The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-07-08
most cordially and gladly welcom-

In her own room Aunt Julia told
Elsie something of the horrors that
had aged her more in one fortnight
than in any previous two years Of
her life. She had slept upon the
ground, in a drenching rain for two
nights, then in tent With no change
OF clothing, and the memory OF the
FIRE terrors to haunt her. She had
begged the paper and stamp to write
to Elsie Then she told of Walters
tender care other in the long journey
when she, racked BY pain, often
could not speak for hours, how Ike
a son be had cared for her comfort
1t was sad story, and Elsie's tears
fell fast. ~ 8
But now she said, you are at
home. / have put underclothes and
loose wrappers in here, auntie, until
we can have some dresses fitted. Let
me undress you now"
Gently and tenderly the shabby
clothes were removed, the weary
fleet bathed, the gray-streaked hair
smoothed, and snowy white linen
put on for the night. Then utterly
tired, Aunt Julia sank into the bed.
whispering:
Think. Elsie, have not been in
bed for twelve nights "
But, alas, she was not soon to
leave it. The haven of rest once
gained, Aunt Julia lay for many long
weeks dangerously i'll with rheumat-
ic fever brought on by exposure,
while the tortured brain, in widest
delirium, raved of scenes that chilled
Elsie with horror.
All through theseweary weeks FL
sic was nurse, while Walter supplied
every deIicacy that could be found
to tempt the invalid, patiently en-
dured the discomforts Of house
haunted by sickness, and proved
himself Jennie declared, "the near
est to an angel of anv man ever she
seed"
Winter was nearly oyer before
Aunt Julia was able to leave her bed
crippled for life. The rheumatism
had SO twisted the joints of her
hands, legs and feet, that they were
useless, and most of the time intense
ly painful. She fretted over the
prospect of being burden upon
Walter and Elsie, with all the des-
pair of proud woman who had al
ways maintained her own indepen-
dence. and tearfully begged to be
sent to some charitable asylum,
where she would be only public
expense. Elsie told Walter of this
wish, and he went TO Aunt Julia :
room.
Taking the crippled helpless hands
! in his own. holding them very ten
derby, he said:
Aunt Julia, Elsie has told me
how hard these little hands worked
for her for seventeen long years. |
love Elsie so dearly that to grieve
her is my greatest sorrow. Do you
think could bear to see her pain il
her second mother was sick and
alone, nursed by hired hands while
we are able and willing to give her
love and care? Do not speak again
of leaving US. | have not seen El-
sizes face SO sad as it is tonight
since YOU came to US.
But, Walter, think. | may live
for years
Il sincerely hope you will"
"And | can never have any use Of
my hands and feet more than have
now. / can scarcely feed myself OF
hobble across the room"
"The more reason you should
have loving care. Why and Wal
ter laughed, while his honest brown
eyes proved his sincerity, do you
think all the love here is Elsie's? !
want nv share too, auntie, for | love
YOU as well as nv wife. | ask you
to stay, because want you here.
have not heard Elsie sigh over long
lonely days since you came"
Ittook many more loving argu.
ments, but at last Aunt Julia yield
ed. 1t was but truth that Walter
spoke when he said she had won hi:
love "a well as Elsie's. She was
very patient under excruciating suf
iering, and verv grateful for all the
loving care lavished upon her
When the pain subsidized and she
could talk. she was charming com
pany, well read and full of pleasant
memories and bright observations.
4 While she felt herself burden
4 Walter and Elsie regarded her as Z
blessing. Walter no longer worried
at leaving Elsie alone all day, with
he was at his business, and Elsi,
never tired of Aunt Julia, whose ex
perience proved very valuable to tn,
|. little housekeeper.
But month after month there wa.
scarcely perceptihle feeling o
strength in the sorely tired body
long past youthful vigor. The rheu
matte fever had left heart trouble
and distressing spells of suffocatioI
and palpitation often threatened tn,
inva!id's life. Always patient, sh,
yet often prayed for death to end be
suffering. while Elsie prayed only
that the dear life might be spared
She had been Walter Hartman
|. guest for two years, when her weak
ness increased to an alarming ex
tent, rapidly and certainly till sh'
could not leave her bed. 1t wa
!. while she was herself conscious tha
|, the END of suffering was approaching
that she received letter from he
lawyer in Chicago informing he
that he had received an offer o
thenty thousand dollars for the 10
of land she owned in that city.
She had looked upon her owl
beggary as so absolutely certain
that at first she could scarcely cred
it the news; out Walter, in who's
hands she placed the business, sool
proved the offer no dream BY accept
ing the terms and informing Aen
! Julia the money lay in the bank ii
her name.
"Now, you can ride in your car
. riage when you are well, Elsie said
tsr,,Enx huf foarf,,1 al an, 90 clac