Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-07-31

minister was often compelled to bring
his book and make the sick-room his
study. This chamber, which had been
somewhat bare and desolate, suddenly
became glowing and warm, and made
q sharp contrast with the room on the
lower floor, lined with moth eaten VOL
r1mes, and choking with accommodating
DUST Mrs. Delplaine had begged that
few sticks might be hghted1on the
hearth, and had pleaded that. q guam
tity of light wraps and <shawls should
be taken from her trunks to soften the
glare at the windows, to- add to the
scantv covering of her bed. to- throw
over the grim leather back other chair
and as Mrs. Delplaine's favorite color
seemed to be of the faint warm tint of
the rose, the whole atmosphere OF the
room took this soft coloring, and~the
hungry soul Of the Reverend Paul de-
lighted therein without knowing Why 4
He was walking hsA now in the big
gloomy room below, the /scant tails of
bis thread bare- eeatHapping in the chill
air of March, but his soul was warm
with the m emory of the last hours he
spent in that room above.
And Mrs. Delplaine, poor Mrs. Del
PLANE, having nothing ekse to think Of
in this queer, picturesque region, being
somewhat appalled, by the big sterile
hills and the gray, gloomy sky, which
her crimson shawl could not altogether
smut out, having nothing else to think
of but the tender interest that this
recluse of parson took in her misfor-
tunes, and if he had been as hard
hearted as his housekeeDer she might
not now have been alive, and finding
life ever SO sweet in her languid conval-
essence, she was constrained to ask of
this cCmely but stern negro woman
something Of her master. ''Was he
alone in the world? Had he no kim
dred ?" Hager looked up from her
knitting so stolidly that Mrs. Delplaine
ad'od, Father or mother, wife or
children?'
Hagar deliberately turned the heel of
her stocking before she fully satisfied
the curiosity Of the convalescent., Then
she vouchsafed that he was quite alone;
no father, no mother. no children, as
far as she knowed. There used to be
a wife-a poor sickly creetur-but she
was done gone South years ago, and
never came back.
did the Door lady die there? asked
Mrs. Delplaine.
Hagar hesitated a moment. Then
she said, Eyes, she died there, sure
enough" ~
"And how many years has he lived
in this desolate region, dosolate and
alone ?" said Mrs. Delpiaine.
Hagar reckoned it was considerable
time, but gave it as her opinion that
some peoples room was better than
their company; and adding that Mrs.
Delplaine was talking too much, and
that she had better 90 to sleep. Hagar
left the room.- JJ3s2@
No sooner had she left the room than
Mr.. Hume entered 1t has been his
custom to relieve Hagar's duties in the
sick room. Unconsciously, perhaps. he
had been listening for Hagar's retreat
ing footsteps. Who can govern these
vague yearnings that sometimes beset
the stoutest human heart? AS he enter
ed the room his face frightened; the
cavernous burrows seemed to straighten
out into joyous benignity; the very
angles of his nature, sharpened by the
| hopeless loneliness of his life, became
smooth. and took con1forta BILE, rounded
shapes to themselves; and he greeted
the pale, pretty woman in the straight
backed chair with peculiar and charm
ing tenderness Of tone and manner, born
of this new experience, that would have
frightened and astonished himself had
he been a lookeron. But Mrs. Delplaine
was neither frightened nor astonished.
She was still so weak that Hagar's harsh
and abrupt replies had brought foolish
tears to her eyes, which still hung upon
her lashes, and she smiled upon Mr..
Hume. She gave herself up to the
sweet relief and comfort of his presence.
She began to believe that destiny had
determined this remarkable event in
her life, and felt an irresistible desire to
further the designs of fate. She had
never In her life seen any one so noble
and majestic, yet so gentle and tender,
as this preacher. She felt that she
would much rather dwell with him in
the midst of alarms than reign in this
horrible place.; but anything was bet
ter than to part with him. .. h.r....
{" am so glad that you have come,
[ have. something to say to you" A
strange, wistful, discounted look in his
face disquieted her, and she added,
gently, You will not despise a little adj
vice or remonstrance of mine?"
g | could despise nothing with which
you were associated" he said.
"Then listen to me-" she continued
=" sit here by my side and listen to me.
[ am getting quite strong and we'll.
You have saved my life, you and your
good Hager, and the worst of it is that
now [ must go away" Here she paused,
and enjoyed the sudden wincing in his
face, and resolved more and more to
spare him the pang of parting II am
going to coax you away from here"
she said. :. Indeed, indeed Mr.. Hume.
may | call you Paul?".
6 Yes" he replied, but began to grow
pale. ae..
Indeed you are quite thrown away
in this place. 1t would be SO sweet to
Cd, "A L