Connecticut western news., 1879-11-26


 where there was no Mrs. Mayfeld. and where there seemed signs of desolation, of 0 new emptiness, which I did not un. deretand.
 II have some bad news for you, Martha" he said "Our little Paul iE very ill."
 "Paul i'll p I exclaimed, "and you did not send for me-did not let me know! Oh, Mir. May6eld, why have you treated me like this?"
 "Hush hushl You must not make the least noise in the house now," he said, sternly. 'Perfect peace is my poor boys only chance"
 ''1 will go to him."
 "You would kill him directly. The least excitement or shock of surprise would kill him he is very weak.
 "And his motherq
 "Sits up with him night and day. He will have no one but his mother, Martha"
 "He would be glad if l."
 "Not now," said MT. Mayheld, inter- rupting me. He is too i'll to be dis turbed even by your kindness"
 "But-he will recovery"
 "We hope so."
 "Oh, I am sure so; he is 80 strong a boy-so healthy What has changed him like this and in 50 short 6 timeg" "Fever."
 "Poor Paul my poor dear little flower I may come tomorrow and ask about him?"
 If you wish," said Mir. MayAeld, graciously "and if he is better you shall zee him.
 "I thank you very much," I mur. mured.
 But he WAS no better the next day and the day following the white blinds were all down before the window I saw them as came up the street. I leaned against the opposite wall and shook as with an ague. I tottered across the road and knocked. Mir. May field opened the door again, and looked winter and sterner than I had seen him yet.
 "He is gone; he is dead, then p I cried ,"and you have never let me come to him l'
 "Yes, we have lost our poor boy" he answered, moodi1y.
 e. must see him; you must not say No to me again." I said, almost defiantly. "He was dearer to me than to you, ] swear. He loved me better than his mother; I swear that too; and you have let him die without me P 'Martha, you excite yourself un- necessarily; you distress me you will alarm my wife; you"
 May I see the childP" I asked, peremptorily.
 "Yes, you may" was the reply. "Poor little fellow There is no dis turbing him now" l felt the tears rushing to my eyes. was choking, and could not answer him.
 Here is my wife," he said i: and through my binding tears I saw my mistress glide in like ghost, and with ghost like face, which chilled me. "Jenny," he said to her, "here is poor old Martha, the first to offer her sympathy with our ahliction."
 !" am glad to see you, Martha" said my mistress, shaking hands with me. "It is kind of you to call"
 She was very cold, and her voice was very hard-not broken down with grief as nine was, I thought fretfully.
 "She wishes to see our boy"
 "Now?" asked Mrs. Mayfeld.
 "Does it matter when 2" said her husband. "Surely our faithful Martha has clai m to see him first of all."
 Yes, yes-I think so," assented the wife. Then we all three went up stairs into the darkened room, where he lay in his little bed as though he were asleep.
 "How long has he been deadi" I whispered as I entered, and sank down on my knees to gaze upon him.
 "Not two hours yet" whispered Mrs. May6eld back to me.
 "Are you sure he is dead p' I in- quired.
 Mrs. Mayneld gave g suppressed cry, and her husband stopped and looked into my facs.
 "Don't mock us-don't even for 8 moment have thought like that" said the husband. "God's will be done." "God's will is done," said in reply, "and a cruel will it seems to me-"
 Martha," said Mrs. Mayfeld, re- proachfully, "you forget"
 T say it seems to me-" I answered : "but then I am wicked and ignorant, and can't see what is best"
 I leaned over and kissed the cold little face; I put my arms round his neck and sobbed; I was foolish and demonstrative in my wild grief again !; it was my nature.
 Do you think he has changed at all ?' asked MT. Mayfeld.
 "No," I answered "I can believe he will wake soon and speak to me-" We were silent, all three of us, for a while J.; presently the fatner-always the spokesman-said,
 twill you come away now Martina please ?"
 "Not yet"
 "But-"
 "1 will not go yet" said, very firm ly " and you can not drag me from him. I'm too strong"
 "Well, we'll, for little while longer theu," said Mir. Mayfeld, until" The door was opening there was 8 fourth person in the house. looked