The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-09-12

an, sick, or we'll, and the good surgeon
could scarcely be blamed for that linger-
ing glance of his upon poor Mrs. Del
psine.
As yet the person had been alone con-
cerned for her safety; for many days it
did not occur to him that the condition
of his guest appealed to any tribute of
his nature save pity and reverence. Ha-
gar. however, strongly disapproved Of
feminine charms, especially when the
owner endeavored to add to them by
frivolity Of dress or demeanor. The poor
lady, who felt that she owed, perhaps, her
very life to these good peoples care and
skill, opened her heart to Hagar, and
told her all about her long journey from
the Pacific coast, where she had lost her
husband many years since, and had long
ed to come home to the East, but dread
ed, as well she might, the dreary waste of
miles between. Hagar knitted stolidv
on and listened-apparently she listened
but not with that active, tender absorbed
interest that the minister gave to the
story of the traveller.
Mrs. Delplaine was too i'll to be left
long alone, and Hagar had her household
duties to attend to. so that the minister
was often compelled to bring his book
and make the sick-room bis study. The
chamber, which had been somewhat bare
and desolate, suddenly became glowing
and warm, and made a sharp contrast
with the DON on the lower floor lineo
with moth-eaten volumes, and choking
with accumulating dust. Mrs. Delplaine
had begged that a few sticks might be
lighted on the hearth, and had pleaded
that a quantity of light raps and shawls
be taken from her trunks to soften
the glare at the windows, to add to the
scanty covering of her bed, to throw over
the grim leathern back of her chair; and
Mrs. Delplaine's favorite color seemed
be of the faint warm tint of the rose,
the whole atmosphere of the room took
his soft coloring, and the hungry soul
f the Reverend Paul delighted therein
without knowing why. He was walking
just now in the big gloomy room below,
the scant tails of his t%hreadbare coat
tapping in the chill air of March, but his
soul was warm with the memory of the
last hours he had spent in that room
above.
And Mrs. Delplaine-navlng nothing
else to think of in this queer picturesque
region, being somewhat appalled, by the
big, sterile hills and the gray gloomy
sky, which her crimson shawls could not
altogether shut out, having nothing else
to think of but the tender interest that
this haggard but handsome recluse of a
parson took in her m~isfortunes. and feel
ng if he had been as hard hearted as his
housekeeper she might not o be alive.
and finding life ever s. sweet in her Ian
quid convalescence-was constrained to
ask of this comely but stern negro WON
an something of her master. Was he
alone in the worldg Had he no kindredl'
Hagar looked up from her knitting so
stolidly that Mrs. Delplaine added, ia
Their, mother, wife or childreng"
nagar deliberately turned the heel of
her stocking before she fully satisfied
the curiosity Of the convalescent. Then
she vouchesafed to say that he was quite
alone; no father, nor mother, mol chil'en,
as far as she knowed. There used to be
a wife-a pool, sick creature-but she was
done gone south years ago, and never
come back.
did the poor lady die therea' said
Mrs. Delplaine.
Hagar hesitated q minute. Then she
said, "Yes, she died there sure enough"
"And how many years has he lived in
this desolate region, friendless and
alone" said Mrs. D~elplaine.
Hagar recnoned 1t was a considerable
tine, but gave it as her opinion that
some peoples. room was better'n their
company and adding that Mrs. Delplaine
was talking too much, and that she had
better go to sleep, Hagar went out of the
ROOM.
Nosooner had she gone than Mr.. Humid
entered. 1t had been customary for him
to relieve Hagsr's duties In the sick
room. Unconsciously, perhaps, he had
been listening far Hagar's re~treating
footsteps. Who can govern these
vague yearnings that sometimes beset
the strongest human hearth As
he entered the room his face bright
ened; the cavernous burrows in his
brow seemed to straighten out into Joy
ous benignity, the very angles Of his ma
ture, sharpened by the hopeless loneliness
of his life, became smooth, and took CON-
Portable rounded shapes to themselves:
and he greeted the pale, pretty woman IN
the straightforward chair with q peculiar
tenderness of tone and manner. born of
this new experience, that would have
frightened and astonsshed himself had he
been . locker on. But Mrs. Delplaine was
neither frightened nor astonihsed. She
was still so weak that Hagar's harsh and
abrupt replies Drought foolish tears to her
eyes, which still hung upon her lsshes as
she smiled upon MI. Hume. She gave
herself up to he sweet relief and comfort
of his presence. She began to believe
that destiny had determined this remark
able event in her llfe, and felt an ~irrs<is-
tible desire to further the design of fate.
She had never in her life seen any one so
noble and majestic, yet so gentle and
tender, as the preacher. She felt that
she would much rather dwell with him
~in the midst of alarms that reign in this
horrible place" but anything was better
than to part with him.
II I'M glad you have GOMEZ she said
4 have something to say to you-" A
strange, wiatfuL dncomfted look in hin