The weekly Shasta courier., 1872-12-21

SICK. Kate stayed a few days. long
enough for good nurse to be obtained.
and then she went away She knew that
Frank felt ill at ease in her presence, she
was not fond of the position of nurse
herself, and more than all the sight of
that still, white face against the pillow.
with the large blue eyes looking at her
SO reproachfully-she could not help
feeling that they did reproach her
haunted her constantly. She wanted to
fly somewhere and find life and change,
for here all was so still and everyone's s
face so sad, and her own conscience so
faithful in condemning her, saying, O,
how many times day, /" You are the one
to blame; it is you who have made Susie
SICK" that she felt that she should be
crazy if she stayed. 80
Frank left his business and was the
most faithful of nurses at his wife's bed
side. She was so sweet and patient, SO
thankful for every little favor, so affec-
tlonate In her manner toward him. that
Frank many times groaned inwardly.
- y, what would she think of me if she
knew all; what would she think of me. -
And then there came fearful day
when Frank found she did 's know all. -
Susie was delirious, and as she tossed to
and fro upon her bed, she would muir
muir softly, as if talking to herself, eyes,
L know he loves her. I heard him say.
love you, Kate;;'" and then, clasping
her hands in agony, she would say, g o,
Frank, my idol, 1 have loved you more
than anything else on earth, but you do
not care for me, and am all alone. I
used to love to caress your hair, and kiss
your broad, white brow, and think we
loved each other so much, ah, so oery
much. But another came, and now
o, God /! please let me die; 1 am so
sick, so tired, I want to rest"
Day after day followed each other
slowly, all alike, dark, sad and dreary
The doctors looked very grave as they
stood by the bedside and watched the
face of the unconscious sufferer. And
Frank, ever present, ever watching, tried
to wait patiently till the dear eyes once
again should meet his in recognition
He had plenty of time to think as he sat
IN the darkened room, waiting, trying to
hope for the best; time to remember all
the loving little deeds which Susie had
ever been doing for him; time to recall
how few, how very few he had done for
her during these last fatal weeks; time
to pray, ah, more earnestly than he had
ever prayed before, that God in mercy
would restore his darling to his arms
again; and if this could not be, that at
least she might be conscious long enough
for him to tell her how deeply he re-
pented of the wrong he had done her,
and hear her gentle 81 forgive you Z" in
reply. His last wish was granted, but
the other was denied. There came day
at last when Susie opened her eyes, gazed
lovingly upon her husband, and placed
her hand confdingly in his. "Oh, 1 am
so glad you are here, she said; have
had long, long dream, and I thought
you had forsaken me, but I understand
it all now. 1 might have known you
would always be my own loving Frank. /"
Then she closed her eyes as if to recall
something that she had lost, and Frank
saw a shadow come over her face. He
understood it. The past was no longer
a dream, but reality.
&c I have been very sick, have I not :"
she asked.
Yes, darling but hope that you
are better now," said Frank, bending
over and kissing her to hide the grateful
tears
"How long has it been, Frank ?" con-
tinued Susie.
"Several weeks, dear
eyes, thought so. 1t seems as long
as that since then suddenly breaking
off, she drew Franks head down where
she could caress him in the old loving
way, and where he could not see her
face, and said, 6 Frank, darling, / think
that 1 am dying, and have something
wish to say to you before it is too late.
I hope you will not feel very sad when 1
am gone, for l was never half good
enough for you. No, do not interrupt
me. L want to tell you how much I ap-
preciate your kindness to me all the time
l have been sick, and how very good it
seemed, before / became unconscious,
to have you always here. You have been
a good husband, F'rank-better than 1
deserved, for L was wrong to become
your wife at first. I have always been a
poor, stupid little thing, forever morti-
flying you by my ignorance. I should
have known it would be so before mar
ried you. And yet, Frank, loved you
SO much, and thought perhaps I might
be very good SO you wouldn't mind it.,
for could not bear to give you up. 1t
was very selfish in me to think so much
of my own happiness, and when Kate
came, / saw it all. knew she was much
better adapted to make you happy than
could ever be, and, as your wife that
she would have made you very proud of
her. She admired you very much
know, and you admired her. I want you
to be happy when | am gone. I can not
bear to think that my Frank will have
no home to go to when evening comes,
and hope =
Frank saw what was coming, and sud-
denly exclaimed, "Susie, Susie, you are
killing me- 1 cannot, ,uiH not let you
die You must live, if only to let me
show you how very, very good will
always be in future. Oh, have killed
you, Susie, my darling wife. 1t is all
my fault, and | deserve all that 1 am
suffering now; but did not know what
I was doing that night, did not mean
to wrong you, Susie. Oh, you will be-
lieve me and forgive me, will you not p"
The strong man bent over his wife, while
his whole frame shook with the violence
of his grief
"You were not to blame, Frank, and
I have nothing to forgive" said Susie,
softly. :" 1 can not bear to see you suf-
fer so; and / would like to live if I
might make you happy, but God knows
best. 1t is so sweet to die knowing that
you do love me little Notwithstanding
I am so unworthy. Raise me in your
arms, Frank, darling, and let me die
with my head resting on your shoulder;
/ can bear it better them" Frank ST.