Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-04-15
dress you desire. have sent for Aunt
Cordelia, as usual, to stay with you.
ERNEST MATuRR

ERNEST MATTER.
Not a loving word, not word Of regret
for the long separation.
Myra realized then how considerate and
loving her husband had been under the
weary vexations of her whims and caprices.
Great tears rolled down her cheeks aS she
bitterly reproached herself.
al have made him believe don't care for
anything but money!" she thought. He
leaves me this to console me for his absence.
Oh, Ernest, come home again and I'll wear
calico and a sunbonnet to church before I'll
tease you for tnery again!"
1t was not an easy matter to go to dinner
and meet Aunt Cordelia, but it must be
done
1t was no new thing for that worthy spin
Ster to see Myra in tears when Ernest was
away on business, 50 she only expressed a
desire to see ''any man alive she'd cry for, "
and SAID no more about the little .wife's red
eyes
The days passed very, very wearily.
Aunt Cordelia preached only sermons to
Myra upon extravaganza and various other
female weakness, till the poor little woman
wished she was as homely and i'll looking as
her tormentor herself.
''You never see me with such dress in
the house as that" the spinster world say
with a complacent glance at her dyed
skirts
81 buy clothes to wear" Myra retorted.
''lf | had as much money as you, Aunt
Cordelia, I'd be ashamed u go about in such
dresses"
And the spinster would shake her head
and groan audibly, Dityngly, ''poor, dear
Ernest"
You never see me-" was her ever open
ing address
And Myra grew to hate the words in the
long months of her enforced companion
ship.
For Ernest did not return.
Spring, summer, autumn passed away,
and December was opening, yet still he did
not come.
Every month a formal letter reached
Myra, inclosing a check for expenses OF
such liberal value as to prove Ernest was
making money; but each one informed her
that her husband was just leaving the place
from which he wrote and made no mention
of his next destination.
Heart-sick, penltent, and oh! so lonely,
the little wife spent only what was neces-
sary for the house, and fairly loathed the
sight of the money that was aCCumulatIng
in her hands.
Letter after letter she wrote and destroy
ed, not knowing where to direct them.
She was growing so pale and worn, SO
quiet and subdued, that Aunt Cordelia's
most hateful speeches went often unan-
swered.
She was sitting in the drawing room one
cold December morning, when Mr. Agnew,
Ernests employer, came in.
81 am sorry to disturb you Mrs Mather,"
he said, but wish to inquire of you if you
have heard from Ernest this week"
''Not since the first" she replied.
''He wrote us on the fifth that he would
remain in Cumberland until the first of the
year, and was to send some papers on the
seventh. These have not come and we are
embarrassed for want of them. | tele-
graphed yesterday but have no reply. How
ever, If you have moi heard he is i'll, he is
probably better.
''Ill, p" she faltered.
''Well, judged from his last letter that
he had not fully recovered from the fever
he had, although he had resumed business.
If you hear to-day will you be kind enough
to send US word?"
Certainly" Myra managed to gasp in
choking voice, and Mr.. Agnew was gone.
"Il! A fever! Sick at a hotel and she
not near! Ernest, her Ernest"
All the love in the little woman's heart
Lo A.,
della by dashing into that lady's room cry
ing:
Take care of the house, I'm going to
Cumberland" and dashed out again as
abruptly.
The trunk was packed.
Myra never knew what went into it.
She hugged her hoard of money.
Carefully she put it in the bosom Of her
dress.
She cried and laughed and acted general
ly like lunatic.
The afternoon found her in an express
train, rushing to Ernest as fast as steam
could carry her.
In q wide, pleasant room, Ernest Mather
lay upon his bed dangerously i'll.
He had been for months trying to quiet
his sick, restless heart by over working his
body, keeping such business hours, such
cares and labors in his work, that the firm
at home never ceased congratulatlng them
selves on their choice of traveller.
He made money fast, supply Myra with
generous hand, and yet saved consider
ably.
For what!
Bitterly he thought that when he was a
very rich man he would 60 home and try to
make Myra contented.
He tried to fancy that he had ceased to
love her; but the unceasing craving of his
heart for the sight of her face and the sound
of her voice contradicted it.
Work, work, work!
That was the medicine for his mental
pain, till the overwrought brain gave way,
the overtaxed body succumbed and he lay
i'll with fever for two weeks.
Up again before his strength was half re-.
stored, and now the relapse had Frustrated
him and he lay suffering, apparently dying,
too i'll to send for Myra, too Ill to give di-
rections, too i'll to do any more than lie
helpless at the mercy of strangers.
The long night was passing, and the cold
gray dawn announced another wintry day,
when a vehicle drove up at the door of the
hotel and in dim, confused way Ernest
heard the hustle of the new arrived travel
ers.
He was vaguely wondering if any friend
would come to him, when the door of his
room opened very softy and he heard the
waiter GaV.