The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-22
the girls wrist Ia his hand. II was very thin,


soon, very soon, mother and babe would -
together. The two, 50 near akin. had nevci
known each other m this life what beyond.
The girl opened her eyes--large, dark.
melancholy ewes they wcrc-wiile DIR. Mcr,-
dlth was bending over her, and looked IN
his face
"Bc il You, doctorr she said, with voice
scerccly audible, IAN did yer want to $50
Toni Wen, he amt here now, but rccfol.
he'll be here terecly."
Never mind Tom," said the doctor "fou
have been very sick, Maggie, and must thin.
about yourself little.
''But hcv to min Tom, she replied il.
relcyantly Don't yer know he's my In
banif An the preacher SAID | must love,
honor an erbey an 50 hey to min him
don't yer see;
This revelation rather startled the doctor
Il had never occurred TO him that Stanard,
who had a mother and sisters moving in tn
hcst circles Of sccicty--in which society he
himself had mingled-could have unitei
himself b. marriage to this girl and yet tie
knowledge Of the fact rather raised than
lowered the man in his estimation, and at
the SANE time be felt that the girl, poor,
fgiendless. :lmos. outcast a. she was, had
thrown herself away in marrying him.
"When were you and Tom married,
aiaggieN he asked.
nigh on toa yer ago replied Maggie
But Oh my | wasn't TO tell, an now I've
gone an done ii, and then she began to cry
Never mind, said the doctor soothingly,
Il. 20 rlr - for Z 4. a
with a gentle hand Never mind: you
hess, only told ne and III not tell anybody
else"
'Wout yer, now, Wen, ! know yer wont
ef ser say So You see, his folks moughtn't
like IT, and we didn't want no fuss. But
whar's my brother, doctori' her eyes glanc-
ing slowly around The room.
Gle is at my house. thought he'd better
stay there while you are sick"
eyes reclin h. had-ef you'll let him.
The po' chile wouldn't git nothin 10 eat
here"
VERY well, he she'll stay there, aud have
plenty % eat But you had better not talk
any more now, SO will leave you to rest
little while
He went to the door, and stood there look
ing across the field at Il group Of pines that
had sprung up and grown apace where moth
ing else would flourish. There was a mock
ing bird singing among the darn green
plumes, its ever varying notes ringing out
loud aud joyous
Were there nothing beyond this life for
us, Us some would have us believe he
thought lit were better t. be- yOHder bird,
which knows not pang, and whose exist
cnce seems 10 BE- Il never ending fncriy-Go-
round, than the poor creature lying IL there.
If life end for man with the death Of the
body, then surely he is the most miserable OF
all living things He alone knows that long
ing for higher, nobler state, and TO Inn
alone comes heartache, comes woes, however
fortunate he may be he cannot escape care,
and disappointment and sorrow await him at
every turn Tie beast that serves him knows
none Of these its hunger and thirst ap;
peased, il is content; il suffers from naught
save actual physical pain, and even that does
not make it howl and wTithe as 1t does many
men
When le returned 10 bis patient he found
her living with her eyes fixed wisifully on
the western sky. where the sun was just go
ing down, flooding the earth and Lighting up
the pale, sad face on the pillow with glori-
ous light. He took her hand in his and bent
over her.
How do YOU feel now, MaggieN he asked.
''Oh my, doctorr' she sighed II feel
moughty weak an my foots is kinder dead
like
Take this, " he said, bringing Il cup from
the cupboard and holding II 10 her lips, while
he raised her head little on his left arm
Did YOU ever 30 to church, he asked,
when he had laid her head gently oack Oh the
pillow and put the cup away.
YES, onct in wlile-when could"
And what did the preacher tell yOut'
ole telled rs ef We didn't rcrpent--that
means bein' sorry-he said, ior all the bad
we'd did, we'd 90 to hell But never done
nothn' 50 awful bad that knows Oh, less Al
twas marrying Tom when | knowed his
folks Woul1n ike it. Bat he would have 1t
so. doctor, an couldn't help it. he'd 10
do like he said.
"Wen, never mind that, you and Tom had
q right TO get married If You wanted 10, and
YOU might have done much worse. But
didn't the preacher tell you about anything
elsef
"Oh, yes; he toll us bout the Lord, an
how, Of we done wat was right and rer-
pentel Of our sins, he'd forgive us an take
Us inter a place whaf ev'rythine's purity, an
the street l. made Of COLE, an thars plenty
fur all That's when ives dead, yer know"
YES, / understand"
''An IS il ali true, dQctorN
YES, something like it
Gan is it Is purity thar es theti' lifting her
hand fcebly and pointing TO the western sky
all ablaze with glory.
"Much prettier; and there is no trouble,
no sorrow there, and everybody is happy"
"Im glad-to hear that, said the girl, her
eyes Frightening with a look OF joy, 'an'
thet's whar I'd like TO go-fur this bea weari-
some worf-an' ono don't hev much here
to make em happy"
II believe you've been a good girl, Mag
gle said the doctor.
IL hes allers-done the best cud,' she
said. butt don't-know much-ap- mebbe
didn't alters now-wat--was-jis'-
Her voice had been growing weaker for
some time, and these last words were uttered
between short, quick gasps for breath. Now
she closed her eyes aud lay quite still, and
the doctor thought she was falling asleep,
and so might come the end; but suddenly
she started up and, bali lifting herself ON
her arm that trembled under tue weight OF
her body, looked eagerly toward the door.
"Oh, Tom! Tom~ she cried, her voice all
at once clear and sweet, and singularly