, 1879-10-16

The soft eyes, full of deep trouble,
were lifted inquiringly to his face.
"lS it on business, sir ?
every important business was the
rather dry response.
because the doctor said to-day he
must no. have any mental excitement.
lie is so very much worse to-day Il
am afraid he is dying" And sobs broke
out again.
Dyingp
Maud Chester reeled into the room,
and sank dizzily upon chair
James Rutherford, with face white
as death, exclaimed
"Dying An accident 2
"No, sir; it is fever from over
work"
"Fever-over-workP %
"Josie-Josie !"
If ever Fred Holt spoke, he spoke
then from an inner room, and the little
wife, seeming to forget her strange Wis
itors, answered quickly
"Im coming, Fred"
She went at once to the room from
which the voice came, and again the two,
listening intently, heard Fred's husky
voice.
Bring the last cordial, Josie Ten
drops am sure he knew me, but he
is faint"
A moment later, the same CHEEKY
Voice spoke again.
Drink this, old fellow. See see !!
here is Josie Don't YOU know Josie p
Then another voice-oh so very
faint said:
"Josie-little wife !"
A moment of utter silence followed,
and then Josie said.
"There is gentleman and lady in the
other room, Fred, who want to see Frank.
Will you see them ?"
And Fred, appearing in compliance
with this request, found his uncle vigor-
ously tanning Maud Chester with %
newspaper to bring her out of faint
ing fit.
Before he could frame a question, his
uncle said, quickly
Sect me some water !"
He obeyed. Then, when Maud's blue
eyes opened with bewildered stare, the
old gentleman continued
"We were sent here to see your do
mestic felicity, and we seemed to be mis-
informed"
"My domestic felicity !" cried Fred.
"Read that" said his uncle, handing
the anonymous note. And Fred com,
piled.
"Humph yes" he said. $50 you
came to see Mrs. Fred Holt. Well,
that lady has made me a happy man )"
and his eyes flashed merrily upon Maud.
"But will introduce you to my cousins
wife, Mrs. Frank Holt. Maud" he con-
tinued, with gentle gravity, "since you
have come here, it will be an act of
Christian charity to remain, for"-and
his voice sank very low-"we are afraid
the poor little woman will be widow
before morning"
"Poor fellow |" said James Rutherford
"What is the trouble2"
"Over-work. He thought he could
increase his small salary by toiling over
fine engravings in the evening, and he
broke down. | mover knew of his mar
riage till last week, when he wrote me a
painful note, begging me to care for his
wife if he died. came here at once,
and was fortunate enough to win poor
little Josie's sisterly confidence and
affection. Maud, if the great trouble
we fear comes"
II will be her true sister, Fred in
terrupted Maud.
Here was doep silence of several
minutes. Then Josie, very pale still,
crept softly into the room.
"He is asleep" she whispered. The
doctor said if he slept he would live !"
And when she broke into hysterical
weeping, Mand held her close in lovil 6
arms, whispering that she must let her
stay and comfort her, for Fred's sake.
Nearly eleven o'clock came, and still
Harvey Foster waited, half frozen, in
the dark courtway, to see the discontinue
of his rival. Then his patience was re-
warded by seeing Fred and his uncle
come out of No. %, arm-in-arm, evi-
IDENTIFY the best of friends, and enter
Miss Chesters carriage and drive away.
Not until the day Of the wedding,
when he saw Josie an honored guest, and
was introduced to Mrs. Frank Holt, did
IIo,,,,o,, Eootar undarctond the SLIGHT