National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-01-31

el husband.
May was self-sacrificing and devoted
not telling even her own heart that she
had any ground for unhappiness, yet
surely pining for the open, cordial love
and praise of her maiden life. Hei
voice, sweet as Il flute, never rang ont
now in musical ripples of laughter, hei
footstep was soft and quiet, never dane
ing. as of old, from merriment; hen
piano stood unopened, her song was
never heard.
John was satisfied with an uncom-
planning machine to keep his house, and
he had it.
So | told my heart, as it ached over
all this misery that seemed so hopeless
But L judged him wrongly, rs l found
later.
1t was fearfully hot night in August
when John Gordon, rapping at my
door, called:
"Will you come to May? She is i'll,
and | am going for the doctor"
l was quickly dressed and in the
/ room.
Before morning tim rirl was sleep
| ing in the nursery Grad but the moth
] tf lay III q dullItlbuS D. Iilpl. L IbI lultt
/ long weeks we watched the frail life,
hanging on thread, sinking little by
/ little, with no point of hope for the
anxious hearts that loved her. The
most dangerous symptom, the doctor
assured us, was the patients S own apathy.
IF you can rouse her. the doctor
said to me, "to try to live, she may
vet recover, But few days more of
this dull apathy will surely kill her.
Then I resolved to make one great
effort My heart had reproached me
more than once for former hard thoughts
when | noted John Gordon's pale, hag-
gard face, heard him pacing sleeplessly,
night after night, in the room adj joining
the one where the nurse and myself
watched the frail babe and apparently
dying mother felt sorry too for the
domestic discomfort of a house left so
entirely to servants, forl could only give
general directions, with May needing
constant care | would not depend upon
the hired nurse to give.
With my resolution taken / went
after that interview with tie doctor.
straight to John Gordons library. He
was sitting in weary, istless atti-
tude. but rose to place a chair for me.
MAY is better ?" he asked, with
touching eagerness, his face falling
again as | shook my head.
"John, / said, plunging at once into
my errand, twill you let me speak
few plain words to you? l have loved
May since she was tiny baby, and [
cannot see her die without an effort to
save her. l believe you love her?'
81 would give my life to see her well
again." he said passionately.
Aud yet" L said sadly, if harshly,
" It's your want of appreciation that is
killing her.
81 do not understand you," he said,
and he was perfectly sincere when he
spoke.
Then very gently I pointed out to
him how faithfully May had filled all
wifely duties.
But women like these things Ny
mother always kept the house and table
so,' he said.
Women like them," / replied
" true, loving women like them just in
proportion as they give pleasure to
those they love.
But surely they always give pleas
ure. Do you imagine | do not known
how lovely my wife is, how patient and
careful A mother to my boy, who
will make him noble, true man. Sure
ly, Miss Matte, l know my wife is al
most perfect"
"Tell heryou know it," / said. "Let
her see it in your eyes, feel it in your
kiss. When she makes a pie, assure
her it was the sweetest pie you ever ate.
Praise her table, her boys dress, her
lovely hanging baskets. She is starry
ing, dying for lovingpraise Goto her,
take her in your arms, and tell her how
drcary life viii be to you If she is lost.
Bid her live for your sake, and she will
not die"
But the excitement, the agitation y
he said. 81 have scarcely dared to
speak to her."
"And she is dying for want of those
very loving words and Kisses
"Come with me" he pleaded, az
am fearful even now You ray be wrong
/ marched the nurse I,Ito the next
room with the baby, and tnen took John
to Mays side. With a tenderness more
tOuCnlnS from MS ndpuTdi reserve, lie
bent over the pale face, and spoke one
word:
Darling"
She looked into his face and met eyes
so full of deep true love, that involun-
tarily she lifted her weak hands to draw
her husband nearer.
Darling" he repeated, and his lips
quivered, "how pale you are, and so
weak! oh, May, my own sweet wife, it
cannot be you would die and leave me!
The whole world looks desolate to me
while you lie here. When will you
come to me with baby May in your
arms, as You did with Harvey, to ask |
me if L am not proud to be papa?"
"Do You remember?" she whisper
ed.
Rememberl Why, May, there is no
word or look of yours | cannot remem-
Der. Sweet wife, where we love we can
never forget.
/ stole away. Heart meeting heart
was too sacred for any third party to