Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-01-08

chair, and il was we'll for me, for
could not have stood otherwise. He
had almost given up life; could |
not give up happiness 2 Dared
doubt any more than he the Hand
that sem the blow? 1t stilled nv
heart utterly so utterly. that when
Harry came in after breakfast, l
only felt faint for one short mo
nent, and then quietly gave him
my seal by the bedside. But when
he rose TO go, followed him out,
and | know | was pale as | laid my
hand on bis arm and said, with in.
finite compassion in my heart for
his sorrow Harry, Pye something
to tell you
Nothing sorrowfal, | hope, he re-
turned, smiling down upon nae, and
then added-'Oh! how pale these
cheeks are. They must get bright-
or, for you have long journey be.
fore you, my love.
His tone of tenderness almost
killed me.
Harry l said, leaning more
heavily on his arm-'I cannot go
with you now.'
oh not Immediately, / know
he said lightly. i will wait few
weeks. l would give you longer
time, but they are expecting me-
Il can never go with you, Harry
| said, tremblingly. You will have
to go without your wife,
Mile, what do you mean? The
arrangements are all made : and
then he said tenderly-.It would
break my heart, my love-
Harry, do not wound me so,' |
cried; Il can never go with you,
though it almost kills me to tell you
SO. | am the only strong member
of the family now, and to go away
and leave them in their helpless ess
would be most cruel and wicked
But, Millie,' he returned anx.
iously, you are mine now, more
than theirs. You will be my wife
in a few weeks
Il know it is torture, Harry |
but l have thought it
over, and prayed it over, and l can
come 70 no other decision
He turned away then, and went
off the steps, and down the road,
without even looking back, leaving
me standing there, all alone, with q
heart SO wrung and so sore. :
Mrs. Browning somewhere says
1t is good for strength, to know
that some one needs US to be strong
1t must have been so with me that
dsy, for | know | carried an artifi.
cial strength. 1 did not see the op-
ration, but remained in an outer
room, stening to every sound, and
starting at every footstep. 1t was
half an hour, they told me after
wards, but it seemed to me ages
before they called me. The room
which | entered was filled with the
odor of chloroform they had been
using, and the blinds were closed.
| advanced timidly, and asked how
Horace was.
Better he answered cheerfully,
from the bed.
l FASTENED to him, and asked him
timidly, low he had borne It,
He replied with slight smile
Very well. The Presence supported
me, as | told you, and it will go
with me during my crippled lite
| bent down, and kissed him with
quiveriDg lips. praying mentally
that the Presence might sup
port me, too. l bore the rest Of the
day well, because there was no time
for thought. There was much to do
for Horace Mary must be helped
in the kitchen, and my mother, to
whom the day had been peculiarly
trying, had gone away up stairs
with sick headache. In the after.
noon Horace felt stronger, aud told
me all about the accident at the
mill, and the great wheel that
crushed him. Many people came
with kind inquiries during the day,
and Harry's mother sent some beau
tiful white grapes for Horace. There
were two or three tears dropped
among them as / carried them in !;
but l took care that Horace should
see no traces of them.
l went out upon the piazza after
tea, and stood where / had talked
with Harry in the morning, wonder
ing whether / should see him again,
when, happening to look up, saw
him opening the little gate at the
end of the walk-way. / met him
half way, and greeted him joyfully.
He smiled, and then gravely asked
Have you changed your wild
ideas since morning p
'Ohl Harry, you did not expect
that 2 / cried. hurt by his manner.
i surely did. Why, Mile, / could
not 60 without my wife, he said,
tenderly leading me to a seat on
the piazza.
Shall | ever forget how he plead.
ed for the next half hour2 / never
step out upon the porch, where /
can at this moment hear the rain
pouring, without thinking of shat
fearful time. / was so thankful for
the struggle of the morning, and
the Divine help that was given me.
Everything that love and tender
ness could do, be used to draw me
from what / felt TO be nv duty !;
but he failed, and then | was weep
ing; but when saw his own head
bent in utter sorrow, and heard his
cry-'Oh, Mlllie, how can / give you
upl' it almost broke my heart in
twain.
Then he bade me good bye, grave.
ly, lovely, very, very sadly, and
went away into the night and /
went straight through the house up
the stairs, aud shut myself In with
my overwhelming sorrow.
AT twelve o'clock / was ready for
my watch IN the sick room. Quiet
and serene, too, for the next three
days to all outward appearance, but
full of sorrow and trouble within,
and longing to go away somewhere
and escape the darkness that SEEM
ed thici ening around me at every
cfap