Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-08-12

! cannot ;ell, Uncle Ralph really thought
He may have thought just as another ex-
perienced physician would have thought =
that the palpitation was simply the result Of
! ofindigestion and that the dull pain came
from pneumogastric sympathy and, fur
Their, that the cause of the whole lay in merry
Gus arrangement consequent upon mental
care aud labor. But, be that as it may, he
resolved that he would make use of Allan's
heart in unlocking the heart of the wife.
Uncle Ralph, what do you really think
of Allan p
Dr. Gershom had called in ostensibly for
the purpose Of leaving some medicine for the
husband, but had taken a scat, and opened
conversation with his niece
Mary, do you want me to tell you the
| truth p He spoke very solemhly, and with
a grave look
The TRUTH, uncle 2 she repeated, with a
startled expression. You do not think
there is anything serious 2
| What can be more serious than disease
of the hearth a
But Allan has no such thing
MY dear girl, you must not deceive your
self. You may not keep Allan long with
you. Excessive labor-ambi to achieve
great results--and want of healthful re-
| creation have strained his heart more than
it will bear. | tell you plainly, Allan is
dying.
{ DYING {? t41 q
'Yes-surely. It is but a question of
time. We may save him to prolonged and
useful life if we can remove the cause Of his
disease Have you not observed how pale
he has grown? and have you not marked
how Often the pain comes to his heart p
Alas poor Allan dare not tell him how
near he is to the brink spoke with him
once-a few days ago-upon the subject =
| told him there was danger
You told him And how did it affect
| himN
He only smiled, and shook bis head
Smiled 2
1Yes-but with tears in his eyes. He
said if he could only leave his wife and child
we'll and comfortably provided for. heSshould
be willing to CO. That was when nc had a
great pain in his heart
Mary arose, and went and placed her
hand upon the doctors houlaer
'Unolo Ralph DO you-do you tell
NE truly y
4 only tell you what I fear, nv child =
I tell you what is possible -aye--what is
inevitable, sooner or later, if Allan does not
find help But do not tell him what I have
told to you It might break him down at
once. We n,uat keep him with lis while we
can he must not fail and die now, in the
noontde Of life, Il mortal power can save
hlnl. But, my little gil, you must be- pre-
J pared The blow may fall at any time
tfheae heart-troulios are ulost treacherous.
1t is for you to make his pillow stsleoth, and
give him comfort for the few short days
@ uncle uncle do not say SO Q !!
my soul Allan must not die Better, q
thousand times, that I should go and leave
him to live his bright and useful life p
Ralph Gersfom drew his weeping niece
to his bosom, and gently whispered
Stay with him, Mary, and give him
strength and hope and courage. While I
give him such medicine as | have to give,
be it yours TO draw him away from his Ia
bors when YOU can, and make his burdens
light. Let US do this, and leave the rest
with God
After her uncle had gone Mary moved
about the house like one awakened from a
troubled dream, gathering up the threads of
the past, and weaving them into the woofof
the present How the old love burned up,
and how dear to her were the memories Of
the brighter times Her husband dying
O it could not be 1t should not be!
And yet--and yct-what could she do if
the die were fatally cast All she could
bless him while be lived. Yes--she could
do that
That evening, when Allan Moore return
ed to his home, his wife met him upon the
piazza, and put her hands up to his should
ders, and kissed him.
You are late, Allan. Supper has been
waiting for you
But you have not waited, Mary ?
yes, Allan. I could not cat alone to-
night
You would not He spoke like one in
a dream
No wanted the light of the other
times, Atlantic light which only your
own presence can give And she wound
her arm within his own, and led him into
the hall, where she helped him to remove
his cloak; and when he had pulled off his
boots and put on the dainty slippers which
she had ready for him, she led the way to
the suppcr-room.
His old favorite dishes the silver, bright
and clean the china, drintiog the gas-ight
into its translucent substance the napkins,
white like snow and the food as she knew
he preferred it-and, above all, her own
face, wearing a smile Of the old sweetness,
presiding over the scene.
Was he dreaming, OF was it real Al
most afraid to speak, lest a breath might
dispel the happy illusion, he drank in the
joy Of the occasion.
When the meal WAS concluded Allan re
tired to the sitting room, where, when she
had attended to her household duties, his
wife joined him.
Now, now, Allan . Where are yon 60
Tag 2 lie had arisen as she entered
10 my own room, Mary. lave papers
to copy
Cannot others DO your copy 20
These are papers which I da-o ne s.ust
to other eyes
But you will trust me, Allan
'Truss--5ou: He was in the dream
again,
Yes. If you win explain 10 ne the
work, and leave them with me on the nor
row, Twill copy them for you. You know
I writo we'll
Mary
%, Allan nay husband my own
true Love n-she had moved up and laid her
hand upon his shoulder, you are working
too hard you will let me help. | will
help you now and by and by you shall rest.