River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-10-28

she kept rambling on about one thing
or another, a-pretending to be talking
to him, and a.telling him not to be sor-
ry, az she'd soon join him. 1t made
me feel queer like, and moist about the
eyes; and | remembered | was an old
man, and began to think how | should
feel when l was alone, She lay in this
state for a week, living chiefly on sop
vituals, as / was obliged to force down
her throat. 1t was a hard time-I
didn't mind that but couldn't abide
to see my darling in PAIN, | never went
near the public then, but hurried home
every night as soon as the performances
was over, a-hoping always she'd be
better, and would know me again; but
she never did till an hour before ~
came. 1t was a Sunday night, at
church, time. used to like to think
afterwards that my little darling was
carried up to Heaven on the sound Of
the bells, as it died away on the breeze.
was a-sittlng quiet at the window, a..
keeping my eve on Rose to see as she
didn't want anything, and, somehow,
my poor wife came into my mind, and
| couldn't get rid of the thought no
how The more l tried, the more it
would come. | remember as well as if
it was yesterday, when had her in my
arms in the green-room, her a.looking
mp into my face as though she wanted
to say something.
" Is it Rose, Maryi" says, and she
mods and smiles, and | promised I'd
be kind father to her.
She smiles again at that, and lays her
head on my shoulder. Soon / see her
eyelids a.closing, and that told me that
the Great Prompter had rung down her
curtain.
was a-looking out of the window,
and | sees somebody turn the corner
and stop in front Of the house hut it
was a-getting dark, and I couldn't
make out who il was-I thought knew
tue figure too. just as | was puz
cling myself a-thlnking how it could
be | heard my little darling call
Father = runs to her quick, for ii
was the first time she'd knowed me
since the fever took her head. |
had such glad feeling ut my
heart as / can't tell here--it comes so
fresh TO me after waiting so long, al
though 1T seemed to choke me too, and
Il couldn't speak at the moment. /
sits down by her head and takes her
hand IN mine, and there we was for a
matter of minute or two before either
OF us said word, a.looking into each
others faces, ioyfuller than we'd been
for some time. Then she says
Father, " sac says, II want 70 see
Charlie"
| says:
You shall tomorrow, my darling.
" Let me see him tonight, father,
she says, beseechingly, . let me see
him tonight, because
And there she stopped.
| gets up-not having it in me to see
her want for anything as / could give
her, though | couldn't make out why
she was in such hurry-leastway /
couldn't then 1 do now. [ puts on
my hat, and just outside who should |
see a-coming across the road from the
other side but Charlie hisself. When
he knew he was wanted, he runs faster
than | could, and by the time l got in
the room there she was, with her arms
round his neck, a-smiling up into his
face, and he a-kissing of her, as happy
as birds. So says nothing, but goes
and sits on the stairs outside, awaiting
till they had made it up. felt almost
jealous of Charlie, and | thought as
how he should take her from me as
soon as she was well. She was took
away from me but not by him-not by
him.
sat there for matter of half an
hour in the dark, when all of a sudden
Charlie gives a cry. | rushed in, and
there was my darling. with her head
a-laid quiet on his bosom, and her
eyes shut and could see by the
scared look on his face, that my little
beauty would never cheer my poor old
heart again. English Papers.