Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-10-03

She told him all, and asked him what
she must do. The dark light that flashed
into his eyes looked no good for his
brother-in-law should be meet him in
his present state, but he told her he
would attend to it for hsr; she must go
now and lie down.
But rest was impossible; sleep was
far off from the wide, dark eyes. They
were bright and ner brow and cheeks
were burning; before night she was de-
lirious with fever.
On the same day that Laurel was in
quiring around for him at home, her
husband, in distant city, CHANGED to
pick up q newspaper, and read this no.
tice:
"Died, at Claremont, near the town
of -, Mrs. Ellswood, mother of
Walter G. Ellsvood and Mrs. Robert
Nesbit.''
Good heavens! Laurel's mother
dead! And he had acted as he had
about his wife's going! He had never
thought her mothers illness was any
thing. What would every ore think
of him! He must hasten home at once.
He noticed the date of the paper, and
saw that Mrs. Ellswooi had died several
days before. BE hurriedly packed his
valise, went to the telegraph Office and
wired his partner that he would be at
home as soon as he could possibly get
there.
He went straight to the depot and
bought through ticket for home. He
reached there at 2 o'clock the night
after. He knew it was useless to 20 to
his house; it was locked and he had the
keys. He knew there would be no one
at the Office. He could not go to Cler-
mont until the next train, which left in
two hours. He could only go to the
nearest telegraph station and send a
message to let them know he was COM
ing. He was just writing the message
when he heard his name called. He
looked around. One of the young men
in the office handed him message which
had just been received, addressed to
"Darleigh, of Nesbit, Darleigh & Co."
It contained these words:
Wire Nesbit at once, it you can; his wife is
very low. " G. ELLswooD.
Il think the message concerns you
more than it does your partner, Mr..
Nesbit. There is no necessity to send
it out to his house, is there %
But the operator received no reply.
Looking Ill Nesbit's face, he saw that 1t
was deathly in its hue. He offered him
. chair. but the stricken man only wrote
tho 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 seemed
an eternity, before the train moved out.
On the way bis thought were full of re-
morseful agony. He had acted unpar-
donabiy. He had been very hard and
cruel toward bis youcg wife, and now
she was very i'll, probably dying, and he
not with her He felt that bis cruelty
in leaving her without word had had its
share in Bringing on her illness.
The carriage was waiting for him at
the station. The diver said III reply to
his eager inquiry:
'Mlss 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 inc bloom OF her girlhood, bis own
sweet Laurel; would she know him? Oh,
merciiul God! would she he living?
At last the house was reached, and he
spraug from the carriage. At the steps
Walter met him.
"How is she % was all he could utter,
Just alive" answered the brother,
coldjy, not taking his proffered hand.
May See her at once?" asked the
now utterly crushed and remorseful
man.
"She has asked for you. OF course
can not refuse her wish. She has just
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
st, etcbed 1t feeby toward her husband.
A sweet smile lit up her paliid face, her
bright, suDken eyes. He bent over her
and kissed her lips, her forehead; he
was shaking like one in chill.
He knelt down by her and held her
hand in both of his.
81 am very sick, Robert. I am so
glad you have come, for the doctor says
I must die. Oh, Robert, my husband,
how can l leave you and my baby, our
baby, our little girl? You have not
seen her. You will have to take my
place as we'll as your own to our little
one. Robert, she will have 10 mother.
Never mind, dearest, don't erieve 50.
You must keep a brave heart fo~ baby's
sake. will meet mamma sooner than I
thought"
A spasm of pain passed over the beau
tiful features, and made her oblivious to
all around. Robert knelt looking at her
III blank misery. &c was powerless to
relieve her. He rose and bent over her
in agony. He called her name wiiuly,
begged her to forgive him and live for
him. He cursed himself and in the next
breath he prayed with tremendous fer
vor that she might be spared only a
while.
"Oh God! 1 can not stand it, can not
bear il" he groaned as he flung himself
down on the bed beside her. The move
ment reused her and she laid her hand
on his head.
"Robert, darling you must not give
up this way. I am weak, Robert, I must
kiss me, my husband, our baby take
care of her-good BY"
The young life had gone out from the
beautiful form. The baby was already
dead, but they had not told her. Both
were buried i'm one grave. The grass
is green upon it to-day, and Robert lives
on with the shadow of that grave always
falling over him. Heis changed man.
The old imperious temper is subdued.
If sadder, he is also gentler and mob
Ter man.
A Wicked Joke.
From the Florida Times Unionl
Charlie Willard was a practical joker;
he was what the many victimized dark
les called q "bai-id man." One dav