Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-11-11

my hair, and go myself. Perhaps he
will know us when he wakes"
Then / slept, and when opened
my eyes again l saw Aunt Mary and
the girls sitting in my room. Aunt
Mary came to the bed and laid her
hand on my forehead, saying tender
ly,-
You have been i'll long time,
but YOU are better now, and must be
very careful. Do not talk, but let
everything rest till you are a little
stronger"
was going to ask some questions
with regard to my illness, but shut
INV lips again and kept quiet; but
nv gaze wandered to Bel, who sat
near me. She raised her beautiful
eyes full of tears, from her work and
smiled. then dropped her long lashes
again, and worked on quietly. l did
not watch the soft. white fitting
hands as it had once been my JOY to
do; but my glance wandered to the
window where Ethel sat, and though
she did not raise her eyes, watched
her as she worked. Her face, it
seemed to me, was thinner and paler
than I had ever seen it, but her light
brown hair was brushed back in the
same glossy waves from her forehead.
L fell asleep watching her, and
dreamed she was trying to pull me
out of the water; but Bel Eeld her
back, and kept calling on me to get
her some flowers which l could not
reach.
Several weeks passed, during
which l gained strength rapidly.
Bel was all attention, and was always
alone with me in the forenoon. Once
it would have filed me with Joy to
have her near me; now cared no
more for her than l should for a
waxen doll, and / hailed the afternoon
with pleasure, for it always brought
Aunt Mary and Ethel. One of the
girls read aloud, and thus the hours
passed very pleasantly.
At last / was able to go out again.
The leaves had all fallen, and every
thing looked blank and drear out of
doors. told them one morning, as
we sat at breakfast, that / must soon
go home.
lOAunt Mary and Uncle James pro-
tested that l should stay all winter,
and Bel joined her soft, pleading
voice; and as she laid her little hand
on mine carelessly, there was some
thing in her face that told me 1
need not go alone. Ethel said moth
ing, and I did not dare look at her
to read what I hoped her face ex-
pressed. l thanked them all, but /
did not say whether I would stay.
eff l return alone, Uncle James it
will be because Ethel wills it. Say,
Ethel, must / go back alone, or will
you go with met"
She raised her beautiful eyes, but
they could not bear my look of ad-
miration and love; as she bent over
upon the table and sobbed aloud.
In another moment we were alone,
and went and leaned oyer her and
laid my hand on her head.
Ethel, Ethel, do not mind what
1 say. Forget it. Do not distress
yourself, because You give me pain.
| IL yOu w uOt iofc Auct Ouh ~ away,
and you must forget all about it."
| Up, like flash, came the sunny
brown head, and broad, beautiful
smile flashed over her face.
"But 1 do love you, Cousin Herald.
What then?"
| I began to see how matters stood.
/ caught her in my arms, that
might look at her attentively. She
bore the scrutiny, blushing and
smiling through her tears.
i I will not attempt to tell the many
foolish things / said and did-for
what matters it? We were married,
and went home before the snow fell
and the dreary old house has new
aspect since the sunshine has been
fitting through its large dark rooms
Love is wonderful beautifer, they
say, and Ethel, too, has grown pretty
beneath its magic influence. Her
| hair lies in the same waves across
her forehead, and her happy, cheer
| full face beams with uniying beauty.
Her smooth, white, shapely hands
could bear comparison even with
Bells. But do I love my little dar-
ling better for thati No, indeed! ]
love her because she is a true, affec-
tionate woman, my own "pearl OF
price," God bless my Ethel!