Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-23


When nv guests arrived everything
was ready. Mary and had done our
utmost to make the house appear in
viting, and the table covered with q
snowy cloth fairly groaned under it's
weight of tempting viands. She was
in a remarkably cheerful MOOD, and
looked really pretty in the dark blue
dress, white apron and white muslin
cap donned for the occasion. The cap
was exceedingly becoming, but great
~ altered her appearance. 1t was 81
fancy of hers to wear the cap when
strangers were present. When we
were alone we took our meals togeth-
er.
AS soon as our Christmas greetings
were over [ led the way into the dining
room. Just then Mary came in with
platter OF broiled chicken. | OBJ
served Mr.. Mayhem glared at her with
a startled expression. She went out
again without raising her eyes.
"Then you were born in Trenton,
said my sister Helen in answer to g.
former remark made by Mr.. Mayhem.
eyes, [ was born in Trenton, and
lived there until [ was twenty-three.
Az UllbU HCUlll Win
the dinner plates. She stopped sud-
denly and stared at the speaker In a
dazed sort of way, apparently forget
full of her errand, until | whispered:
"Put the plates on the table,"
"Yes'm," she answered. Turning to
leave the room she staggered and
caught the door frame. [ thought
nothing of the movement, supposing
she had tripped against the rug.
When my guests left the dining-room
l went into the kitchen to tell Mary
that the dinner was a decided success.
| found her sitting on an old settee
with her head thrown back against the
window ledge. Her face was deathly
pale and her eyes closed.
care you i'll, Mary?" / asked, tax
ing her hand, which was cold and limp.
Receiving no answer, called Helen,
and together we succeeded in restoring
her to consciousness. She looked
around her in bewildered way, then,
pointing toward the dining-room, said
in a gasping voice:
"Tell him-I forgive-Tell him-I
have gone to-baby-I hope he"
between the struggles for breath I
caught the words, "will-happy."
'She has tainted again." remarked
Helen, applying the restoratives once
more, but this time without success,
for we saw no signs of returning life
Twas thoroughly alarmed, and sent
Mr.. Mayhem for the doctor, who, for
tunately, was at home, and obeyed
the summons instantly. He took
Mary's hand, placed his ear over
her heart, opened her eyelids and ex
amined the pupils, and then said SLOW
ly:
''She is dead. Thequestion is, what
has killed her? Heart disease, proba-
bly,, accelerated by severe shock"
[ was completely unnerved, and
wept sincere, heartfelt tears over the
inanimate form of my poor Mary,
who died as she had lived, making no
moan over her burden of pain and
sorrow.
In the room Mary occupied was
small box, which | carried down to
the parlor, after the first excitement
had subsidized, thinking that by exam
ing its contents might gain some clew
as to the whereabouts of her friends.
The box contained mementoes such
as women treasure. There was pack
age of yellow letters tied together with
a bit of faded ribon, a little blue shoe,
still bearing the imprint of a baby
foot, a lock of dark hair and golden
curl held together by band of crepe,
and several photographs.
Gail the letters were evidently writ
ten by the same person" said Helen,
who had been examining the dates,
"and this seems to have been the last
one received. It is dated Christmas
Eve, 1872 It is addressed to My
darling wife, and signed Your affec-
tionate husband
s'Here is a photograph with some
thing written on the margin. Perhaps
you may be able to decipher it, Mr..
Mayhem. The words are almost ef-
faced"
/ held the picture toward him. He
was seated ON the sofa, some distance
from the table, but came forward and
took it from my hand. [ saw him
start and turn pale, while great beads
of perspiration broke out on his fore
head.
George Mayhem, died March, 1873"
he read, in a low, trembling voice,
while his strong frame shook like an
aspen.
He covered his face with his hands
and sobbed in a dry, fearless sort OF
way that made my heart ache.
Lucy and her mother looked at him
in blank astonishment.
''Let me see her, Miss Bronson.
she was my wife," he said in tones of
the deepest anguish.
took the lamp and silently led the
way to the room where we had laid her.
He threw himself on his knees beside
the lounge and placed his cheek against
the cold. still face. I put the lamp
down and turned away, leaving him
alone with his dead.
"Aunt Ruth, what does it all mean ?"
demanded Lucy, with an injured air.
at means that Mary was Mr.. May
hew's wife. Doubtless when his grief
is spent he will explain. Such grief is
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