Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-09-01


ashamed of yourself, then opened the
door and said | was dressing and would
not be long. heard him take out his
watch, and say in disappointed tone
that he could not wait then he said,
Goodbye, darling, God bless and keep
you, shall soon be back, SO tenderly
and sadly, that for the moment my
hardness melted-I longed to throw my
self III his arms.
but he was gone. l saw the carriage
drive out of the gate and disappear
where the road turns then dreadful
sense of desolation came over me, that
| never had, either before or since"
"The morning seemed rs if it would
never pass. There were to be no les
sons. After dawdling about went to
the window which overlooked the road,
and the drive to the front door.
Whatever can these men be doing?'
l thought, as four or five men knew
by sight came III at the gate, slowly,
each one seeming to talk without listen
ing to the others"
81 felt something was wrong. |
watched the men till they disappeared
behind the bushes; they were going
round to the back door; then listened
and waited"
Suddenly / heard a scream-my
heart seemed to stop-then some one
rushed in. :"
"It was the housemaid looking so
white and scared"
"Don't you go down, Miss Mary,
she said, it's only somebody got fit
or something but she shivered and
wrung her hands.
81 made one spring and darted down.
stairs. But nurse caught and drew me
aside, 1 don't know why, but l felt l had
lost my father.
"There had been a serious accident
to the train by which he was travelling.
The car he was in had been overturned,
and a fellow passenger who knew him
saw him taken out from among the ruins
lifeless, and had brought the terrible
news back with him. L lay like one half
dead too on Miss Jones's bed, listening
to the cruel tale, and half hoping it was
n cruel dream, nightmare from which |
should awake.
'"Ihen, the storm of sorrow spent, /
was worn out, and fell asleep.
"When | awoke, the last rays of sun
set were streaming into the room. Some
one had drawn up the blinds and the
noise had awakened me. Dreamily l
listened to whispering behind the cur
tain of my bed. DO You think it
would be prudent to tell her tonight 2
Miss Jones was saying, Certainly I!
Then followed long sentence delivered
in voice l recognized as that of the
village doctor. caught the words Joy
does not kill Then by their very mock
cry I remembered all. / pushed aside
the curtain and cried :Why do you
come here to torment me? Why did
you not let me sleep?
"Then stared in establishment Miss
Jones, beaming, smiling, kissed me-
wildly for her-and said, Mary, COM
pose yourself, make up your mind for a
great surprise, a great mercy
"'He is aliver l cried, and would
have rushed to find him, but they held
me back"
"The good Doctor sat down and
talked to me, quietly and grayely. 1t
was true that my father was not dead,
as had been supposed; but he had been
brought home in a most critical state,
and his recovery depended entirely upon
quiet.
"For maIy weeks we did not know
whether he would live or die. But at
last he began to get better, and before
winter set in he was being wheeled
about the garden, and was walking by
his side, an altered child, because the
daily anxiety had taught me more than
l had learned during the years lived in
the world; I knew how selfish l had
been what useless life was mine COM
pared to that precious one l had so lit
tie valued, and had so nearly lost.
81 have told you this story, dear, as a
little warning. [ cannot wish you to
learn the value of your parents at SO
great cost"
81 shall not said Jennie wiplng her
eyes, and nodding her head. "next time,
1 will indeed think before l speak: [ did
not really mean what said, you know. :"
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