Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-12-05

ouen' her mothers illness anytb;no
Mhat would every one think of bim,
ne must hasten home at once -
he noticed the date of the paper and
saw that Mrs. Ellswood had died seve-
,a uays before. He hurriedly packed
his Vallse, went to the telegram of,;oo
ana wired his partner that he wonld he
there, '''i' get
DE went straight to the depot and
pousnt a through ticket for home. He
knew 1t was useless to go to his house.
II was locked and he had the KEYS. He
Knew there would he no one at tho ot-
nee. lie could not goout to Clarmount
until the next train which left in two
liours. He could only go to the nearest
telegraph station and send message TO
ie' Them know he was coming. He
was Just writing the message when he
heard his name called. He looked
around. One Of the young men in the
once handed him message which had
just been received, addressed to ssDar.
leigh, of Nesbit, Darleigh & Coz If
contained these woris:
wire Nesbit at once, if you can; his
wlfe Is very low. w. G. ELLswoop.
Il think this message concerps Won
more than it does your partner Mr.
Nesbit. There is no necessity to send
It out to his house?"
But the operator received no reply
Looking in Nesbit's he face saw that it
was deathly in its hue. He offered him
chair, but the stricken man only
wrote the reply: "Coming; meet me
at the station" and walked out of the
office.
He went straight to the depot, where
he had to wait short while that SEEM
ed an eternity before the train moved
out. On the way his thoughts were
full of remorseful agony. He had acted
unpardonably. He had been very hard
and cruel toward his young wife, and
now she was very ill, probably dying,
and he not with her. He felt that his
cruelty in leaving her without a word
had its share in bringing on her illness,
The carnage was waiting for him at
the station. The driver said in reply to
his eager inquiry:
''Miss Laurel is very low.''
Rapidly he was driven to the house
where he had spent so many pleasant
evenings, where he had first met Laurel
in the bloom of her girlhood, his own
sweet Laurel; would she know him?
Oh, merciful Godl would she be living?
At last the house was reached. and he
sprang from tie carriage. At the steps
Walter met him.
''How is she?" was all he could utter.
"Just alive" answered the brother,
cOldly, not taking his proffered hand.
''May / see her at once?" asked the
now utterly crushed and ,remorsefYl
man.
"She had asked for you. OF course /
cannot refuse her wish. She has jut
recovered consciousness. She heard the
carriage and is expecting YOU"
Silently Robert followed the brother
of his wife into the room of death. As
they entered Laurel raised her hand and
stretched it feebly toward her husband.
A sweet smile lit up her pallid face, her
bright, sunken eyes. He bent over her
and kissed her lips, her forehead; he
was shaking like one in chill. He
bent down by her and held her hand in
both of his.
81 am very sick. Robert, am so glad
you have come, for the doctor says
must die. Oh, Robert, my husband,
how can 1 leave you and my baby, our |
baby, our little girl. You will have to
take my place as well as your own to
our little one. Robert, she will have no |
mother. Never mind, dearest, don't
grieve so. You must keep brave
heart for baby's sake. l will meet
mamma sooner than L thought"
A spasm of pain passed over the beau
tiful features and made her oblivlous 10
all around. Robert knelt looking at her
in blank misery. He was pOwerless TO
relieve her. He rose and bent over her
in agony. He called her name wildly
begged her to forgive him and live for
him He cursed himself and in the
next breath be prayed with tremulous
fervor that she might be spared, only a
while.
uOb Godl I cannot stand it. cannot
hear itr he groaned as he flung hlmsen
down ON the bed beside her, The move
ment reused her and she laid her manu-
on his head.
"Robert, darling you must not give
mn this way. 1 am weak, hopei',
must-kiss me, my husband, our papy
take care of her-good-bye."
The voupg life had gone out from the
ho.urifnl form. The baby was ALREADY
dead hut they had not told her. bo!h
were buried in one gfave. The grass Is
Green upon it to day, and Robert hveS
o. With tbe shadow of that grave always
falling over him. He is changed man
Tha r Old imperious temper is subdued.
If a sadder, he is also gentler anu n0
bier man.