The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-02-26

talked with Clara about remedies and symp-
toms; dull themes, which did not interest
his wife. Neither of them assumed that
there was any danger in the case there was
this difficulty to be met, that risk to be
avoided And they began to awaken, as
people always do, to the wonderful advan-
tages Of change of air.
al wish it were not so late said Clara,
anxlously. IA little trip somewhere would
do you so much good You have been over
worked; you need relaxation. A pleasant
journey would be better than medicine"
"Yes," he answered, "if it were practi-
cable. But the season is too far advanced.
| had promised myself run in the Adiron-
dacks last summer, but" be checked him
self ........
But what! she asked after a pause
"Some unforeseen circumstances prevented
it.
Clara remembered with pang the sea-
green silk. Elsie had worn it once or twice,
and was charming in it. She did know
that it had cost her husband all his summer
pleasure; but would she have cared if she HAD
known?
By-and-by Mr.. Dexter was missing, day
at time, from his post People looked
grave when they spoke of him; it was easy
to see they said. how he was going What
a loss to the college and the place.! And
what sad thing for his children and that
beautiful young wife!
The beautiful young wife, however, was
not easily saddened Sue had always some
good reason for any increase of weakness or
suffering in the patient; he had taken cold,
there was change in the weather. the wind
was east There was no danger that Elsie's
comfort would be disturbed by any undue
anxiety.
There come a day, at least when her eyes
were opened to the truth, when incredulity
failed her, and she acknowledged the proba-
biity that Rodericll was going; that he was
to leave her forever. 1t was a shock. She
cried; she felt very gloomy and miserable for
several hours. But she was too philosophic
to be wretched long. 1t was very dreadful
to be sure, but it did no good to be dismal
about it. 1t could not help Roderick and
only made every body else unhappy. She re-
covered her -equanimity, and the quiet pro-
gress of diseases aided her in maintaing it.
1t is sad 10 see beloved object torn from
anxious, cffnging hearts; to note the dread
deepening into certainty, to view the final
anguish of separation. 1t is sadder yet
where there is no suffering to contemplate,
where thosJ hearts are calm which chould be
wrung with grief, where the approach of that
Moss which oaght to be so terribly is watched
| with clear, untroubed eyes Roderick knew
ss6mething about this, and felt its pang, yet
Rhnd its consultations too. He had grown
so xS6LasS caring for Elsie, to sparng her
! paiff.s5hat there was a sort of comfort il
thinking she wou'd not suffer as bitterly al
some womsn did. For himself, submission
vas not difficult; life still held interests and
duties, but its charm was gone. If only he
4weRs}aaKiSx Elsie and the children we'll pro
- G. raGsa6ubis mind for every ex
pedllH that could them, and the result
was still lameutably small. But Mr., Mon
Grief had something; Fred was liberal ant
prosperous. And Mr.. Cadmus was succeed
| ing beyond all expectation in his efforts; per
haps the college would remember his owl
long services and do something for those hC
left behind. .IA
"Clara,' he said one day, when they hat
been talking of those details which Elsie
wo,,,,1 not comprehend nor remember, "yor
will watch cvet' her, will yon not? You vii
see to her and the poor cm,..dren!
"Certainly" she answered, noI ".HFtH:
| herself to say more.
'Thank you;" and he smiled gratefully
''Though do not know why asked. 1o'
always have done it. know what you hav,
been to us. 1t was not thing to be mucl
talked of, but | understood it all.
Clara had her reward in these words.
And by-ana-hy this anxiety passed away. =
| He had done his best, and since the Grea
Taskmaster called him in the midst Of hi
unfinished labors, that too must be right
There was no doub, of His power to provid
for the widow and the fatherless.
He was far gone now. The activities tn
cares of life were o forgotten dream. Th
flicker Of the sunshine on the wall, t.
glimps Of blue sky through his window
were all he knew Of that great and restles
world in which he used 20 have his part
His chief pleasure seemed to be Elsie's pre-!
cnce; Clara was thankful that her sister wa
willing to bestow it. She brought som
pretty work and sat by him, chatting in he
way, of little everyday occurrences. Th
eyes so large and bright in the wasted face
followed her every movement; he liked t
hold in his thin fingers the beautiful whit
hand; be smiled with pleasure if she spok
a kind word or arranged a pillow. Till g
last one day it all ended; he quietly fe
asleep. ........
The usual honors were paid to his memory
The Faculty passed resolutions of condo
ence, as did the two or three scientific bodie
of which LIE was a member. There was
great crowd at the funeral, and people sal
again, "What loss to the college and I'll
placer We ekaow how readily the world col
soes itself for such losses; the great roun
of business and pleasure can not stop for
single death; it whirls on. Long before IL
fair white monument, with its Latin epitapl
rose in the college burying ground there WI
new professor in Mr.. Dexters place;
busy, seli-asserting. man, bent on maxim
himself and his influence conspicuous.
| Elsie was with her brother in New Yor
| the children played Just as merrily und
their grandfather's trees as they had done
their own home; every one, save Clara, hi
} accepted Roderick's death as one of tho
accomplished facts about which nothir
} more is to be said or done.
Elsie was lovely in her weeds; more wi
ming, perhaps, than in all her girlish brigh
5 ness. 1t was natrual that she should be co
- soled; no one could expect that woman
= beautiful, aud still so young, should consid
Ii fa ended for har Inv n SinOle sad event