Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-08-15

Reynolds coming home to his tea, found
lying upon the kitchen floor little sense
less figure with face like death, and
hands that sent chill to his very heart.
The doctor. hastily summoned, looked
grave. and advised perfect rest and quiet.
A girl was hired and John tenderly nurs-
ed the invalid, but though she grew bet
ter she was still pale and weak.
"Take her away while," said the doc
tor. "Try change Of air. She is over
worked"
"But," said honest, puzzled John, "she
does nothing but the homework for us
two. She has no child, and our sewing is
not much.'
The doctor looked into the tr Dubbed face.
"You are good man, John REYNOLDS,
and strong one" he said; twill you let
me tell you few truths?"
'.Yes. About Lina?"
"About Lima. You remember, do you
not, the tiny antelope you admired SO
much 10 the menagerie we had here last
summerSn
''Certainly," said John. looking more
puzzled than ever.
''Suppose you had bought that little
creature and yoked 1t with one of your
oxen to cart to do the same workY"
sid have been fool, y said John; "that
little thing couldn't work. 1t was just
made pretty to look at and to play"
"That's it, John. Now don It think
God ever made woman to look pretty
and play, but he made some for the rough
work of this world and some for the dam
ty places, some to cook and scrub, and
some to draw mems souls to Heaven by
gentle loneliness. Your wife is one of the
latter. If you were poor man would
have held my tongue, but you are a rich
one. Give your wife servant; let her
have books. music, pretty things around
her. Let her rest from toll, and you may
keep her by your side. Put her back in
the old place and you may order her tomb
stone, for she will soon need it. Don't
put your antelope beside your oxen,
John.''
81 will not! Thank you! understand
Poor, loving, patient hearth"
That's right! Take her now for a lit.
tie pleasure trip and get back her roses. -
Lima clapped her hands when John
asked her if she would like to spend a
week in New York, and really seemed to
draw in new life from the very idea.
It was delicious fun to see Johns wide
open eyes as they entered the parlor of the
great city hotel and were shown into the
bedroom, whose beauties were quite as be-
wildering.
1.-THE best ROOM" he had told the land
lord, and Lima could not repress cry of
delight at the vista of the cosy sitting
room, with piano standing invitingly
open.
20, Johnl" she said, won't you just
60 in there and shut the door for five min
utes, please?"
John obeyed, of course. John, she
thought, gratefully, refused her nothing
now.
"How lucky it was brought some of
my old dresses!" Lima thought. II have
not worn them since l was a school
marin. Fancy Mrs. Reynolds scrubbing
the floor in this dress!'
John rubbed his eyes and pinched him
self as a little figure sailed into the sit
ting room. made him a sweeping courte=
sy, and went to the piano.
Was that the little woman who had
worn prints and SUM- bonnets so long
The fair hair was fashionably dressed, and
bands of blue velvet Topped the golden
curIs. A dress of blue silk, with
softest lace trimmings and ornaments of
pearls, had certainly made a fine lady of
Lima. The piano was yielding its most
bewitching tones to the skilled little fin
gers, and Johns bewilderment was com.
plste when voice of exquisite sweetness,
not powerful, began to singing.
Only one song, full of trills and quavers,
and then Lima 1ushed from the piano into
Johns arms.
John, darling" she said, "hold me
fast. Don't let me slip from you'll"
20, Lima - he groaned. II was not fit
to marry such a dainty bird But loved
And love you, John, rough old John!
Let me sing again. l am very happy to-
day, my husband"
But no wonderful trills filled the little
room now. In clear, pure voice, full Of
expression, Lima sang:
81 know that my Redeemer liveth."
Every word fell like hot tears on poor
Johns heart, until, as the last chord
trembled upon the air, Lima turned to
him, stretching out her arms.
take me in your arms, John"
He took her tenderly to the room she
had quilted so gayly, and replaced her
flnery by a white wrapper. whose lace
trimmings looked like fairy work to his
unaccustomed eyes.
''Are you tired, love ?" lie asked, 9th
great spasm of terror at his hearfas he
looked at the white, waste face.
Eyes, very, very tired, but happy,
John !" and with a little sigh of entire
content Lima nestled down against the
warm heart whose every throb she knew
was all her own. The white lids fell soft.
ly over the violet eyes and she slept
peacefully as child.
Softly, as she rested, the faint pink flush
gathered on her fair cheek and smile
crept over her lips. while John, bending