The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-11-07
''You are an American. missp" he
said at last.
Eyes, SIR"

"You are an American. missp' he
said at last.
Eyes, sir.
Margaret answered 80 pleasantly
that the doctor continued with more as
surance, at the same time waving with
his hand to the room he had Just left:
'There is a young gentleman in
there, miss, who is not long for this
world. He is an American, also. It is
very hard to die so, miss-so great dis
lance from ones people. and with no
kind friends"
"fou are right" Margaret answer
ed, gravely. at is indeed hard. NV
father spoke yesterday of going in to
see the gentleman. He is out Just at
present, but if / may will 60 in now"
After moments absence the doctor
returned and conducted Margaret into
the room. The curtains were closely
drawn, and coming from the light into
the darkness she was blinded for mo-
ment. Not 80 with the sick man.
Looking up TO greet his visitor he ut
tered q sharp cry and the one word
"Margier'
Margaret stood as if stunned, and
then, advancing rapidly TO the bed, she
kneeled down beside it and buried her
face in the pillows. The poor doctor,
with a confused look, turned and hasti-
ly left the room. There was a mo-
ment's stiffness, broken only by Mar
garets low sobbing. The form before
her seemed to be the wreck of a once
strong and beautiful manhood. The
sick man was Arthur Carlson. He
raised his thin, wasted hand and ten
derby stroked the bright locks on the
pillow beside him. Poor little Mar
gie," he said family, you will soon be
free now"
Then, Margaret never knew how, she
forgot everything connected with the
past, she only remembered that the
man lying there. sick unto death, was
err husband. At last The proud spirit
as humbled and she confessed what
she had kept so jealousy guarded in
her own breast for so long. 20. Ar
hur," she cried in her agony 20, my
husband, only forget the past and try
to live for the future. God helping
me. | will yet win your love"
The white face on the pillow lit up
like the countenance of the dying who
see heavenly visions. The excitement
of the moment gave Arthur back his
strength. Raising himself on his ell
bow, he lifted The bright head beside
him until he could look into the love-
lit eyes. In one moment they read the
mistake of those years in each others
face. Each had loved. each had mis-
understood. Great COD! is it posi-
hle-" but the momentary strength
fOrsook the frame of the sick man and
he fell back on his pillow like one
dead.
The doctor, still much confused, had
waited in the hail. from which he was
now swiftly summoned to the sick
room.
For many days the Pickering flame
of life burned low, but it was fed from
the fountain Of love in the breast which
now so often piI!owed the weary head.
The kind old doctor worked and
watched as he mad never done before,
and he and the little landlady held
many whispered consultation in the
hall about the turn which affairs had
taken.
At last death was conquered. But it
was not for many weeks-not until Ar
thur was sirong enough TO ride out by
speak of the past. Then, when they
had put it away forever, Arthur drew
his wife TO him very tenierly and said:
Oar love was born 50 .ong ago that it
almost had no beginning, and now,
thank God, II will never know an end
ing"