The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-12-22
MennwhiIe thoir baby was sloml,

the-wisp alvertisem ent 1t was dull. wet
day; and as he turned up the narrow street
which led to his home, his heart sank with
a curious underlined dread. They had been
up with the baby all night; but she had
seemed better and brighter when Jim left
in the morning.
Marjory met him, as she always did, at
the door. At a glance his fears were
quictened.
what is it," he said, hastily 1.-THE
child-is she worse"
Jim" she answered, looking up at him,
with dry, grief-stricken eyes; "Jim-baby
is dead y
He followed her silently to the room
where the tiny creature, with waxen feat
ures 50 like his own, lay cold, and still and
| smiling.
"Whan3" he asked in choked voice.
Gust three hours ago." she replied, mo-
notonously.
Carol stood loliny down on all that was
| left to him of his baby daughter and
smoothed the short, fluffy hair with
strange wistful look in his dark sunken
eyes.
Poor little thingw he said sadly aud
! brokenly. God knows what she is sparedp
| There WIS a silence. for Marjory could not
speak The rain dripp3d on the window
sill outside, tho wind shook the cassn cut
and moaued in the chimney. Then, witha
| quick, dry sob Carol took his wife in his
arms and they mingled their tears together.
A few more DAYS passed and the babE<Hs
| buried. Even that was struggle S9se~
poverty-stricker father and mother 1t
was wonderful how they missed the tiny
thiug-theirs for 80 short time-her funny,
] hub f,.otfi1l
peevish cries. TO Mariory duri1g the long
hours when her husband was ib5ent, the
house seemed horribly, unnatlrally still
and desolate.
The weather was wet and chilly, and Jim
caught cold which enlel ina sharp at
tack of bronchitis and left him more spirit
less and haggard- looking than e7er. So the
autumn dragged on.
At last-one dreadful day when even
Marjory broke down, and when Jim looked
so weak and ill as he set off OF his weary
and fruitless quest for work that it almost
broke his wife's heart to see him-at last,
privately, and with many pangs OF humbed
| PRIDE Mrs. Carol wrote to heruncle. She
did not tell her husband, for she knew that
! if she did nothing would induce him to let
the letter go. The answer came soon
enough; and it so CHANGED that Carol met
the pOstman at the door and took the letter
! from him. He gave it to his wife and
waited while she read it,; then, seeing her
face Dlanch, took it from her trembling
hands and with compressed lips glanced at
| the few words it contained. 1t was short
and to the point.
| DEAR MARJORY: II Won like to leave your
husband 1 will take you lck to your old home
! On no other terms and in no other way will
help yoa. You took your own way and now
you may take the consequences.
JOSEPH LINTON"
1t said much for Jim's utter heart-sicl-
ness that he did not even show any dis
| pleasure at Marjory's having written. He
only said gently:
"You should not have asked him, dear"
But passionate little Marjory tore up the
letter and threw it into the fireplace
1t haunted jim, though. If it were not
for him, he thought, wretchedly, his Mar
| iory would be cared for again as she ought
to be. He knew her too well to think she
drawing; he had almost given up hope; a
deadly, horrible depres sion seemed to have
taken possession of him. Every way seeEled
| closed to him--save ono.
Dear" he said one night with an effort
they had been sitting silent for long
time in the dismantlei little sitting room
would you not like-to go back--to Man
chester2"
| what, without you, Jim2" she cried,
with incredulous Amusement in her tired
I little voice.
"Yes," very steadily.
"Ah, JIM" in tones Of keen reproach, ''do
| you want me to go9"
my darling, you need not ask me that"
and Jim's voice shook slightly. Butt
would be better-for you"
"Ah my dear" she said, with an attempt
at her old sauciness, you need not hint;
you can't get rid Of me. Don't think Of it,"
Then she suddenly laid her curly head on
his knee aud began to cry.
80, Jim " she said, "don't send me
away! How can you spiak SO! You
break my heart! All, darling you could not
do without me, could you"
God forgive me, no" he answered,
! hoarsely. "You are all | have!n As he
spoke he drew her into his arms and held
her against his breast. She chung to him,
| soobing passionately, for long time.
"Marjory," he said, suddenly, have you
had any thing to cat to-daya For you ate
nothing this morning"
"Yes, dear, of course | have" she an
swered sitting up and drying her tears.
What had u?"-noting with pang how
wan and weak she looked, and what heavy
shadows lay under her sweet brown eyes.
30, all | wanted"
81 know what that meaus," he said, in
low, agitated tones. Child, you are starry
ing yourself to death! | am killing you
you, my little Marjory, who are dearer TO
me than my own SOUL You are dying be-
fore my eyes-as our baby did--and l can
do nothing-nothing o, my God--this is
torturep' And laying his head down on his
arms on the table he, too sobbod-a mans
heavy, heart-rending sobs, fearless and bit
ter.
In an instant Majory's arms were around
his neck, her lips resting on his dark bent
| head -
Hush, dear boy hush" she said, in her
quaint little motherly way. you are talk
ing nonsense, dear. | haven't the slightest
thought of dying, you foolish Jim. Don't,
my dear, don'tp she went on, imploringly.
But Carols self-control seemed to have
deserted him utterly; and for time his
agitation was terrible.
Then there was a long silence broken OF
last by Marjory's voice, in anxious tones:
you have eaten nothing to-day, Jim, ]
am quite sure; and you are quite faint and
worn out"
"My darling, Icould not eat, " he answered
YEARLY, raising his head and leaning back
| 4. mi