Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-05-19

1
and then, one Joyous alternoon, when
Dick. who had gone out looking hag-
gard and anxious, came flying up stairs
and into the sitting-room, waving slip
of paper, and shouting Huzza," like
a schoolboy.
"Huzza with all my heart ~ [ cried,
laughing at his enthusiasm. "Whats
up?"
-"Read that, iustr' and the slip of
paper was tossed over to me. | looked
it was telegram from Philadelphia.
"Your design is accepted. The COM
mittee will write you tomorrow to come
on. Congratulate you, my old boy"
1t was signed by an old friend of my
husbands, of whom he had often
spoken ooh, let us be joyfulr' sang
/; and, catching Dicks hands, we in
dulged in wild carmagnole about the
sitting-room, and stopped at last breath
less with laughter and singing.
"Won't we go on together, though !"
said Dick exultingly. 1t shall be
your wedding tour, Dame Trot. You're
looking pale, my darling; the change
will do you good. Come, what do you
say to driving out This ought to be a
red-letter day for my birdie. She has
been so wonderfully helpful-such
good little wife"
We went. In three days we had
locked up our wee house in dingy st.
Thomas Building, and started joyously
on our journey through the golden In
dian summer weather. ..
The great building was founded its
massive walls began slowly to rise from
the ground. AS Dick had predicted,
other business quickly followed to the
successful man, as is usually the case IN
this world; and now new spirit began
to show itself in my ever-gay compan-
| ion. He had always been industrious,
now he bent to his work with savage
energy he spared hardly an hour in
the day for his meals he sat up work
ing till two or three o'clock in the
morning-long after he had sent me to
bed. The more work he had the more
he sought after-eagerly, hungrily. He
no longer whistled and sang over his
drawing-room desk when he did allow
himself any rest on the weekdays and
all day Sunday, he would lie apparently
quite astonished on the pretty green
couch we had added to our modest fur
niture, his eyes closed and his face very
pale.
"Don't work so hard, my darling" L
said to him one winter evening, when,
quite worn out, he had thrown himself
down after dinner and as he often did
now, begged me to turn the light down
as low as possible.
"Why should we be in such haste to
get rich? | would a hundred times ra-
ther live in my sky parlor ten years
to come, than have you wearied out
like this. And | am sure you will in
.jure your eyes with SO much fine draw
ing"
"who told you anything allied my
eyes ~ he asked, hastily, almost an
grily.
"No one-only the light seems to
trouble YOU"
Nonsense, Dame Trot Don't have
such ridiculous fancies. You ought to
cheer me up when | am working so
hard-not discourage me with doletul
| IDEAS"
II did not mean to discourage you,
Dick please don't think so.''
"Then why do you talk in that wayY'
he retorted, cautiously; then, seeing
that could not keep back my tears, he
put his arm around me, saying fondly,
There-don't cry, my darling-Pm
afraid | am often cross and stupid now
a-days; but you know what you hope
summer will bring us, and | feel as
though ought to strain every nerve to
get the means of making my darling
comfortable in her great trial p
Your eyes are more to you-and me
| oIe T rxyhIc
"rd rather 60 to st. Luke's than your
sight should be injured"
:" Nonsense-don' talk so, birdie"
Dick said, with a little nervous shudder.
{" Besides, there is nothing the matter
with my eyes. They smart and feel
queer of evenings, to be sure, but that's
nothing agood nights rest makes them
all right. Come-take the Builder and
read to me awhile-sufficient for the
day, YOU know-don't borrow trouble,
Dame Trot."
His words only half re-assured me !;
but I did as he bid me, with a Sc
cret prayer that no harm might come
to my brave darling who loved me SO
we'll.
The long winter months slowly drag
ged themselves out. Spring came, soft
and balmy, with crocusses and vlo-
lets in her hand, and midsummer,
bright and golden, smiled over all the
land. On my breast lay a wee white
daisy-Baby Margaret; but [ was still
in nv lofty chamber, and Dick was
blind.
Yes, God help US the blow had fal-
len. Shall I never forget his awful face
as he staggered in from his Office and
threw himself on his knees beside my
bed, gasping out, Margaret !! oh, my
poor darling; my punishment has
come I have been stricken all IN
moment. My God if | had listened
to YOU last winter What will become
of us p
Aunt Becky rose from her seat beside
me. The old lady had softened wonder
fully since she first heard of the new
hope that has come to us. She had been
a constant visitor and helper of late,
and was now my tender, faithful nurse.
" Children" she said, +" this is terrible
pensation-terrible You must feel
it almost unbearable just now but pray
pray if you can for patience. Give
me the baby, Margaret. You ought to
be alone with your husband, and [ must
90 for help directly. 1t may be too
late"
She took the sleeping child from my
arms, wrapped in her little blanket. l
knew afterwards that she left her IN
care of the .janitor's wife, and disap-
peared from the room. Then my poor
stricken darling groped his way to
place on the bed beside me, and we just
cried in compay-Ged help us
nYo,, ,uiIl recouer from the first at