New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-01-03
kneeling figure.

AucSllu2 ny uIce
es, it is; and she's tainted or some
thingr' cried the woman. hurrying by
him, and touching Pansv's shoulder.
She had indeed tainted, and with one
lift of her strong arms Mrs. Ross laid
her on the pallet, with her pale pinched
face upturned, and proceeded to yigor-
ously rub the lifeless hands.
lady's sir?'' She said, turning to the
stranger, who stood apparently stupeti-
ed. $50 I'll make bold to tell you the
truth. She's a-dyin' out of pure hunger,
weakness, and a-grievin' for the little
sick baby. If you'll go for a doctor,
and get some wine and things. I'll have
'em carried down to my room, third
floor front, where it's warm
Eyes, / will at once-dying of hunger
my Godr' exclaimed the stranger,
disappearing as if no haste could DO
great enough.
So it was that when Pansy awakened,
her first thought was that God had
heard her prayer and taken both her
self and baby to heaven.
Certain it was that she was warm, oh,
SO warm. Kind faces bent over her.
her hands were in some ones tender
clasp, and there was a little gurgling
sound like baby's precious laugh.
For one wild, delicious moment she
thought they were in heaven. It was
John who held her hands. it was baby's
laugh she heard. They were together,
never, never to be again separated,
Then reason slowly came to Danish
the delirious Joy. One face after an
other became familiar, The room found
its place in her memory. Then she saw
another face, and with startled fash
of recognition spoke his name:
s'Mr. Leslie!''
s.Mrs. Eldridge,' he answered.
"Oh," she exclaimed, Selling the
hand he held out. ''How good it seems
to see you; how it makes me think
But there she broke into choking s0bs
and buried her face in the pillow.
Don't cry, dear; just see here's ex-
claimed Mrs. Ross, and with the quick
instinct of one who knows mother-love,i
she held to Pansy little Lillian. who in.
truth was laughing warmth and food
had driven death away from his coveted
prey. And as Pansy snatched her baby,
with her grief turned to Joy, Mrs. Ross
hurried into the next room, SO that the
friends might have q chance to talk to
each other
''Why did you run away?' were Cor
don Leslie's words.
II did not run away answered
Pansy in some surprise. Il simply went
because had to. When-when every
thing was changed so, Icould not afford
to live there. had to work.
e'You work. he exclaimed. "And
your father worth thousandsr'
''My father cast me of" she said
simply. Il loved and married poor
man. and I have never been sorry.''
'.But your husband earned good
salary in my bank; he must have left
you something when he left.
Excuse my asking-I want to be
your friend-what. has brought you to
this strait?' exclaimed Mr.. Leslie, ris-
ing and walking about the room in
great agitation.
'sOne misfortune after another" she
answered sadly.
"a week after / first moved the house
was burned, and Lillian and l lost every
thing, besides some money l had just
drawn from the bank.
ut was severe loss, and ate deeply
into my small account.
..Then. when found work, sup
pose worked too hard. for I fell very
i'll, and for three months had to be
nursed, besides paying the doctor, and
having some one to take care of Lillian.
CATER that was SO long weak I
could not work. and it takes money to
live, you know
There she broke down, sobbing pitt
fully, and coming to the lounge he laid
his hand on her sunny head, over which
so many clouds had passed, and tender
ly said:
Poor child! poor childv'
Coming from him. gray haired and
nearly twice her years, it seemed father
~ loving, and was inexpressibly COM
forting to Pansy's aching heart.
She did not dream Of the love and
longing in his heart to take her in his
arms. to comfort and protect her. to
tell her never to worry or grieve again,
but be his wife, give him the right to
love and shield her, and to learn to love
him if she could.
No. she did not guess, nor did he
speak it then.
But two months later, when, through
bis influence, she secured well-payinr
work. and her frail strength again re-
belled, he went to her, resolved that he
would save her precious life and make
her his own.
..Be my wife," he said, stretching
out his arms to her with q praverful
vehemence. LET rne save you. Give
me the right to love and care for you.
for you are dearer to me than my own
life.''
I'll your wife?' she cried, shrink
ing back in her chair and putting out
one hand as if to ward him of. ..Oh no.
Mr.. Leslie. you do not mean it-you do
not love me-you do not
''But l do" he interrupted vehe-
mently. ''When that love was wrong,
knew that it was in my heart. Since
have felt the right to cherish it, it has
filled my whole life. Listen to me. Oh,
Pansy-'
''Hush!'' she cried. starting up with
cry of pain. THAT was his name for
me. No one else ever called mo 90.
Oh, Mr.. Leslie, say 70 more to me. Nv
heart. my life-aye, all but what l live
for, my child-is buried in the ocean
with my husband. But for my child
would pray to die; for her I must live. :"
'.Yes, for her you must live,'' he IL.
terrupted her. ..And for her sake listen
to me. do not expect you to love me
- know too well how you love, once
given. is deathless. But you do not hate
me: Give me liking, respect, and esteem,
and the right to love you and save
your lite for your child sake and mine,
and ! will be content.
III you refuse. think of the wrong
you do her. But . few weeks more Of
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