The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-31
abe cried, graaping his arm in her sx.

abe cried, grasptng bis arm In her sx-
element.
'sBe calm" Miss Jeanne, he answered
soothingly, ''for have only you to de-
pend upon as nurse. Yes, fear that
Mrs. Willette's Is a very sick woman"
He once more bent over the invalid,
who, having swallowed a soothing
potion, now lay quiet with closed eyes.
The farmer had stood eagerly watch
ing the doctors face, as he spoke to
Jean, and he now stepped forward.
81 say, doctor, toucning the
physician's arm and speaking in an
swe-struck voice, ''you don't mean to
say that my wife is very sick do your"
al am afraid so, Mr.. Willette," was
the reply as the doctor rapidly wrote
prescription and handed 1t to Jean.
"Your wife was always very delicate
woman, and she should have never
married farmer-least Of all poor
one," he added in low voice, yet not
so low but that the husband caught his
words.
"No one knows that better than /
do" the farmer mentally said, while
aloud he asked:
"You will call again this evening,
sirf"
"Yee," answered the other man as he
softly closed the bedroom door and
walked along the cold, carpetless hall
followed by Mr.. Willette; ''yes, will.
But Mr.. Wnlette, to be frank with you,
your wife has some trouble on her
mind over which she is constantly wor-
rying; and, indeed, believe that this
trouble has partly caused the illness;
and" he stood still, and tho better to
emphasize his words, he laid hand on
the farmers shoulder, land until that
trouble Is cleared away can give you
no hopes of her recovery. l did not tell
your daughter OF this, because | wished
hrst to make it known to you"
"You are quite sure OF this, DIR. Bar
lowP" the farmer asked, in forced
voice.
81 am sir. MIR. Willette, your wife
DR.. Barlow asked significantly; aud
without waiting for an answer he
sprsng into tho buggy and was soon
out OF sight, leaYing The farmer to
awake to the astonishing truth that his
wife's life was despaired Of, chiefly be-
cause he refused to allow the boy
whom he had disowned to return TO his
home and his affections.
Slowly he donned his hat and return
ed to his work, feeling weaker and more
unnamed than he had ever been be-
fore.
(which means" he said angrily, but
| 10 hfpoaaH ofuiuor fha old hnru., =, ,ha..,
cut with the whip, ''that am to send
for that boy. Pshaw the doctor Is a
fool; he don't know what he is talking
about. Send for Tom, indeed | No; he
has made his bed, 80 let him lie." Thus
for time he dismissed the subject from
his mind.
That night Hannah Briggs came to
the farmhouse to attend to the house.
work, that Jeanne might give all her
time and thoughts to her mother.
o how YEARLY the days and weeks
crept by with no change for the better
In the invalid whose never. ceasing CRY
was for Tom. Then she would imagine
herself eonverslng with her husband.
"Oh. John !" she cried, piteOusly,
''you don't know; perhaps he was
tempted TO go; forgive him for my sake
DEAR" and yet for the sake of his stub
born pride her husband turned a deaf
ear to her cry,
Then came time. however, when it
was almost too late. Grouped about
her bed that night were Jean, the doc
tor, and the farmer all waiting for eth.
er life or death, they knew not which.
without, the night was most beautl
full, so calm and so solemn. The gem
tie breeze moved lszily through the
} leaves pom the tall trees near the farm.
house with sound ike the rustling of
angels wings, while near by lay soul
battling with death.
, As tine watchers sat there in the dim
: light the old clock in the hall below
! struck twelve. A Jew minutes later and
, the sound of hushed footsteps ascend.
J ing the stairs and coming toward the
sick room. The door was pushed stead
lily open and the figure Vi young man
appeared in the moonlight. Unmlnd.
, tul Of the other occupants OF the room,
he moved toward the bed ard bent OVel
} the PROSTATE form.
} Mother" voice said low and bro
kenly, ''mother, speak to me; it il
| Tom"
That simple word had an effect thai
all the doctors medical skill had fai eG
to compass. A smile, FAINT but almos
, heavenly. curved the mothers lips.
"My Tom-John forgive him |" The
weak hand relaxed its hold uOon the
large brown one, and with a little sigh
Mrs. Willette fell into refreshing
sleep,
''She is saved" DIR. Barlow whisper.
ed, thankfully, and involuntariy his
eyes rested upon the farmer kneehne
beside the bed, with his face buried il
: bis hands, W llle deep sobs shook hi
, heavy frame.
e q I'd mercy had overwhelmed him
3 At last he arose, and with bowed heuC
I and quiet footsteps he stole from thu
I room, aud alter few moments hesita
. ton Tom followed him.
e No one ever knew what passed il
0 that lnterYiew-no one but God AM
7 the two men concerned in it, Suffic,
1t to say that Tom never returned t.
the city. but worked hamply apC
= thankfully upon the WIllette farm, TO
Iom became more patient, more sub
n dued than II had ever seemed possible
Is or him to be. Aud gradually tn Or
q arose better understanding be
y tween his father and himself, for in tn
4 bitter lesson that they had learned the
found that above and beyond all els
II there is to be desired thar love chat l
II beyond all price.