Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-02-23

dote on the bonnet more than ever"
she said, laughing.
MAY the month be as gay and
bright-hued as the birds in your bon
net, Miss Wentworth" he replied,
geniaIly, then turned and walked rap
idly homeward.
He knew he was parting from her
forever, although they might often
meet again. She was no longer his
fate for good or evil. Right or wrong
he had reached decision, and was
both saddened and relieved. The
girl had awakened some very fondly
cherished hopes, but they all withered
and died that morning like flowers
after an October frost.
j She married another, and the want
of heart, which Brooks saw, made
her home miserable. She goes TO the
opera, leaving her sick child in care
of a nurse, and returning finds her
husband and the doctor standing by
the chiId's bed.
Doctor, what does all this mean?"
she whispered, and her face was al
most desperate from fear.
1.-The baby has had convulsious,
Mrs. Gedney, and am using every
effort to keep the trouble from the
brain. The room and house must be
kept as still as possible, and the child
must see the faces aud be handled by
those only to whom it has been ac-
customed.
81 will put on my wrapper and
come instantly" said the mother.
Gedney followed her to her room
and said: Ibid you not hear the
doctors orders? There must be
nothing strange or unfamiliar in the
case of the child. Therefore you
cannot be its nurse"
But, Alfred" she began.
Madam" he said sternly, elf
you love the child, show it by obey
ing the Doctors orders. You have
left her almost wholly to the nurses
care, and she and / must be the
watchers. Should the little one die
L only wish I could be buried with
her,"
"Are you so very unhappy, AL
fred 2" the wife asked in n low tone.
| Why should not be unhappy?
1t is said that being frozen is pain
less death. have not found it so.
Should the child live she may in time
be able to love and express love, and
so reconcile me to life. You know
what the doctor said. Your touch
and presence would be unfamiliar +"
and he left the room, his face rigid
from his half desperate mood.
The truth had come to her at last,
and terrible was the revelation. In
the bitterest emergency of heg life
her husband turned from her. Worse
than all, she could not go to her baby.
She had looked after its material
wants with scrupulous care; she had
made its dainty little dresses with
her own hand, but she had not fondled
it, nursed it, carried it, and now it
would turn from her in its almost
mortal weakness and cling to n
stranger.
She threw herself on the bed in her
elegant costume, and sobbed. "What
am ?" she moaned. What have
I been that am banished from my
child and husband? Yet have q
beart-I know it, because feel it
breaking"
The physicians remedies proved
efficacious, and the child at last was
sleeping naturally, but at Gedney's
earnestr request remained till morning.
The husband now thought of his
wife, and recalled her looks of dread
and distress. He went to her room
and found her weeping violently.
1 III nff nII
she had heart, and this terrible ex-
perience had awakened it. He said
gentle words and told her the child
was better.
She slipped off the bed, and falling
on her knees before him, sobbed:
Alfred, what am I? What have I
been doing? Oh, Alfred, have mercyl
1 feel as if were losing you, my
baby, my hope, my reasonl
He Gifted her and clasped her closely
to his breast. +" No, Elma," he said,
tenderIy; "you are proving that you
can keep your treasures If you will.
1 was right after all when L believed
that you had heart. 1t is awaken
ing at last"
And so it proved. The nature
which had seemed so hard and cold
was gradually transformed. The lit
tie EIma lived and taught the mother
the best lessons of life. Gedncy
again became the fond husband. But
the wife always shuddered when she
saw bonnets adorned with little birds,
and would say: II the 1conaen sCho
buy them are like I s0ds, God pity
their husbands and children"