The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-05-18

= DuJ dltSr-8Ii, uIVtf SOOtt tTcdtMeut.l
is no worse to have small pox than ii
is many other things. There is nc
danger in this case"
"Small pox," murmered Nettie. 10
herself. "SmalI poX! and Charlie
loves me because am pretty"
The answer that came to Charles
telegram was:
lG "All right"
ul Nettie sent it by the nurse who
agreed with her that there was mo
need of frightening the poor man.
"And l would not have hiM return
now for any consideration" she said.
"IIe might take the disorder" But
that was not all her reason.
Then there was time when Nettie
knew nothing. Then-ah, what then ?
Charlie only knew that as he was pack
ing his portmlnteau to return home,
q letter was brought him. lie thought
it his wife's handwriting, and he had
had no letter for many days. lie tore
it open. 1t began, "Sir." 1t was not
from her; yet how like hers. Hepaus-
ed before he read on.
"Sir: haye sad news to tell you.
Your wife is dead. She caught the
small pox, and it proved fatal. She
was glad to die, because the small pox
makes people very hideous sometimes,
and she knew you wenld not love her
if she was ugly. She said you said so,
and bade me tell you how dear your
love was TO her until the Last.
MARTHA DLoMGREN."
An hour afterward waiter found
Charlie lying senseless On tine floor
beside his half-packed valise. 1t was
many weeks before he resumed to his
desolate home. Then he found he
could not live there. The place SEEM
ed haunted. His wife's dresses hung
on the wall, and he seemed to hear the
sound of her feet on the stairs, and
hear the door stir, and dozen times
lifted his head and looked toward it,
almost hoping she would come in.
In this place, Nettie would have
gathered up small trifles he had touch
ed, and kept them where she could
weep over them and she would have
sought his grave and sat beside it for
long hours.
But those pretty personal belongings
were the very things he dreaded to
see. And her grave! Ah, good Heav-
en-, to look at it and think that it cov-
cred her! He did not even ask where
it was. There had been a postscript
% the letter saying that the expenses
we're paid. And the fact that she was
lead blotted out all minor things-all
ave that terrible reminder of his idle
speech. That she thought of that in
lying was very woeful to him.
In day or two he locked up the
aouse, which he owned, and accepted
he position of supercargO on an ocean
Tessel.
The sea, with its troubled waves,
cemed better to him than solid land F.;
o roam, his best relief. All, We take
he heart with us wherever we go. 1t
8 not the land in which we live that
us, but the hearts woeful
lepths. Nor can see or sky give us re-
ief. An unhappy man would be no
ess unhappy could he traverse space.
nd visit all the stars, only we do
hink so when grief stings us TO go
To be at distance from
he scene of our great trial is always
he longing of the unhappy.
Charles did not say much-he never
alked of his wife. But when the ves-
ell returned to America n sick man
ay in one of its berths, tossing to and
70, and muttering again and again
name:
''Nettie-Nettie."
GILES been disappointed in love-
aid the stewardess, and cried over
i'm, and thought that had she been
air white lady. and he in love with
Ter, he never should have been disap-
When they reached the shore the
lelirium was over, but pale skeleton
vas borne to the shore, and to Mrs.
5oston's on litter.
"Take him to Mrs. Boston's," the
aptain had said. sShe is kind wo-
nan, and will do what she can for
lin and poor Mrs. Boston, who had
boarded more sea captains and ships
,fficers generally than one could count
II life time, opened her hospitable
looEs and gave the invalid her best
bedroom.
81 don't mind sitting up at nights"
he said 'and Nancy is a real good
.irl, she'll help"
"Nancy was shy young woman,
With brown hair, short in the neck,
md her features were deeply marked
With the small poX. She wore the
JldlutSG pOSSlOiC uIcSS, duU ueVcT
eemed to be happy; but, since she
;ame to Miss Boston's door, and asked
or work, her services had been in
raluable.
Nancy Smith is treasure" said
hrs. Boston, land only wish knew
What she cried about so much; only
ant ask questions no more than if she
vas a lady,"
Poor Nancy Smith. She was no
loubt nervous when she had stood be-
ide the young mans pillow a mo-
nent. She turned pale and gave lit
lie cry. He was in sort of stupor,
nd did not hear her; but Mrs. Boston
aid:
81 hope you amt Overset by the
light of sickness, ma am"
And she answered at once, in fright
ned tone: