The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-01-28

hleemon, LOT your sakeF
Rather hurt at being put off with
jests like a silly girl, Mrs. Denbigh
collected all her dignity and said: "You
must not laugh at me, Philip. 1t was
your old nurse who first began TO be in
fidget about you. She infected me,
l think. She has fancy that you
heard some bad news, or were vexed
somehow, the night before we were
married. Philip, where are you going'
What is ~"
"The surgery bell," he answered,
already at the door.
He was absent for some moments.
Presently he came back.
"No ring A mistake he said. "Go
on, Elsie. am curious. l was not
aware that Isott took so much interest
in my proceedings. What did hear
or do ON our wedding day9"
"The night before; but really it is
nothing,-only had better tell you,
that you may stop old Isott from gos-
siping"; and she told him all that the
old woman had said, and her fancy
that he might be suppressing some
aux iety or trouble out of consideration
for his wife.
"And you know, Philip, l never
could bear that, she concluded "any-
thing but that should not care for. /"
"What would you say to me, Elsie,
il had loved you better than God and
heaven and my own soul :"
She looked up, half frightened. lie
watched her wistful face for a moment,
then broke into laugh
"What a pity SO much excitement
should be thrown away! Did it never
occur to you, or to old Isott, my dar-
ling, that medical men sometimes get
telegraphic messages at unwonted hours,
and that they may look careworn and
speak sourly when they are worried ont
oftheir wits, without having some deadly
secret on hand?"
Photographic messages" repeated
Elsie, slowly, as if pondering over the
idea; "was that really it? You must
think me a goose, Philip, for wonder
ing who it could have been"
He smiled at her folly; then crossing
the room to a desk, where he kept his
private papers, brought her one of
those pencil-written documents at which
most of our hearts have sometimes beat
high. 1t was telegram from Bris-
wick, relating to the state of former
patient, and bearing date the day be-
fore their marriage.
Elsie hung her head. He could not
bear the sight of her ashamed look, and
he stopped and kissed her forehead.
81 will speak to old Isott tomorrow" +"
he said; "these confounded old women
who have nursed one and washed one,
as baby, can never be brought to
understand that one is old enough to
be let alone"
"And are you not angry with met"
"Angry with you7 Oh my poor
child!" he said, sitting down again,
with heavy sighi l hoped should
have made you happy, and it seems !
have only made you troubled, and
anxious, and wretched. 1t would have
been better for you if you had never
seen me-"
"You must be angry with me, or
you would not speak so" she answered.
"You know l think myself the happi-
est woman in the world"
CAT all events, you are my wife, >
he said, abruptly; "you have taken me
for better for worse, my poor little
thing, and you must 'dree your weird,
whatever comes. So sit down here,
Elsie, and let me rest my head OH your
shoulder while l CAM for | am very
weary tonight, my love. 0 Elsie, l
am weary, very weary"
In few days he had quite recovered
his strength, and plunged atresh into
his many labors.
So the seasons came and went !
winter succeeded to summer. and sum-
mer returned; and the peaceful stream
of village life flowed on with little to
break or trouble its course In very
short time, as it seemed to Elsie Den
bigh, the first anniversary of her mar
riage passed, and then the second
passed, and now Christmas was over,
and the third was at hand. Mr.. Den
bigh had prospered in all things his
reputation spread, and bis work in
creased, and his income grew, and be
was cited in all the neighborhood as
the very picture of deservedly sue
cessful man. His sweet wife was as
much as ever the idol of his alteration,
and during the last few months had
been doubly the object of his tenderest
care; for the crowning blessing, with
out which the happiest marriage must
be incomplete, was now about to bs
granted to them. She was all delight
and thankfulness; but it somewhat
troubled her that she could not quite
arrive at full perception of her hus-
bands feelings on the matter. He
smiled at ber happiness, and was never
tired of watching her joyous little
matronly preparations; but, neverthe.
less, she saw,-and wondered as she
saw,-tbat though he looked forward
to the possession Of their new treasure
with intense interest, it was an interes
largely mixed with trouble.
On a January morning she stood
waiting for her husband to come dowI