Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-21

his :ron-s5ray hair and 80 years, because OF the
t-caIti. and position he could offer her. And
she Jud-e'' 6otcd on his bride as only d man
| Of that ace IS capable Of dong. The romance
| Of his youth was q vanished and forgotten TO
nance TO him. And if any ono could have
shown lin lIrs. Stefano @as she appeared on
the washing day OF which l write lie would
have been one Of the first 10 propose that the
woman should be sent to a lunatic asylum
witkour any further delay"
Bat EIls. Stefanc knew nothing Of al this:
and sighed over his memory and her one lost
chance Of fortune till twilight gave place to
dusk.
Then for the 81 time, she reused herself
sufficiently from her reverie to wonder why
her husband and children he'd not returned.
She rang the bell Ann came il. The girl
looked pale and scared, and had evidently
been weeping.
"What IS tbe1natter!' asked her mistress.
when she caught glimpse of her face.
The gi~l hasitated.
"Answor nle!'
Ann wrung her hands wildly, and burst
into a regular Irish howl
@Oh, ma'aIn, go down on your two knees
and be thankful that you didn't go on that
dreadful beat this morningi Ny poor master
and tie blessed little childerr'
Mrs. Gtefano caught her by the arm stop
that noise. and tell me at once what you
mean"
ooh, ma'am, only heard il five minutes
ago from the policeman ct the corner. The
boat they went on got to racing with an
other. and there's been an explosion, ma am,
and every soul GA board Oh, ma'am,
whore are you going.'
She might well ask the question. Mrs. Ste
fame rushed frcm the room like mad
woman, caught bonnet and shawl from the
hall rack as she passed. and was out i'll the
street the next moment, haITying frantically
along toward the offices where the tickets Of
the river boats were sold.
The excited crowd grouped before the en-
trance OF the principal one told the tale.
Piercing her way through the living mass by
the mere force Of nervous energy, she al}-
pearcd, pale as spectre, before the clerk, to
hear tie tidings of her doom.
Yes, Mr Steiane and his five children had
gone down the river on the Sylph Of the
Waters at 10 O'Clock that very morning. Some
accident had happened to the machinery, the
boiler had exploded, and every soul on board
was drowned.
ChiidleS5 and q widow.
With one last poor attempt at courtesy, she
tried to thank the clerk, who evidently SYM
pa;hizsI ,yitb her grief, and then she threw
UP her hands. anl with q heavy g:oan fell
senaeless II his feet Out Of that long swoon
she came back to consciousness with Il pain
ful struggle that was almost worse than
death.
Seine one was bending over her, embrac-
ing her, calling her by name Her husband!
alive and WELT And from the nursery, just
beyond her room, came the welcome, well
known sound Of her ctildren's vOicesi What
could it all mean:
Not dead! not drowned! O. Parke, for
give me, and VIII never be so wicked again,
she cried, as she fang her arms around her
husbands neck.
Dead! drowned! Why, darling, what has
alarmed you so" said her husband, tenderly.
"The children and | came up to see why you
were SO late for breakfast. left them in the
nursery, and came in here after you, but yen
were lying as still and white and cold rs if
you were deed, 1t almost took my breath
away 90 see you 50. What ais you, love!
ARE you i'll! Have you been i'll? Has any
thing frightened you! Tell mel"
90, nothing ails me-nothing is the mat
ter" she answered with a sob of gratitude
and JOY. Il suppose l fell asleep and
dreamed all kinds Of horrors. am well now.
Kiss me, Parke and we will so down to
breakfast"
They went. And a happy meal it was,
with the mother SO bright and merry and
pleasant though her face was still SO pale.
Years have gone by since then. But Mrs.
stefane has nevei told her dream-if it was q
dream-to her husband, and has never wished
again "the judges bride to be- Busy and
contented, she does her duty with viii, and
asks 10 better fate than to lie the true and
loving wife of n poor man; the careful tender
mother of n poor mans children: the light
and blessing and cen-cr cf happiness Of a
poor mans hOsla