Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-26

|
wife enioyed the luxury of being Ill.
| But conyalcscence soon followed and
before leaving his patient the old doctor.
n close observer and n deep thinker, took
the husband aside and asked:
"Did YOU know what brought this
fever on your wife, Mr.. StrecterP You
have worked her nearly to death"
"You are speaking of my wife, not my
horse"
"Granted; and I say again you are
working her to death
Really. doctor, such language is un-
| pardonablc."
And yet you will pardon il. And
! furthermore, by your great love for the
| sclf-sacrifcing woman we have just left,
! | shall perform AN operation on your
| eyes that you may see ~ ! see
| And then he placed the cold, hard facts
before him. from the time she became
! bride, beautiful and accomplished, To the
village. up to date of present illness. in
which domestic cares only had haunted
her in feverish dreams. In concluding
! he added:
II truly believe, if she takes up her
| old burdens mt once, that before the year
| has passed the grave or nm insane asylum
will receive her"
! The strong man shuddcred.
! AS Heaven is my witness, SIR, have
only permitted, not cXacted, this sacri-
! flee She voluntarily took her place by
my side. and has uncomplainingly kept
/ step with me-
NO she has not kept step. to follow
| your own figure. Unable To keep up
with your long; rapid strides, she has
fallen. faint and footsore. by the way.
| | tell you she must have rest for both
mind and body, or / will not answer for
the result. And it would be better found
away from home"
"Yes; begin to comprehend, and it
can be found away And offering his
hand, Il will take care, doctor. that you
do not geta chance To administer another
such dose to me-"
Mr.. Strceter went back Ia the room
where his wife was sitting proppcd up
| by pillows, and n gtsh Of unuttcrahlc
tenderness swclled in his heart rs he
glanced at her pale face and almost
transparent hands. He sat down beside
her and said. softly:
You don't know how glad am that
you are better
Thank you. Yes; am almost well
now-shall soon be able To be in the
/ kitchen. ! an sure | must be sadly
needed there by this time"
NO, you are not needed there. By the
way, would you like To have me put tie
farm to rent this summer, and you take
the boy and 10 back 10 the old granite
! hills?"
"Oh, could you2 May | go?" and
the voice quivcrcd with excitement;
! then wistfuIy. but the expense, New
ton. 1t would put Us back so much"
Yes. there it IS the old doctor was
right" he thought. And then aloud.
" Do you know what | went to the city
for the day you were ill2n
" To deposit some money for more land
| think you said. she replied. wcarily.
Yes; but do not need that land.
have far more land than can cultivate
now. And you shall have that money
at least all you want of it--and 90 home
and stay all the summer. and try To get
some Of your blood back. shall write
to-day that you are coming"
/ Mrs. Strcctcr could not believe it was
not one Of her fcvcrish dreams
But II all came about in good time.
and she arrived safely Mt home. where
she was pctted and carcsscd To her hearts
content.
You are all trying to spoil me-" she
would cNpostulate; " | shall never he tit
I for farmers wife any more"
/ And thus among loving friends. rid
I ing. walking and, when mt home. read
/ ing. music and writing long letters to
/ her husband, the summer wore swiftly
away.
And now he had written that he was
/ coming. and she was counting the days
\ that must clapse ere she could look upon
/ his face and be- clasped to his heart. She
I was eager To 60 now. Her holiday was
over. Health had returned. and not AN
/ instant did she shrink from the old life.
And when the husband came and saw
I the wonder one summer had wrought.
/ he again told himself that the good doc.
I tor was right
A few days were given to the old
/ friends. and then they turned their faces
I toward their Western home.
/ II was evening when they arrived. and
\ the wife looked with bcwilderment on
/ the change. A handsome front had been
/ added To the old dwelling: and before
/ she had time To question she was ushercf
\ into parlor newly furnished and already
/ lighted. An elegant piano stood in n
recess evidently constructed for its re-
ception,
! She turned toward her husband to
assure herself that he, too. had not
/ changed into something or somebody
I else But the merry twinkle in his eve
/ told her he was enjoying her surprise.
and slowly she began to realize the
WhOle situation. Yes. now she under
[ stood his strange reluctance to mention
/ what he was doing. and his willingness
/ To have her remain. even after she had
/ expressed her anxiety to return.
Come. ! have more to show youl"
and he showed her into a large. COM
modious room. furnished for her own
sleeping apartment. even to her baby's
/ trib.
"Thisis for you. And now lay aside
/ your dusty garments and prepare for tea;
II must have been ready an hour ago.
will go and see"
When he returned he found his little
wife sitting in her little rocker and weep
ing silently.
"Havc | wounded where wished to
heal7" he asked, reproachfully.
Forgive me-" she said. smiling; ~
am goose. but tired-winged one. YOU
know. And | am so happy To be mt