Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-04-10
her, straining every nerve to keep up

didn't believe she hardly understood
him; she didn'l seem to mind it much
So with that form of sympathy which
seems to desire to make its victim re
!, alize all the bitterness OF the trial, be
reminded her that "Folks said Mr..
Payne had had two shocks afore, and
wouldn't never live through another. =
"Oh, don't!" cried the daughter
sharply, realizing at last that there
might be trouble that no human love
could ward off
What change had come over the
CHEEKY farm house! Without all was
as usual; within were hurrying steps
and anxious faces, and an occasional
low wall of anguish, as the poor wife,
LAID on lounge in the spare room
where she could be near her husband
came out Of merciful insensibility, on
ly to sink into it again at sight Of the
still form on the bed, giving no sign
OF life save the stertorious breathing.
Poor Kitty! 1t was a fearful time
for her. She could win no notice OIL
recognition from the unconscious
father; no cheer from the plying
neighbors, who knew, even before
the doctor told them that there was
mo hope;' no comfort from the agon.
lied wife and mother.
Hour after hour the difficult breath.
ing went on, till just at the stroke oil
twelve it ceased, and Kitty Payne
was fatherless The doctor had come
though all in vain. The married sis
tiers and brothers had come with tear.
ful greetings and tender sympathy.
The neighbors flocked in with ready
help, and kindly feeling. and real in
terest. But John came not. She had
been sure he would come at such a
time, spite Of all and she felt a new
sense OF desolation because he did
not. Her mother, whom she had
helped to her own room, now slept in
utter exhaustion, watched over by
another daughter; some had retired
to rest, but Kitty sat at the kitchen
window till daybreak, looking out
with eyes that saw nothing, in a sort
of dumb despair, desolation so in
tense she was scarcely conscious OF
anything around her. No one could
persuade her to retire; her coy bed
room was terribly lonely and go com.
panionship could make it less so.
AT sunrise, an early passer-by, see.
ing the unusual stir around the house
paused to inquire the cause. After
learning and expressing his surprise
and regret, some common place re-
marks passed between him and the
neighbor with whom he was talking.
Soon he remarked, Curious about
John Holmes startin' off so suddint,
too, hain't it? / seen him over to
the depot this morpin' startn' for
New York. Made up his mind to 90
out 10 that uncle Of his'n in Rio JAN
Zero after all he seq
'Sho! Do tell! Then he Is going, is
he? Thought he give it up once re.
joined the neighbor, while Kitty's
brain reeled, and she chung for support.
Well she remembered that John
had told her that he had had another
letter from this uncle, and that it de.
pended on her whether he went or
not. He was Of age, an orphan, un
trammeled by any near ties or duties,
80 that he had but to pack his trunk
and 60 wherever he saw fit. But she
had never really believed he would 60
at any rate not so suddenly. Now
she saw it all. He believed himself
rejected, and had gone away, and
never would come back-never would
know how she wanted him in this
hour of trouble.
She could endure no more, her hold
relaxed, and for the first time in her
healthy, merry life Kitty tainted. Her
sister, entering a moment later, found
her lying in little heap on the floor.
poor little Kitty 7 said her brother
Charles, lifting her gently to the
kitchen settee, Il knew she could not
stand it so long; no food, no sleep, mo
rest of any sort since poor father was
taken, and just that fearless stiffness.
1t was so unnatural
| Under the loving care of her sisters
and friends, Kitty came quickly back
to her senses, to the hard realization
of her sorrow. Their gentle words
and caresses, and tender pity, at last
unlocked the fountain Of her tears, and
she wept passionately. They knew
not the added regret and guilt that
underlay and added to her grief for
her father, and precluded her from
feeling the full relief of expression.
How could che tell them ? Often had
her brothers reproved her coquetries
toward John; often had her sisters
warned her 'sne would try him too
far some time Even the dear, dead
father had said once, half.playfully,
halt. earnestly: 'Puss, you must really
treat John better, or not go with
him at all. He is most too good
for such a little flirt as you are, any
wayp And she had felt piqued, an
swered saucily, and behaved worse
than ever. Now she regretted. Well
she knew that she loved John, and
never cared for any one else !; so Sc
cure of his affection, shenever dreamed
of losing it; so conscious of her power,
she liked to exercise it. There had
hardly been social gathering since
they had grown up at which they had
not met aud if not actually an es
cort, he was at least never any ones
else, and always nearly as attentive
10 her as whoever might be for the
nonce her favored swain. In time OF
sickness in the family, or special nee
essity for help of any sort, John had
always been ready help, the main
reliance of the family outside their
own number, her fathers right-hand
man after the boys married. And
now, in their worst need of all, he was
gone-gone with anger in his heart al
her. Oh, could she 60 back one day
in her life
Well, the days went on, as days
will, despite human Joy or human
pain, and Kitty neither died nor fell
sick. All the sad routine OF the fu,
neral, the law business, etc., she wen,
through with the same stunned hall
consciousness that helps US all to en-
dure at such times. How could We
live through the scenes OF loss and