The Osceola times., 1881-09-24

I route, when 70 start and where 10 change
IL becomes clear to me, after tremen-
dous amount Of consideration. that if
leave Fusion square at midday, | shall
reach Weatherhampton early in the
[ evening. This point settled. feel more
at ease, and retire 10 rest in sweet anti
cipation ofsoOn meeting Will.
I On the following day | set my house in
order for an absence for an indefinite
Z length, and then start GA my journey
northwards. | have the railway carriage
TO myself most of the journey. An old
I gentleman who shares il with me fli
part of the way manages, during tn,
forty minutes he is my fellow traveller, Il
comment upon an astounding variety ol
subjects. / reply to him in monosylla
I bles, having no inclination for converse
I ton but my feeble smiles fail to arrest
I his garrllity. He talks on and on, de.
/ seTting one topic only to commence
another, till the train stops at a junction
and | am relieved of his company
Weatherhampton is a small place, pretty
/ enough in summer but indisoribably dull
in winter. Mrs. Mitchell's husband prac.
ticed there as o doctor; and since his
death has remained in her old house, he.
ing attached TO il because Of its associa
I tions with her married life.
When alight al the station, and have
given the porter instructions as to the
conveyance Of my luggage, | asked him
I If he has hearl lately how Mrs. Mitchell
/ is.
"Nery bad ma'am," is his reply; and
Z | turn away with sad heart
My mother in-law has not shown her
self particularly fond of me: she has
been rather hard upon my youth. and
ineXperience - housekeeper. But then
/ il must be terrible trial for a mother to
/ find herself felegated ta the second place
/ in the affection Of the son whom she
almost idolized and Mrs. Mitchell is a
good woman, am convinced, a really
T thoroughly good woman, and, above all
she is Wills mother-and what troubles
him greives me also.
Ivy Lodge is a low white house, with a
yeranda extending round two sides and
/ a great deal Of ivy olinging about it.
glance at the windows. They are raised
and the curtains are fiuttering in the
breeze, but thank Heaven, the blinds are
not drawn. The maid who opens the
door to me has been in Mrs. Mitchell's
service for many years. She lifts up her
hands with an ejaculation of astonish.
ment
Mercy On us! What will Mister viii
say
+ "lIush how is she ."
Just rs bad as she can be-" returns
Charlotte, raising her apron to her eyes
"Does not the doctor give any hope
Hardly any. mAam. Mister Will he
has had two, and has sent for third"
We'll, will take of my things first
and then | will % 10 my husband. And
Charlotte, " Il you get me some tea?
am parched with thirst
"ro be sure will, ma'am Nou must
be tired olt with that long Journey; and
if you're really come 10 help nurse
il won't do to knock you up first start
OIL"
She brings me presently a well-iur-
nished tray, and when have saten and
drank, feel refreshed in body and
strengthened in mind. Nevertheless |
am undeniably nervous as ] approach the
chamber. | do hope Will will not
be vexed. But it is too late for scrrples
so push open the door and enter.
YELLOW shades are hung before the
easements, and for an instant or two the
transition from light TO semi-darkness
bewilders me. Then | perceive the quiet
. figure un the bed, and beyond my hus
band sitting. The movement of my en-.
/ trance attracts his attention. He looks
/ towards me with glance at first dubious
and hesitating, but quickly changing tc
one of alarm He rises and passes noise
lessly round the foot of the bed.
"Why did you come ?" he asks hur.
! riedly, agitatedly, but not angrily.
"You are here"
"Yes, my place is herewith her
I pointing TO the bed.
"And mine also You forget that when
/ | became your wife became her daughter
also"
/ "Rut there is danger of Infection
"Not more for me than YOU How could
You imagine that should stop in Lon
don while you were here wearing your
self to death with anxiety? | couldn't
| Why, you might be dying, and should
not know il And-and, besides. | want
/ to see you so badly Oh, Will, | have
been so miserable lately Won't you
kiss, and make friends again"
| did not mean TO say it; ! did moi
mean to make the first advance. But
cannot retrace my words now, and dc
not think | wish 10 do So either. for in
another moment the place | crave is mine
Mrs. Mitchell's illness is protracted
one. She RECEIVERS in the end, but it is a
veritable fight for life, slow and weary
ascending ont ofthe Valley of the Shadow
of Death. But in those days Of pain and
languor Will and learn To- understand
each other more fully, to love each Other
more truly.
After all I do take the disease, but
very lightly, 50 lightly that it does mol
leave any Disagreement. Half dozen
marks have certainly; but these vii
calls ''heauty spots" and he will persist
in asserting that they add to instead o
detractise from my good looks.