The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-08-06

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-haviny moth
ing else to think Ut in this queer pic
turesque region. being somewhat ap-
Palled BY the big. sterile hills and the
gray, gloomy sky. which her Grim
son shawls could not altogether
shut out, having nothing else t.
think Of but the tender interest this
haggard but handsome recluse parson
took in her mistortunes, and feeling
that IT he had been Us handkerchief a.
his housekeeper she might not have
been alive, and finding life ever 81
sweet in her lanyuid couvalescence-
was constrained to ask of this comeIv
but stern negro woman something OF
her master. WAS he alone in
the world? Had he no kindred ~
Hager looked up fron her knitting ST.
stolidly that Mrs. Delplaine added,
Father or mother, wife or children ~
Hager deliberately turned the heel
of her stocking before she fully salts.
fed the curiosity Of the convalescent Mt.
Then she voucshafed to saw that he wis
quite alone; no father. nor mother.
nor chill en-, a. far as she knOwed. There
used to he u wife poor, sicklv creetur
but she had done gone South wears
ago, and never come hack.
Did the poor lady die there -" said
Mrs. Delplaine.
Hager hesitated a minute. Then
sine said, "ies, she died there, sure
enough
And how many years has he lived
in this desolate region. frienlIess and
alone" asked Mrs. Drlp!aine.
Hager reckoned it was a eon,i,lera-
bic time. but gave it AS her opinion
that some peoples room was better
their company; and adding that Mrs.
Delplaine was talking too much. and
that she had better 60 to sleep. Hager
went out Of the room.
No sooner had she gone than Mrs.
Hume entered. II hal been custom
AIRY for him to relieve Hager's duties
in the sick room. UnconsciousIv, per-
haps. he had been listening for Ha::er's
retreating footsteps. Who can govern
these vague warnings that sometimes
bcset the strongest human heart. As
he entered the room his face frightened;
the cavernous burrows in his brow
seemed To straighten out into JOYOUS
benlgnlty. the very angles of his ma
ture. sharpened BY the hopeless loneli-
ness Of his life. became smooth, and
took comfortable rounded shapes by
themselves; and he greeted the pale.
pretty woman in the straight hacked
chair with a peculiar tenderness Of tone
and manner born of this new expert
ence, that would have frightened and
astonished himself had he been a
locker ON. But Mrs. Delplaine was
neither frightened nor a>tnnished. She
WAS still 50 weak that Hager's harsh
and abrupt replies hal brought foolish
tears to her eyes, which still hung up
on her lashes rs she smiled upon Mr..
Hume. She gave herself up to the
sweet relief and comfort of his pres
ence. She began To believe that des
tiny had determined this remarkable
event in her life, and felt an irresista-
BILE desire to further the design of fate.
She had never in her lie Sc. II any one
So noble and majestic. Yet So gentle and
tender, as this preacher. She felt that
she would much rather dwell with him
I'm the midst ct alarms that reign in
this horrible place = but anything was
better than To part with him.
IL am glad that you have come
she said, Il have something To saw to
YOU. A strange. wisttul. discomfitted
look in his face disquieted her, and she
added gently. "You will no, Jespise a
little advice, AMI relno,strance of
mine ?"
II coull despise nothing with which
You were associated he said.
Then listen to me-" she continued
-''sit here and listen to me. am
getting quite strong and we'll. You
have saved my lite. you and your good
Hager. AMI the worst of it Is th.t now
| must 90 away"
Here she paused. and enjoyed the
sudden wincing in his face, and re-
solved more AMI more to spare him the
pang Of parting. II nm going to coax
you awav from here" she said. I'm
Iced. MIR. Hume-may l call you
Paul"
YES" he replied. but began to
grow pale.
'Indeed. you are quite thrown away
N this place. 1t would be so sweet to
ne to zee you admired and deitied and
vowed down to, "a the world out yon.
Ter does to men like you. They love
silver tongue, do the people. Will
'ou let me manage il for you? liz
'romise you, il you will. our parting
hall he brief have considerable in ,
|uence. which / will yield in YOUR be- q
'alf. You have but to be known to
'e appreciated. See the good YOU
night do. Paul, she added, coaxingly.
Ter face took fire as sh, utterosl h;S