River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-01-07

fever brought on by exposure, while
the tortured brain, in widest delirium,
raved Of scenes that chilled Elsie with
horror
All through these weary weeks Elsie
was nurse, while Walter supplied
every delicacy that could be found to
tempt the invalid, patiently endured
the discomforts of a house haunted by
sickness, and proved himself, Jenny
declared, 1.-THE nearest to an angel of
any man ever she seed.
Winter was nearly over before Aunt
Julia was able to leave her bed, Grip
Piled for life, The rheumatism had so
twisted the joints of her hands, legs
and feet, that they were useless and
most of the time intensely painful.
She fretted over the prospect of being
a burden upon Walter and Elsie, with
all the despair of proud woman who
had always maintained her own indie
pendence, 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 mis- own. holding them very tender
ly, he said;
Aunt Julia. Else 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 panied if her second mother
was sick and alone nursed by hired
hands while we are able aid willing to
give her love and care? DO not speak
again of leaving us. | have not seen
Elsie face so sad rs 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 or hobble
across the ROOM
THE more reason you should have
loving care. Why" and Walter
laughed while his honest brown eyes
proved his sincerity. lido you think all
the love here is Elsie's? | want my
share too, auntie, for love YOU as well
as my wife. ask YOU 10 stay because
| want you here. | have not heard
Elsie sigh over long, lonely days, since
you came.
1t took many more loving arguments,
but at last Aunt Julia yielded. 1t was
but truth that Walter spoke when he
said she had won his love as well as
ElsieS. She was very patient under
eNcruciating suffering, and very CRATE
full for all the loving care laviShed upon
her. When the pam subsidized, and she
could talk. she was very charming
company, well read and full of pleasant
memories aud bright observation.
While she felt herself a burden, Wal
ter and Elsie regarded her as blessing.
Walter no longer worried at leaving
Elsie alone all day, while he was at his
business, and Elsie never tired of Aunt
Julia, whose experience proved very
valuable to the little hOusekeeper.
But month after month there was
scarcely perceptible failing of strength
in the sorely tried body, long past
youthful yigor. The rheumatic fever
had left heart trouble, and distressing
spells of sutfocation and palpitation
often threatened the invalid's life.
Always patient, she vet often prayed
for death to end her suffering, while
Elsie prayed only that the dear life be
spared.
She had been Walter Hartman guest
for two years, when her weakness in
creased to an alarming extent, rapidly
and certainly, till she could not leave
her bed. 1t was while she was herself
conscious that the end of her suffering
was approaching that she received a
letter from her lawyer in Chicago in
forming her that he had received an
offer of twenty thousand dollars for the
lots of land she owned in that city.
She had looked upon her own beg
gary as so absolutely certain that at
first she could scarcely credit the news;
but Walter, in whose hands she placed
the business, soon proved the offer no
dream by accepting the terms and in
orming Aunt Julia the money lay in
the bank in her name.
Now, you can ride in your carriage
when you are well, Elsie said. smil-
ing but fearful. Il am so glad Auntie.
You will have something now for your
old age"
but not old age, Elsie" was the
glad reply. Il ana glad too, darling,
very glad, but not for that"
BY her own request a lawyer came
anu hLOLb utl WILL anu AiiCh fhbt@
Julia, as if the care of life was ended
for her, sank rapidly, growing ever day
weaker and more dependent upon
Elsie's loving, never-failing care.
1t was early in spring, when, one
evening, as Walter came in, Jennie
met him, her honest face all distigured
by crying.
Sure, sir, it's asking for you, Miss
Julia is
rs she worse"
''Ah. sir, she's going fast. The doc
tor says she II not last the night"
Going fast. Walter could see the
girls words We're true when he softly
entered the room where Aunt Julia
rested, her head upon Elsie's shoulder,
her hands clasped fast in Elsie's.
/ II am glad you came. she whis-
pered. Il think | could not 20 with
out thanking you once more and say
/ ing farewell
What 1 have DONE" Walter said,
/ his heart swelling with emotion, "was
/ gladly, lovingly done. l do not need
thanks, Aunt julia
Il believe that, Lut l am not less
/ grateful. because you gave from full
\ heart. May God bless YOU and yours,
Walter. May what you have done for
a crippled, penniless woman come
! to you'in your old age laden with her
blessing. Kiss me farewell. Walter. -
Reyerently he bent over her, press
+ ing n loving kiss upon the withered
/ lips. while tears that were no shame to
/ his manhood stood in his eyes. A few
/ broken words to Elsie, a murmured
/ prayer, and the gentle spirit was releas-
/ ed from the weary. pain-racked frame.
Tears of true love tell upon the wasted
/ face, placid In deaths sleep. Every
/. kind word was cherished when the
/ lips that had spoken it We're mute, and
Aunt Julia had two true mOurners at
her funeral, while many of the friends
+ of years gone by came to pay the last
tribute of respect to her memory.
i 1t did not surprise Elsie when she
+ learned that her Aunt Julia had left
/ her the fortune that came too late to
+ gladden. her own life. But she told
Walter. when the will was read to her:
i am glad we never thought of the
land, Walter, in the years that Aunt
Julia was with us. It would make me
hesitate often to show her all the love
in my heart, if had ever thought she
would have money to leave me.
''She knew, darling, it was all love,
vet | am glad my Elsie has some re-
ward for the patient, tender care that
{ alleviated the SUFFERING of the moor in