy cxpir>
ell last month
sAnd was il rtnewed:'
No; forgot it..
'Wbew , that is bad. Goodness me .
that is bad don't see how-- and then
the tone of reproach soflened as John
looked again at his friend, for whom he
had felt all his life the same protecting
love a man feels for woman or child
friend. He could not reproacE one so
broken and sad. There was silence In
the room for some momerls, and then
Warren spoke:
Mr. Stephens was here ia day
'Mars's uncle !?
:. Murray WINGED at the name OF The dead
bu, nodded assent.
Well 2 said John.
He offered me the agency of the new
branch house.
You accented it. of course. 1t is a
splendid opening
i did not decide
Not decide! Are you growing fool,
ish, Murray p
'No--I--you see. John, it involves a
great deal OF travelling, and--and Sadie"
Murray, that was partly my GRAND TO-
night. Will you trust Sadie to Mary and
me =
John -
The pale. sad face was fairly illumina-
ted for moment.
we will take the best of care of her
for you.'
Iknow, know, and can seek her for
tune for her again. Bat you don't know
what care she is
That's likely story, with four of our
own.'
4 have so longed TO see her merry like
othef children. Do you think she will
laugh at your house 2
'Of course she will
She is so pale and still. She sits here
in my arms. with her great black eyes as
sad as womans, looking so like her mos
ther that grow afraid that she will fade
away from me- But if she be with you.
with your children. l can go out and make
fortune for her, and take her home at
last. l often fancy the homo would
build for Sadie
Then we may take her 2
Not to night, the father said nervously.
oh, not till all your preparations are
complete, and you are ready to start
Moved by the same impulse, the two
men went to the little crib aud stood there
the one so strong and manly, the other
so fair and effeminate, Iooking at the little
sleeper. The delicate little face, with its
exquisite features. small, sensitive mouth
and low, broad forehead, seemed toe
matured for baby's face; and the long
black eyelaslics and crisp curls of dark
brown hair added TO the palor Of the fail
face.
I John Hancock, thinking Of his own rosy
checked, solden-haired darlings. felt as il
this child n1list be moulded of finer clay
yet a sad conviction crept over him thai
their charge would he a brief one. and
this IiIy>fower would iaae away as bel
father feared. Once the father spoke a:
they stood there
You will moi let her forget me, John ?