The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-07-19


hundreds OF weary miles begging her
wav.
Footsore and spent, she looked at q
superb house, set back in a wide garden,
the home of luxury-her home. Not
even one given her by a husbands love,
but her own fair inheritance from her
father.
She looked wistfully at the open win
dows, the vine- wreathed porch, but whis
pered:
"There may be another in my place."
and passed on slowly.
One search must be made. She must
journey TO the city of the dead, and see
Fif~her- husband had psffshed on that'
awful night, that seemed to her bat just
passed. Was that awful blank of years
the blank of death to him?
The wife who had worshiped him, who
bad left even her only child to seek
health-giving air for him, and to give
him undivided care, crawled on to the
cemetery to seek the tombstones there
for his name. But nearly at her jour.
ney's end she sank down exhausted at
the base of tall shaft.
Dizzy, trembling, che looked up as
footsteps came near, and saw slender,
beautiful girl leading feeble man for
ward. He was gray, too, and week, and
when he sat upon the iron bench near
the tall shaft he trembled with exhaus-
ton.
81 shall not come many times more,
Cora" he said, gently. "My eyes are
dim, and my strength fails me every
day. But tonight will tell you the
story OF your mothers death. We have
not told you before that she does not
| lie here"
"Not lie here ?"
"No, child. Your mother sleeps far
off from here under the waters She
was lost in the Reindeer. For weeks
after the fearful night when the steamer
was burned I lay at deaths door; but
death was not merciful. He took my
darling, and left the wreck Of a man.
crippled, feeble, suffering, but living"
"Oh, father, do not speak as if you
regretted your li'e Think what it has
been to me-friend, companion, teacher,
father and mother in one!'
"Cora, dear, that was my only com.
fort. But for you would have prayed
to die. Little one, You may live to know
Heaven grant that you do-such love
as your mother felt for me, to gain such
love as mine for her. We were utterly
happy together. We idolised each other,
and SO our Heavenly Father parted US,
to take her to His own bliss, and raise
my heart to Him."
The ragged wayfarer behind the great
marble shaft rose painfully. For one
moment she stood irresolute, longing to
throw herself upon that faithful heart
that still held her sacred.
But seeing the worn face, she saw,
too, the delicate girl tenderlv supporting
the gray, dropping head. Every detail
Of the simple yet costly dress, the re-
fined beauty seemed burning upon her
brain, as she said, softly:
II have been pauper thirteen years.
I will not shame them"
But as she moved slowly away, che
felt her limbs fail, her brain reel, and
sank helpless upon the ground. The
involuntary cry she gave reached the
ears OF the mourner.
"See, Cora; it is q woman-a beggar
Poor creature! Have you the wine you
brought for me3'
The girl went quickly upon her er-
rand Of mercy. She had been taught
to follow all the womanly impulses Of
generosity and pity in her gentle heart,
and she softly touched the unconscious
figure, putting off the shabby bonnet
and loosening the ragged shawl.
Her father tottered to her side and
raised the feeble head upon his arm,
while the wine was put to the pale lips.
So awakening, she must have been
more than human to control the word
that rose to her lips.
"Robert! Robert!'
One great gasping cry escaped him,
and for q moment his beart-throbs
threatened to suffocate him. White as
death, he said, with trembling lips.
margaret! Can it be Margaret?"
Il tried to creep away. But shall
not shame you in my grave"
"Shame mel! You, Margaret? My
wife! Why have you let me mourn you
as dead p
II have been crazy, they tell me-a
crazy rauper in an almsh0use thirteen
years."
"Oh, mother, mother" I"
In choking sobs Cora spoke the sa-
cred name she had been taught to hold
in deepest reverence; and she knelt be-
side the ragged beggar, showering kisses
upon the white face, while scalding tears
fell from her eyes. 1t was the father
who first recovered composure. The
sun was over, and the twilight would
soon be gone.
Cora" the father said, Ego to the
house, and send servants with litter.
Quick, dear. We must take your moth
er home."
The girl sprang to her feet at once -
Only the wide road and the garden were
to be crossed after she was few hun
dred yards from the gate of the ceme-
tery. She sped over these like fawn
and entered the house. Her grand
mother was there, and the strange story
was briefly told.
Servants were called, litter hurriedly
prepared, and the old lady went to pre-
pare food and comforts for the wander
er. while Cora led the men to the GENE.
terry.
The mother was carried to the house,
and clothed as became her station
Both father and mother regained their
health and renewed their ages, and Cora
had the pleasure of their companion
ship for many years-in fact,' until she
was called to preside over home of
her own. 1t was pleasant scene to
witness the perfect happiness that came
to the reunited pair. They both suffer-
ed much, but their happiness in the last
years of their lives partly compensated
them for their sufferings.
i For constipation in children, don't
force them to swallow castor oil; try
L yVT III