The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-01-14

treal in the hospital there, and one of the
girls heard yesterday she was dying"
Dying, Kitty dying His kind, mer y
hearted little comrade, with the fresh
cheeks aud ringing laugh, who never
complained of toll, or care, or poverty
who was always rich enough to give kind
words, and look, and little acts of love.
Kitty, the sweet, true woman, who had
taken his heart from his breast! Dying
He staggered back little and leaned
against the wall. Then he knew that
some one had put a glass of water to his
from the open door.
"Kitty"
| But she does not stir to answer him,
| lying so quiet on her pillow-dark lashes
resting on the wasted cheek, and her lit
| tie thin hands folded against her bosom.
The wide, lofty room is full of narrow
white beds; nurses are gliding about in
their neat uniform, with a soft murmur of
talk, and Jack, pale, haggard and travel
worn, is standing by Kitty's bedside.
Here, in this haven of waits and strays,
| he has found her at last His search is
ended, and he stands now, with q break
ing heart, looking down at the little face
so still and grave, that used to welcome
him with such happy smiles and bushes.
He stoops at last and lays his lips on her
clasped fingers, and her eyes-too tran
quil-ah, too tranquil! unclose and meet
his own.
"Ah, my poor boy, my poor, old Jack!
So you have come ?" She clasps his
strong, brown hand between her own,
and lays her cheek against it with smile
of deep content. 81 knew God would
hear me. prayed 50 earnestly to see
you once before-before die"
ooh, Kitty, Kittyr' He can say no
more for tears; buries his face in the pill
low, his hoarse, dreadful sobbing shakes
the little bed. Then, too, her own tears
flow silently down her wasted cheeks.
She makes no sound or mnrmur of COM
plant, but her frai hand smooths and
touches his bowed head from time to
time with a tenderness beyond all speech.
After awle he lifts his tear-stained, an
| guished face, looks at her with eyes in
which all the old light seems quenched
forever. Then she speaks to him, her
voice scarcely louder than a whisper in
its heart-piercng tenderness
"Dear, best Jack-kind, kind, good
boy! But knew you would come. How
did it happen, how did you find me so far
away?"
{" 1 followed you," he answers, in a low
stammering tone. 81 came from New
York, knew l should find you Oh,
God, l little dreamed. lit would be
here! Never mind how l came. oh,
Kitty!. land you left me! You left
me. Do you know that my heart is
broken Pit is broken dear! Do You be-
| lieve it now ?"-with great heart-rend-
ing sob" now, when | tell you again
| you were all to me woman or angel can
be to man. Will you believe it Kitty
now-at last p
"Poor Jack" she says, with something
like the ghost of her old grish smile.
81 am not much to love now, am |
There is very little left of Kitty!'
No good looks,' he answers, slowly.
mo health, no JOY, no strength, no
| brightness, but all that is worth anything
on earth to me! And you speak of dy-
ing? Then will too. can't live, Kit
ty, | have no use for life ~
"Do you love me like that? Is it
really true?" Her dark eyes widen with
sort of childish wonder. "Did you
come all this long way to find me because
| you love me?'
Because could not live without you.
Because l will not live. Do you think
there is anything now that | care for
Why should try to hve?"
I" But you are so young, DEAR" she
says pitifully. "The world is all before
you-where to choose"
My world is here,' laying down his
face ON her hands again. envy only
world Kitty, whatever happens, oh, at
least, you will marry me now? You will
let me have that one poor comfort to call
you my wife, if only for day, an hour.
| know you never loved me, Kitty,
don't speak of that. don't ask for it"
"Oh, hush, dear, hush! she whispers,
gently, faint color steals over her sweet,
worn face. 81 loved you always-from
that first moment in the dark, lonely
street-and when sent you from me, and
when left you without word or sign
always, always, every day and hour And
l was glad to die. would not take your
pity, jack" with fash of the old pride,
"and life seemed nothing without your
love-"
But with my love, Kitty ?" he says,
passionately; with my love"
C think it would be heaven, dear"
she answer, very low. Her eyes droop
away from his, and the color deepens in
her cheek. Make me your wife, shall
be glad to be your wife, no matter for
how short a time. Oh, Jack, if God
wonld let me live! Perhaps-perhaps
he will!''
So they are married, while the setting
sun streams redly in, and the sunset bells
are ringing.
About month ago Mr.. Jack Tremaine
sailed for Europe with his wife, lovely
brunette named Kitty, who has fine
soprano voice, and a weakness for strug-
Cling young chorus singers and poor mu-
sicians generally. Rumor says that he
married her on her deathb bed, and brought
her back to life by sheer force of
will. 1t is certain that she is very much
alive at the present writing, and very
much in love with her handsome husband
-Madeline s. Bridges.
First passenger Tin railroad office) !:
"You are from Chicago, see? ?"
Second passenger with pride): eyes,