Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-04-29

after Her long days RIDE. Sne mad new
er dreamed that the mere sight of th
f staid, brown house could make her s
glad. AS she came near she fancied
J wore an uninhabited aspect The fron
7 doors were shut, and the blinds at he
, husbands study window closely drawn
Her heart throbbed in time to the heav
knocker under her hand. She hear
the old housekeeper's step in tho pas
sage, and the door slowly opened.
: miss Margery!n cried the woman
starting as if She had seen a ghost, an
falling back in her astonishment to he
old-time form of address.
"Yes, yes, it is I! Why do you loo
at me so! Where is your master ?"
"Then you don't know"
"Knew what? Oh, Elsie, tell N
quickly! Is anything wrong with m.
husband 2"
} "Miss Margery-Exeuse me, Mrs
Butler, I would say-Master sJohl
meant it for the best. He would hav
told you, though your pa was boun'
you should not be, for fear 'twould b
sp'illin' of your visit, until you wa
ready to come home, he said; but he'
been gone nigh onto two weeks"-sh,
covered her eyes with her apron-"t'
nuss them as is sick with yellow feve
in the South"
Margery fell on the threshold withou
a word. Old Elsie lifted her in be-
arms and, laying her on couch within
dispatched a passing neighbor for hel
father and mother.
ibid he leave no word, no message
for me?" said Margery, when she could
speak.
Eyes, honey dear; this letter he said
L was to give into your bands"
She sat up, and, breaking the seal
with trembling fingers read:
| >"When you read this, my beloved,
you will know that have gone where
duty called me, in the hope of doing
some little good to the suffering and
dying. l have not written you of my
decision, because I would not have your
pleasure marred by any anxious thought
unprepared. If God wills, shall come
back; if not, there is one thing 1 must
ask you dearest. Forgive the selfish
wrong did in making you my wife,
was too old and dull to make you hap
py, but believe me, darling, 1 would
have done it if could. My great love
made me blind. Yeu have been good
and brave. I bless you now and ever in
my heart.
eff anything should happen to me,
Margery, go to Mr.. Latimer. He holds
my will and knows my wishes. All I
have is yours.
"Think gently of me, darling, and
may God hold you in his keeping now
and aways. John"
She read it slowly through to the last
line, then she turned:
Father" she said, with the old ring
in her voice, Il start for the South to-
morroww
"Margery !"
'Do not think to stay me- 1 am go
ing to my husband; Shall sit safely
here while he gives away a life worth a
thousand such as mine? Even now he
he may be fighting death alone"
Argument, entreaty, command, all
were alike in vain. With the early
morning light the long journey was
begun.
| She knew no weariness. she felt no
fear. The rushing, laundering train
seemed to her to crawl along the sand.
She would have ridden, if she could,
upon the wings of the lightning. In
the night she seemed to hear his voice
calling her. God could not let him
die before he knew how she loved him.
Oh, fool and blind that she had besn !!
Where in all her dreams of discomfort
had there been love and courage like
this? Here was knight braver than
Lancelot, more true and tender than
Arthur of the Round Table, and her
hand had refused his crown!
Closer and more sitting grew the heat
and dust as they neared the fever-in-
fected districts. Long trains, laden
with flying refugees, met them at sta
tions. Groups of Sisters of Charity, in
the black gowns and quaint snowy
head-gear, occupied the car with her.
Two physicians from the far Northwest
sat just across the aisle. She heard
fragments of their conversation, calm
and cheerful as if they were bound on
some long-planned excursion of busi
ness or pleasure. Common life had
grown all at once heroic. 1t was worth
while to live; nay, to die in such cause
as this
The guarantee station was reached at
last, through which Margery was to en-
ter the doomed city of her destination.
"My child!" pleaded an old officer.
81 speak to you as a father. Go home!
You are too young and beautiful TO rush
upon certain death"
"My husband is there!u said Margery.
The early morning papers were
brought in. She took one mechanically
in her hand, and this is what she saw ::
"John Butler, volunteer visitor for
fhe Howards, from --, Mass, was
stricken yesterday. 1t will be hard, in
deed, to fill the place of this marvellous
ly brave and efficient worker, who has
seemed able to instil some of his own in
domitable courage and hope into every
one with whom he has come into con-
tact. He lies violently sick at ---
hos pital."
| She is in a carriage at last The
c. achman lashes his horses, but she
cries to him to drive faster. Stores and
Eshops are closed. Here and there. peo-
p3a, black and white, rush out from the
by-streets and alleys. calling for help,
! "for the love of God" About the great
aid centres hundreds of negroes, with
their baskets, crowded on the curbing,
wait for the calling of their Names
Every where they meet hearses, open
wagons, great express carts, piled with
the dead, their horses at trot, moving
southwark to the cemeteries.
They are stopped now; she springs
from the carriage unaided. A little girl
grasps her dress.
"Oh, lady, my mother is dyingW she
| CIISS Out UAtOu& lam Ol tCdlo. Md
gerry loosens the child's fingers gently,
but she cannot linger.
"Take me to John Butler!" she cries
to an attendant.
Past long rows of cots where men and
women and little children groan and
writhe in mortal agony, she follows
him. They are taking out dead man
her garments brush the stiffening limbs
as she passes.
Her guide pauses at last. Oh, God
in heaven! Tossing in delirium, with
face discolored and distorted, and blood.
shot, staring eyes; can this be him?
One moment she sank upon her knees
beside the bed, then she rose up to dc
battle with death.
The nurses could tell you how q
giants strength seemed to dwell in hel
young arms wisdom almost superhu
man in her inexperienced brain. Dav
and night went by but she did not mark
them. The dead around her were re
placed by the dying, but she took nc
heed.
The hour came when love had con-
quered. John Butler woke, too weak
for speech or motion, but with the old
ray of reason in his eyes, and whether