The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-09-09

| iiCt huoDhlus hb III Il bllOulu.
Our household having long since re-
tired, long, indeed, before my return,
myself opened the door.
The street lamp lighted dimly two
figures; ono tall, stout and muflled.
"Mr. Merton Z"
answered in the affirmative.
:" You have kindly given shelter to a
ladyp"
"Just So"
The speaker nodded to his companion,
who touched his hat and vanished.
The other stranger had now entered
the hall, and grasped my hand.
"Mr. Tremayne?" asked, hesitatingly.
"Captain Tremayne. How is sheP"
"Asleep, under my wife's care Sleep
ing as peacefully as child"
"Thank God SO young-at such
I'm hour-in such state"
saw long shudder run through the
tall, powerful frame.
"And the childp" he added, after q
pause, in horror-stricken whisper.
"She had it with her?"
hardly knew what to answer /; but he
had thrown off his heavy ulster and
travelling cap, and now stood before
me, as handsome, as pleasant and honest
looking young fellow as 1 ever saw,
and my heart warmed to him. He was
no assassin, or ruflian, or cowardly
bully, whatever Mary might say. The
shadow of great horror, that lay in the
blue, mellow eyes, had been laid there
by terror, not crime.
"The child is dead" said, softly.
at died two weeks ago, died sud
denly in commissions in her arms, and
the shock turned her brain. She was
doing SO we'll, poor little thing; but
afterward she grew delirious, and in
her rawlings she accused herself and me.
could do nothing she would not have
me near her, but beat me off with her
hands, as if she could not bear the sight
of me. And 1 was so fond of her and
she of me |" Here the man broke down.
He walked to the window, then turned
and asked, abruptly "May I go to her ?"
1 thought of Mary and hesitated.
"She is sleeping so peacefully just
now; and if she awoke suddenly and
saw you"
"She shall not see me-" he broke in,
eagerly. "I will be SO quiet but /
must see her. 1 nursed her through
long illness year ago, and she would
have no one near her but me; and now"
Under the heavy military mustache I
saw his lip culver he paused, then
added: 81 must go to her p not in
command, but in yearning appeal, both
in voice and eyes.
"Will you wait here q minute? l
will see whether she still sleeps"
She still slept, the heavy peaceful
sleep of tired child, Mary keeping
stern watch and guard over her. I
beckoned her out of the room.
"Well !" with fretful impatient eager
ness. "You have seen him? What is
he like? Is he horrid?"
"Judge for yourself; he is in the
dining-room. He says he must see her
he must come in."
"That he shan't, the cruel wretch
or it will be over my PROSTATE bodyl"
tragically.
"Well, go and tell him so."
81 willp And away, nothing daunt-
ed, went Mary. / smiled. She will no
more resist the pleading of those hand
some blue eyes than did her husband.
He will win her over with look" 1
was right she soon returned, and not
alone.
"He will be very quiet, and she need
not see him. | thonght it would be
better - all this alologeticnlly.
He crossed the room as noiselessly us
a woman, stopped over the bed in
silence, then sat down beside it. Mary
shaded the lamp so that the room was
in twilight, and SO We all three sat
down to wait.
For more than an hour we waited,
then Mary stole out. Captain Tremaype
looked up as the door opened and
closed ; then, with quick sigh, laid
the brown curly head down upon the
pillow as close as possible to that of
the poor young wife without touching
it, and his hand moved up toward hers,
where it lay on the coverlet, but with
out touching that either, for fear OF
waking or disturbing her.
1t was not until the first gray streaks
of daylight were struggling in through
the window beside which 1 sat, and
there was a slight stir she was awaking
at last.
"Hughp she breathed-d dreamily at
first, then Hugh !"
| ltf, utuf
She turned her face toward his where
it lay beside her. She Was only partially
awake as yet. her eyes were still closed;
but the hand on the cnveret crept up
softly toward him, i,utcrcd over his
face, rested one mom,nt carelessly Oh
the brown curls, then, with long, con-
tented sigh, her arm stole round his
neck.
Husband, kiss me p
"His presence has saved her." was
my mental comment "there is nothing
now TO fear !" and, unnoticed, left the
room.
Chilled and cramped with the long
lifting after the nights journey, 1 was
not sorry to find the sitting-room bright
With lamp and freight, the kettle sing
ing on the hob, breakfast as comfortably
laid out for two as # the hour had been
instead OF 6, and Mrs. Merton as
neat and fresh and trim as if that mid
hight tragedy had been all dream. Let
,avilists sneer as they may, there is
nothing for man like wife, if she be
4 good one. / myself may have had
my doubts on the subject-wiyes are but
women after all, and must therefore be
lrying at times, even the best of them.
But / certainly had no doubts what
ever as i stretched out my feet to the
, blaze, and resigned myself cheerfully to
being petted and waited on.
"Well?" questioned Mrs. Merton, wher
my creature comforts had all been at
tended to, and not before. / told hel
/, how matters stood; she was delighted
. "And so they are fond of each other
after all? and his being unkind to hel
!. and her poor little baby wss only de
/ lusion. How dreadful i-how delight
ful, mean Poor fellow $50 young
!, and handsome and NIGEL I felt SO sorr.
0 Tor him."