The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-08-20
Brother Sam is dying. I must go to
him. Throw n few thinps into NV

Brother Sam is dying. I must 90 to
him. Throw few things into my
| valise. There's dear wife,"
I did SO mechanically, and he en-
braced me and w:s gone.
II did not tell him." I said, as I re-
| turned to the dining room. ellis broth
er is dying, and he has gone to him.
One thing at time is en- ough."
"Come over and stay with me tonight.
You cannot stay here alone"
eyes I will co." said. Just then
Denies knock sounded on the kitchen
| door. My neighbor flew to open it, and
could hear the bitter torrent of words
she poured forth.
"Never show your face here again,
you awful creature. How could you
| right from pest house into our homes,
bringing disease with you? Go off, and
never come again."
fe!t badly for the poor child. ut is
this awful ignorance. L SAID but felt
badly for myself, too, and for Louis.
Then I locked up the house and went
over with her. The next day I came
back and staid at home all day. To-
wards night two men came to the house
and asked for Louis. I told them that
he had gone home to his brother, who
was dying.
"When is he coming back, madam ?"
asked one of the men sharply.
II don't know. He did not tell me.
I don't suppose he knew" I answered.
"Of course he didn't" said the other,
sneeringly. "They never know, do
they?"
eff you will leave me your address I
will send word to correspond with you,
If your business is Important" said,
with all the dignity could assume.
"Most likely you would" And they
both laughed and walked away. I sat
down, trembling violently. Something
dreadful was going to happen I felt
sure 0, If Louis was only at 49, I
!. - .>;.- .-at wien lie does come, I
must tell him am going to have the
scarlet fever. I felt it coming on, I
was sure, and perhaps lis brother
should be dead, and then perhaps I
would die, and then--like good angel
one of Fenelon's splendid sentences came
into my mind: II will not have
scarlet fever Louis's brother will
not die. These mon were only rude.
they meant nothing wrong. Louis will
be at home tomorrow most likely, and
everything will be all right" felt
little better then and my courage came
back, and, locking up the house, went
over to spend another night at my
neighbours.
The next morning Louis came back,
and he looked so cheerful. Sam was
not even sick, he said.
"Some one must have been playing a
joke on me, though cruel and foolish
one."
Then I told him of my fears of scar
Leftover, and he took me in his arms
and told me not to be afraid; that ne
could not believe it until he had inves-
tig ated it himself; that he would go then
and be back in half an hour and tell all
about it. He took his hat, and was just
going out of the door when the same two
men stepped in and seized him by both
arms.
"You are my prisoner" said one of
them.
"Your prisoner" exclaimed Louis.
"This is another mistake. What am
arrested for, pray?"
90, say, now, that dodge won, t work;
you had better come along quietly"
$50 will, " said Louis calmly. "Take
your hands of and I will walk along
quietly" Then to me: II will be back
presently, love. For my sake be calm.
It is all mistake, and it will be all
right soon." So they went out.
My brain whirled; I could scarcely
think but in moment desire to go
to the store where Louis was employed
took possession Of me. I was soon on
my way, filled with fiery indignation
against some one, I knew not whom.
I asked to see Louis employer, and he
received me in his private Office.
my husband has just been arrested"
I said. "Can you tell me what for?"
"Be calm, madam, he may be wrong
ly suspected; but as things stand now
it looks as though he is guilty of-of
appropriating large amount of our
funds"
I sank upon chair; my Louis, the
best man tho sun ever shone upon,
guilty of stealing! The world was
slipping away from me, it seemed. The
man in compassion handed me glass
of water, reiterating that it might turn
out all right after all.
II thank you for telling me-" said,
"but it is to come out all right, for the
best man that lives is not more inno-
cent than he is. Can you tell me where
they have taken him?"
He told me, and I went there and
found my Louis again. I staid with
him as long as they would let me, and
then went home, My friend next door.
came and begged me to spend the
night with her, but would not, so she
staid with me. I am sure that was
the most dreadful night I ever spent.
No sleep come TO ME. My Louis was
in prison. These awful words rang
through by brain continually. The
clock striking the hour struck out The
words, "Louis is in prison!" The
trains coming in shrieked it out on the
chill night air and told the world my
Louis was in prison. Even the little
cricket in the wainscoting piped out all
night long, "Louis is in prison"
I went to Louis in the morning. My
kind neighbor and other friends went
his bail, and he returned with me.
could keep up no longer, then, and
Louis tended me. He never left my
side, and there was no smallest atten-
ton that could be paid to me that he
omitted. He petted me like child,
but kept my bed for several days, so
great had been the shock. Then grad
ually the horror of that night wore
away, and went about the house again
as usual.
If Louis felt troubled he concealed
it from me, and he spoke so confident
~ of everything coming out right at
the trial THAT Ct last ['behe,oS it wonld, I
too. We had not many weeks to wait
for the trial. Then again my love was
prisoner at the bar.
As listened to the array Of evidence
against him my heart grew sick with
foor T von1oro1 how T c0n1d hava