The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-04-09


she turned and came TO where Peace
was lying prone upon the carpet, sob.
bing a. if her little heart would break.
Leonard Heath had married Alice
Carle six years before. For q while
the current of their Dew life flowed
smoothly. Then trOubIebeean. Both
were quick and impulsise. Hot words
were spoken, and gradually barrier
grew mp between them which neither
streve to tear away. Shey were too
paoud TO yield to each other; though
both were equally in the fault. So
matters had gone on, until they had re-
solved to separate and go on in differ.
ent ways to the end of the journey of
life. And this morning he had gone
await might be forever.
The summer was drawing to close.
There were autumn sints on sky and
river, warm. blue, and strangely sug-
gestise of that taddeet season of til g
year, which was not far away now.
Alice sat beside the window with
Peace's yellow curls against her breast,
and thought of many things. Halt a
year had gone by since her husband
lett her. Six years had not used to
seem so long q time. Ut late she had
thought much OF their bitter trouble,
and her heart had accused her sharply
She was beginning to feel what Bit
ter thing renoFse is when il comes
too late.
Peace stirred uneasiIy, opened her
panSy eyes, and looked up.
81 dreamed such Beautiful dream.
mamma," she said. 81 Thought papa
was here. Oh, papa, papa! / want
him So much !'' and the child hil her
face upon her mothers arm and sobbed.
There had no day gone by since her
father went away that she had not cried
for him to cine back to her.
Her mothers tears splashed on her
checks, and she looked up.
"Oh, mamma, won't You send for
him 9'' she plead. ''If should die,
papa would want 10 see me before /
died."
Alice's heart gave a great throb of
fear. For week Peace had been un-
well. She seemed TO be fading as q
flower does. Her face was white and
thin, AMI her eyes had strange look
in them that frightened Alice some-
times.
What If her child were going TO die?
She could bear anything but that. She
clasped her to her Heart as if she would
keep death away by the magic of
mothers arms.
The next day Peace was very i'll.
Her face was full of feverish color, and
her eyes had Vague, tar-off look in
them.
''She will die,n Alice said to the
neighbor who came to sit little while
with her. 81 know it we'll enough
now.''
Peace slept most of the time, rest.
less,l broken. unnatural sleep. .often
she talked in a babbiing way. More
than once Alice heard her speak her
fatlier's name.
The next day she was no better.
Alice wrote lev lines and sent them
to the telegraph Office, 50 soon as morn
ing broke. It was q message to her
husband, telling him that Peace was
very i'll, and bidding him come at once.
81 ehould be doing wicketl thing if
I kept the sickness o. his child from
him" she thought-'.a cruel, wicked
deed, becatise she is bis child as much
as mine, aud he loved her as well as
have ever done.a
''T have sent for your papa, . she told
Peace, when shc woke up from one of
her strange slumbers.
a great g:adhess came into the poor
little lace. AEtet that, whenever she
opened her eyes, she asked if papa had
Eotfie.
Two days went BY. ard Peace grew
weaker every hour. The end was not
far away, Alice knew. 4 great fesr
seized her. What If be were too late 2
II was sttnset of the second day, She
held Peace la her arms beside the open
western window. The robins were sing
ing on the cherry tree by the gate Is
blitlleiy as If there was no such thing
as death In the world.
aHark y Peace said. suddenly. spa.
ps Is eOmIng.H
Allies heard step ID the hall. Tho
door opened, ami she looked that way,
blind with sudden tears.
q AIicai,, he s1l7 brokenIv .ssis Peacass