The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-08
woman to return to her home and hus-


band.
"I knew You never loved me-" it
said, "but can be so much kinder to
you than the wicked world you have 80
recklessly thrown yourself into. The
doctor has ordered me abroad, and
feel that it is about my only chance for
life. Come home, and go with me !"
The remainder of the letter Lillian
could not read for her tears. The nobil-
ity of the husband and father stood con-
fessed. 1t was by no fault, nor neglect
OF his that this wretched woman had
come to such an end, for surely her life
was fast ebbing away.
Lillian removed her things, and an
nounced her intention of remaining until
all was over.
"Could it be possible" she asked
herself, with quivering lip, " that this
distigured creature, this bloated, bruised
mass of dying humanity, could be her
once beautiful and gifted cousin, Ida
Harris q"
Yes, there was the same golden, curly
hair, the same beautiful hands, but only
by them was the poor woman recogniz-
able.
An hour after she breathed her last.
Lillian had the body taken to her own
home, and prepared for burial.
Thanksgiving evening Lillian sat by
the fire in her cheerful sitting room,
her head bowed upon her hands, the
destroyer of her happiness dead in the
next apartment.
No tidings had yet been received from
the husband. aud Lillian feared he had
left the city, if not the country. Her
heart went out toward him in unutter-
able sympathy.
"Great heavens what must he not
have suffered 2" she moaned, as she saw
again in her imagination the disfgured
countenance of the woman who had
once been his wife.
A ring of the bell.
"This way, if you please, sir" Lillian
heard the servant say, and then slow,
feeble step approach the door.
His step, but how altered Summon
ing all her resolution. the brave woman
stepped forward to meet her visitor.
He did not look up at first, and she
found ample time to note the change
which had taken place IN the sorrow
stricken man.
Archibald !" she said, extending
both her hands in warmest welcome.
Not word escaped from the suffer
er's lips. A smile of Joy for one brief
moment lit up the pale features. Me-
chanically he grasped her outstretched
hands, his eyes riveted upon her face,
then, with Il groan, fell back upon a
chair, insensible.
Weeks passed, and neither strength
nor reason returned. Ida was carried to
her last resting place, Archibald all
unconscious of the ceremony. Surely
no invalid ever had such sl1illful and
tender nursing as this one.
"Where is-where is she 2" We're the
first words of the sick man to his faith
full attendant
Have no fears, Archie" Lillian an
swered. "Ida is at rest"
"Thank Godl" he replied, heartily
And is this Lillian Am dreaming,
or am crazedl Why, you are-you
certainly are Lillian Z"
Yes, Archie" she smiled CT am
the same old Lillian and the greatest
happiness of ali my life has been this of
nursing you back TO life. Now you must
be quiet, for l am your physician as well
as nurse"
And, as true as you live, she CLOSED
both of his eyes with kiss.
Did she marry him. OF course she
did and she found, too, that her father
impressions had been correct. The en-
brace that Thanksgiving morning was
all Ida's, and the beseeching quality she
had heard n her lovers voice was a des-
perate endesvor to bring the foolish girl
to reason. So, summarily dismissed,
the young man decided that Lillian did
not care for him, and thus Ida's efforts
were crowned with success.
Yes, they were married and they
didn't wait great while, either. Would
you, if you had been in their places