Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-05-26

fashionable that they had never for
gotten the habits of their honeymoon,
and for half an hour every day, after
dinner, Charles wife had him, call
to herself as she termed it. ''What
is it dear?' repeated Charlie, for he
saw request lowering over the lips
he loved SO WELL
"Charlie, [ know you have told me
business is urgent" began the little
woman deprecatingly, sand you are
needed here, but can't we take the
children and all go to the country
for a month %
Charles brow was bent in thought,
and for moment he did not reply.
'sMother is longing for me and the
children went on the cunning little
advocate, stand Aunt Martha longs
for sight of her boy
A smile frightened Charles brow.
"Ah, little one, you know my weak
points, don't you?" he said, as he
kissed the lips that were lifted so
temptingly upward. II will try,
dear, and if possibly we will go for
a month to Millbrooke.
That evening bitter wall arose
in the city, a wall of breaking hearts
over the dear ones that were not. An
epidemic, terrible and fatal as it was
sudden, had broken out In the city.
Charles partner was the first to fall
a victim, and the entire business of
the firm devolyed on Charlie then.
The disease swept like a breath of
the simoom over the city, and fear
lent its aid to the destroyer. The
third day Charlie said to his wife,
"Take the children, dear, and 60 to
your fathers. In a few days | will
follow"
She commenced her preparations
hurriedly, but ere they were half COM
pleted, she lay down shivering and
moaning in pain, for the disease had
stricken her, and ere nightfall both
her children were moaning beside
her. Careful nursing alone will
save them,' said the physician, as he
wrote his hurried prescription and
fastened away to the bedside of new
sufferers.
Careful nursing sighed Charlie.
"whence shall it come? Death sitting
sentinel at almost every threshold il
this great city; men flying from theil
homes till the dying and the dead al
most outnumber the living"
That evening a strong Irish woman
went to the bedside of Charities suf
ferers. She asked no questions, sh'
answered none; but with strong will
ing hands she took up the double
burden of housekeeper and nurse, ant
bravely she and Charlie battled wit
the angel of death.
The crisis passed, and the sufferer
would live, the physician said. mex
to God, thank this noble woman, fo
without her we could not have save'
Them"
81 cannot thank you Alright, m
noble woman," said Charlie, "bu
name your reward, and tell me hoy
I can repay the debt l owe you.''
| Then the woman spoke.
''Did yees think | come for money
and did yees think Biddy Finn coul
forgit? Whin me husband and m
childer, two ov 'em, were buried
| one day, and I was alone in th
: world, l heard that yer darlints wei
5 in danger, and | said to meself L
E come to help yees. I've owed yees
: debt iver since We bate the thavf
that stole me berries, and since J
i carried me heavy basket. Eve sal
I many a time I'd give me life for yet
and yer darlints, and I've proved
: now. Charlie Walther, yees did n
;, good turn whin | was ragged Ii
: tie girl, and now yer man me time
e come to pay it. May the howly sain
n kape us both y
And so the bread upon the waite
@ came home to Charlie after mar
It days.