St. Paul daily globe., 1885-12-20


have called him back, and on bended knees.
forgetting pride. besought word of for
givness. But the future and all it held was
shut out from her gaze and it was merciful.
The day of Pliny's departure had drawn
to close; and full moon hung just over
the tops of the naples. casting pleasant
shadows on the porch, and making the
windows golden with flood of misty light.
Again Lucille sat quietly rocking, some
dainty bit of work in her hand, pleasant
smile upon her lips and heart full of good
resolutions.
Just then. there was a pull at the bell;
almost Immediately after, Mr.. Wright,
Pliny's partner and oldest friend. entered.
Lucille, hurriedly laying aside her work. rose
to meet him; but she drew back in sur
prised alarm. His face was like that of the
dead.
Mrs. Derby" he began, his lips so white
and stiff the words seemed frozen as they
dropped upon her ear. Mrs. Derby we have
had message from Pliny,-he-he'' here
the voice ceased altogether. Lucille looked
very pale and clung to the table for support.
''He is hurt in railroad accident, and
came to see if there was anything l can
do for YOU" Lucille turned on
him wondering, dazed eyes. and in voice
strangely unlike her own said, You are
not telling ME the worst! Is he dead?"
Slowly the reply came in frozen tones He
is deadr ''Oh. my Godp' and these three
words can never again express such agony,
as the young wife with stony eyes and color
less lips kept moaning them over.
Instantly mothers loving arms were
around her, mothers fearful voice be-
sought her to be quiet; but of this there was
little need. Her senses, her feelings, her
tears were frozen by those fatal words,
''He is dead"
They chafed her hands and feet; they
applied restoratives; they ventured poor
words of consolation, but through it all she
only sat with wide-open, fearless eyes, oc-
casionally murmuring, ''Oh, my Godm
The family physician was there. tears
streaming down his kind old face. He di-
rected that the snfferer be placed in bed and
a powerful opiate administered. Mechanic
ally she disrobed herself, just as she was
wont to do, and allowed them to place her
in bed.
By her side was the empty pillow. His
pillow; and throwing her arms across it she
continued moaning, ''Oh, my GodT' until
the drug deadened consciousness.
Loving, sympathetic watchers lowered
near the side of the unconscious
wife all night. Heavily breath
ing she lay like one dead
save occasionally she would rouse up only
to wall. ''Oh, my God! and l loved him
sop Then throwing her arms across his
empty pillow, she would sink into merciful
uncOnsciOusness again.
Day dawned. Like wild-fire the sad
news had flown through the little city,
where every man. woman and child who
knew him was Pliny Derby's friend. At
an early hour the cottage was beseiged by
scores of sympathetic friends. inquiring
after the bereaved young wife, who but
twelve hours before was so full of hope and
happiness.
On awakening, Lucille sighed heavily
With deep-sunk eyes and ashy face. in her
agony she clasped her hands. exclaiming,
"Oh. my Godl and | loved him sop
All that heartfelt sympathy could sug-
gest, all that loving hands could do was
rendered, to in some degree lessen her suf-
fering. She had spoken no word to any
one, nor had she seemed to recognize any
one since the fatal truth came to her. The
old physician shook his head and said, ''She
must weep. five can only open the food
gates of her bursting heart. she will be re-
lieved, but not till then"
So Lucille was brought out into the sit
ting room, and all manner of devices re-
sorted to in order to counteract the shock
and bring blessed tears to her relief The
familiar objects of furniture. his books, his
desk and papers, all were there, just as
he had left them but the day before,
when he was full of strong, vigor-
Gus manhood. and called her his
darling little wife" But her eyes wan
dered about the apartment like one in a
dream, and each familiar object was
scanned as something she had never seen
before. and in which she felt no interest,
until her eyes rested for few moments upon
the table. 1T is that card" said one pres
ent. at the same time handing it to Lucille
She took it in her blOodless fingers and read
aloud in strange, husky voice: Virtue
is its own reward" Then a tempest of
anguish gathered on her death-like face.
and for only an instant did consciousness
come into the dry, burning eyes; then with a
low pitiful wall, the card fell to the floor
and she only murmured: 'Oh, my God! and
l loved him sop
1t was hoped that at the last sad rites.
when Plinys casket lay before her, and
she heard the clergyman call his name and
speak of him. that reason would return to
its throne. The great church organ softly
poured forth its minor strains and up the
aisle was borne all that was mortal of Pliny
Derby. But few days before he was one
among them. none more full of life and hope
and manly vigor-now mass of clayi The
kind eyes closed forever and the dear hands
crossed helplessly upon the cold breast
Surely, at sight of him. lying so peacefully
grandly there. Lucilles reason must return
And it did return, thank God. And she
laid her white face against his casket. muir
muring: Il am here. darling. | am
hereP and wept and wept. until strength
forsook her, and strong, loving arms
bore her down the aisle and out into the
open air. where she was placed in the car
riage and borne toward home while the
hearse with its precious freight moved slowly
toward the cemetery.
For days Lucille lay stricken with a low
lever. BLESSED tears had subdued the stony
stare IN ner poor eyes and left in their dark
depths world OF desolation and despair.
She recognized friends and conversed when
questioned. but grew paler and thinner each
day. One day. some two or three months aft
Ell Pliny's death, the old doctor left Lucille's
side with grave alarm pictured on his kind
face. The crisis is near at hand, - said he:
I'VE shall know the worst within twenty
four hours. In the meantime we can but
hope and pray for the best"
That night little child was born. A tipv.
rosy creature, he lay in the nurses arms.
Lucille's own sweet voice, very low and
faint calls, Bring me my baby, nurse, |