River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-07-19
all Roses childish desires should &c graf

all Roses childish desires should &c graf
flied.
Six months Of her welded life went by
and found her at the close peaceful, con-
tent, growing daily more satisfied with
her life and its duties.
The winter holidays drew near. lose,
released from school discipline, was like
bird set free. She went dancing and
singing about the house, working busily
at odd moments on various manufactures
of her own intended for surprise pres
ents.
at is so nice to be rich, and give so
many people Merry Christmas Rose
said, delighted.
Ethel never forgot one incident of all
that bright, joyous, happy time. For ere
the New Years day she had welcomed in
so gayly came TO close, Rose lay fever
ish and restless on her couch with the
first symptoms Of what proved to be a
malignant fever. She had probably
caught it in some one of the poor neigh
borhoods they had visited.
Night and day Ethel watched by her
side, one fear ever in her heart, one prayer
ever on her lips "Save her spare her
oh, Cod A vain prayer, for he denied
j. There came morning when Ethel
saw her darling's face with only the light
OF day resting upon it, the dark eyes
closed, and the lips whereon she pressed
wild kisses, cold and GREATNESS
Nor was that all. Mr.. Woodward who
had watched unremittingly in the room,
was himself taken down with the
disease the very day that Rose was buried.
Ethel came home from the grave where
her sweetest hopes persisted to take her
place as watcher by another sick bed.
Not for long; the fever made more rapid
progress here. In less than week, the
ST. ing man was corpse, and Ethel, ut
terly crushed by this new blow, was left
alone in the world.
Alone to meet poverty no less than sor
row. Mr.. Woodward had made no will
since his marriage. An old one dated
some years back left his property all to
distant relatives who were not slow in
taking possession. Hard, money making
people, none too well pleased with the
marriage in the first place, they had no
scruples in taking from the young widow
all that the law allowed, even though it
left her nearly penniless.
So from the elegant house with its lux
ur;ous appointments, Ethel went back to
one small room. simply furnished with
what little she could honestly call her
own. Here, alone, despairing, she took
up the burden of life again, and re-
commenced her old routine of daily
labor.
She came home one evening more
than usually weary. 1t was cold, wet
night, and she was chilled through from
a long walk, carrying home her work.
"She grows more lovely every day with
that little, sweet, grieved SMILE said
Mrs. Hill 10 herself as she entered TO an
nounce a caller, "a strange gentleman
who's been here twice before since you
went out"
"Some one to see about work probably.
VIII you ask him up, pleasel"
She rose languidly, took off her things,
and Just smoothcd her hair without look
ing in the glass. She was hanging up her
cloak, when a step in the doorway made
her turn and look round.
A gentleman, tall, brown and heavily
bearded, stood there looking at her.
Excuse me. viii you please be seat
ed?" she said, offering him a chair.
He sat down without speaking, and
after waiting a moment for him TO do so,
she inquired hesitatingly:
"Do you wish some work done sirl"
A quick smile broke over his face, and
gave a new light to the clear, sparkling
black eyes.
Ethel
She started, gave one wild, eager look
and how it was, she never knew, but
good Mrs. Hill passing by moment at
ter, saw through the open door sight
that surprised her not little-her favor
tie boarder clasped in the arms of the
strange gentleman, and sobbing away as
if her heart would break, with her head
resting on his shoulder,
Thank heaven, darling, have found
you at last!" was Roberts first exclama-
ton. IL had begun to think you were
lost 10 me forever Ethel Hammond's
trials were over then.