The Press., 1884-06-26
forgive me, forgive me, I've done

" you wrong.
 The woman raised herself by great ef- fort to reach his hand, and kissing it said 1T do, Bill, knew you'd do me justice some day.
 ssOh, Nell, it's not too late-not too late You'll get better, and we'll be as happy as we were before this. The woman only drew his head to her, and kissed him while he, reused, kissed her again and again. "You do believe me, don't you, dear P ssOh, forgive me, Nell Oh, forgive me p were the only words he could find | in the rush of his newly found trust.
 "Bills wanted p shouted some one at the door. ''Old Whipps called you three times"
 "Here's the white, Bill, '" and she brought it and stood with the lamp while he point ed out the traces of tears on his cheeks in front of broken looking glass.
 .'The red will do, Bill, go on, or you'll have him in here, and she won't like that.
 Bill went out, and the doctor arrived 8 few minutes afterward. He was short, stout, good -humored looking man, with a brisk way of speaking, that at once secur- | ed him obedience.
 ssNow then," said he, ''what amiss? I could make nothing of that fellow you |
 .sAh p said he, altering his tone as his eyes, growing used to the light, took in 1 the woman's face on the bed l "What do they call you ?" turning to ] the youngest of the assembled women. ] "Jennie, sir.
 sWill you stop? All the rest go.'' ] The women, grumbling, obeyed, and he stopped down to examine his patient.
 e'When did this happen?"
 'sIast night sir"
 "Why didn't you send before ?'
 eve did send to one 1n the village, but he wouldn't come because she belonged to the circus. He sent her this" handing him Q paper.
 "Umph 'The World and its Amuse- ments on the Broad Way Just like that sanctimonious Jennings. Sends the wo- man tract, and lets her suffer all day long,"
 Doctor" said the sick woman, Chow long can live ?'
 'Live,. woman why your good for another forty years yet.''
 'No, doctor, I'm not feel I'm not long for this world"
 "Oh all nonsense P said he s'you1l soon get over this.'' And with like con- forting assurances he sought to raise her from her depressed condition. In about ten minutes he went to the door and said, sCome in here, one of you, while go to the gig." He soon came back, and the woman remained with him.
 In little while the clown came up to the group of women outside the door, leaning in all attitudes against the sides and steps of the wagon.
 "Well, has he come? ?"
 "Yes, he has been in this quarter of an hour."
 "What does he say?" "'Oh she'll do,' he says, didn't he ?'' said one of them, turning to another for confirmation.
 He soon left, and his voice was heard shouting some old witticism of the ring, as though there were no such things as sick wives and doctors in the world In a few moments more he came again, quite out of breath, from last somersault, the appreciation of which was still heard. See ing the door partially open, he entered, and his face looked joyous as the vail of a child greeted him.
 (Which is it :? A boy ?''
 "Yes," said Jennie.
 The answer was unheard by him, fol there-stretched out in death-lay the mother. Contrary to the doctors expec tatlon, the accident and premature deliv. cry had caused her death.
 Yes There she lay the hollow, sunk en eyes-made unnaturally bright by the traces of rouge upon her cheek, ,-the fall en jaw. Death was evidently there, ano he saw 1t. She with whom he had hoped to share all the cares and joys of life ; now that the only differ ence they had ever had was removed. She was dead The man looked-he, in the motley and paint of his calling-she, dead
 'FBear up, Bill," said Jennie, approach ing him with the child ''its boy, Bill and she wanted it to be called after you.
 The man seemed not to hear, but walk ing up to the bed, and taking one of the dead hands in his, kissed it gently, as though afraid of waking her and then, as though his loss had just been realized muttered, ''Dead dead P and lay down, his face close to hers, kissing the fast cool ing lips with frantic earnestness.
 "Dead-dead-dead! still came between his choking sobs. To him the women moving to and fro in offices about the child, were not to him, useless was the doctor $ farewell. "Dead-dead-dead p and the heaving chest and bursting eyeballs found relief in tears.
 'There, don't take on so, Bill P said one, trying to raise him don't take on so hard, Bill P
 She might as well have spoken to the box on which he half sat and half leaned, as he hung over his dead wife. They then tried to get to her to close the staring eyes, but look which appalled, them shook their nerves too much to allow of a second trial. A noise outside attracted them to the door,
 ''What's the matter now ?"
 "Matter enough p said 8 harsh, grat- ing voice. "Here's Chapman so drunk he , can't go in, and Bills skulking because his wife is sick There never was fel- . low in the ring worse treated than am. v "She is dead, Whipps, said one, point ing with her thumb to the wagon. ''Dead P said he. 'Yes and he is there too."
 "Well, if that ain't too bad, here is the last scene before the quadrille, and no clown-it will ruin the circus. The St C. ond night, too her last nights jump has filled the place-there ain't standing room , and they've been calling for her all the evening. Dead r said he again, as though his loss was caused by her neglect. "Who'd have thought it. Whats to be done?"
 'sCan't you make Chapman do ?" ''No he's fool any time to Bill, and now he is drunk he is no use at all. Whats to be done? I don't know. , Here he was obliged to leave, for the