The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-02-17


had taught him this "papa." Why
did not spring up, bound toward her,
and with one word, one embrace, strike
out the loneliness ofthese last six years1
One light word in this moment and all
would have been we'll. Ii remained
unspoken / seemed to have lost all
power to act ; but on certain page Of
my ledger are still traces OF the tears
shed in anger at my own stupidity.
There was no doubt about il another
spiri; had stepped in with its little
curly head-the spirit Of love; and that
made me stranger in my own house.
A precious sunshine frightened the
rooms, even when the one in the heavens
was hidden by clouds. The faces Of
the servants and even inanimate objects
streamed back this radiance. But me,
only, the sunshine did not touch.
felt myself always more unhappy in
my loneliness. Jealousy grew in me
it gave me all sorts OF foolish thoughts.
! wanted to rebel against the little
autocrat-that would be ridiculous.
wanted to give her the choice between
him and me. I, audacious one, knew
very well which side her heart would
choose. At another time was ready
to take steps in order TO find the mother,
and with the dover Of gold force her to
take back her child-behind my wife's
back? That would be cowardly.
| could no longer fix my mind on
business. mistrusied even myself
People asked the what was the matter
with me. feigned illness.
The sunshine would not let itself be
banished, and the spirit of love was
stronger thanI. With his flaming sword
he drove me out.
al must take a long journey, Martha"
My voice tremEed as | said this
My wife must have noticed it, for some
thing like pity ;remblcd in her beau,i-
ful eyes. At my taking leave she held
the little Que toward me, and asked in
a soft, caressing tone: "Will you not
say adcu 10 our child ?" | took up the
little one, perhaps too roughly; at all
events he began TO cry and resist my
oaresses. Then put him down and
fastened away.
travelled in uncertainty through the
world, and behold after the few days
in addition to my ordinary travelling
companion, bad humor, there came
another fellow that told me plainly tina;
was 4 fool. First it sounded like a
whisper. then louder and louder? "You
are downright fool" Finally, read
it in the newspaper before me, it was
traced on the blue mountains, the loco
motive shrieked 1t TO me. Yes believe
il why did not then and there turn
my face homeward Well, the fool must
first travel il all off before everything
would be be right again.
At last, one day, with a violen; beat.
ing OF the heart, | again entered my
dwelling. What solemn stiffness reign
cd there could now hear the sound
of whispering voices; my wife came
toward me. at is sick, very SICK"
moaned she sit will surely die !"
tried TO comfort her. Only a short
time. however proved, that her fears were
too we'll grounded. During the last
night we both sat by the little bed she
there and here, each one Of US holding
one OF his little hands. All those fever
ish pulse beats. every stroke sounded
an appeal Glove each other, love each
other be good :" We felt eventually
those throbbings, and we understood
the appeal. Our eyes met, full and
earnest through the glittering tears, as
in the first holy vow. Words would
have seemed 4 sacrilege then.
! Not 1npu aftar Laid ,,,r I,.i;,., -,
the warm Spring earth.
When we again 81; down 4, our table
there was stiffness between US, but j;
was not the same stiffness rs that which
the little stranger had broken in upon
with his parting papa" Even by the
wall stood his high armchair, and on
the little board before il lay his spoon
sceptre. Mywifc reached her fair white
hand over the table and asked "Did
you also love ii-ai least I little ?" Her
voice tremblcd. MY wife nv sweet,
my own wife !" cried /. Then fell a,
her feet ani held her hands fast ir
mine. 81 love thee my wife; oh m,
wife"
After the frs; emotion had subsidized
pointed to an armchair. "Thc little
one came TO us TO teach us love-" wills.
pered |. ''And when il had finished
its teaching it went again to the angels,
added she, through her tears.
One day the physician stepped out o;
my wife's room with smiling face
He touched the little arm. chair as he
passed it, saying: "Iet it stand there
CON will need /, AGAIN ~
Really9 Was it possible? Had dc
served such happiness?
As held my wife close to my hear,
in my irrepressible JOY | could not for
bear TO bend down to her blushing it'll,
face and say, "Wc will love it dearly
very dearly. is IL moi so 7n