Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-09-14

been TO see her before, and whose home
was five or six miles beyond Eastbridge-
had eyes as fearful as her own; and, after
they had talked for a minute or two, she
(Mrs. Fordham) said suddenly
II hope that there is nothing the mat
ter, Fanny and that you. and
But Fannie Gay was young-only
eighteen-and unused to trouble; and, al
her cousins first words, she dropped down
among the sea-pinks and the peoples, and
began to cry bitterly. ooh" she ex-
claimed, as soon as she could get her voice
again, "poor Arthur is SO i'll! They don't
think he'll get over i'll And yon know
we were to have been married in week.
Everything was ready-and-and-ohP p
with fresh burst of bitter grief, "now
perhaps | shall never see him again and
he is so far away-and they won't let me
go to himP
Mrs. Fordham sat down with her, by the
lonely roadside, and tried to comfort her
and presently she dried her eyes, and told
why she had been going to Yarley.
Mother and l can't help feeling dull
and lonely and miserable" she said, the
tears running over again; "and we thought
that we might have Hilda and Dorrie for
a while, if you liked. Father is in good
work, and"
"Oh," interrupted Mrs. Fordham, chow
kind. But ! am afraid that they are
hardly respectable enough to go anywhere.
have no time for sewing, and"
ooh, never mind thatp broke in Fanny
in her turn. at will be something for me
to do, and that is just what | want"
A little further conversation ensued, and
then the two parted for the present, Fanny
going on to Yarley, and Mrs. Fordham
proceeding once more in the direction of
Eastbridge.
She arrived at the hospital and sat by
her husbands bed. He was to be allowed
to sit up on the following day, he told her;
but he did not tell her happily or hope
fully.
"And you will have me home in week
or two, L expect" he went on the next
moment; "and more of a trouble to you
than ever, poor little wife! don't suppose
that | shall ever be Of much use again.
"Don't say that, john" laying her hand
affectionately upon his. "Well get along
somehow, never fear"
AT this instant man in the nearest bed
an elderly man, with a withered and
frowning tace-exclaimed aloud, In dole
full voice:
"Dear, dear! what world it is Ups
and downs, ups and downs Nothing but
ups and downsp
He was a stranger to Mrs Fordham,
having been brought in since her last visit.
He kept thriving coffee tavern in busy
London, she was informed, and, coming
down to Eastbridge to collect some old
debts, and on a visit of private business to
a lawyer besides, he had met with an acct
dent from passing cab, receiving internal
injuries, from which, it was feared, he could
not recover.
"And | was getting on so WE'LL" he said
to Mrs. Fordham, as he fixed his piercing
gray eyes upon her. "And in year or so
| should have been able to retire-in fact,
it was the very thing wanted to talk to
Lawyer Searle about. But now there is
nobody but my housekeeper to see to ev-
erything; and she hates the business, and
will very soon drive all the customers
away. Oh dear oh dear: To think that
l should have shaved all my life, as have,
to be ruined at the end of it by thriftless
woman p
Here the conversation was cut short, for
more visitors arrived, and two of them
made their way to John Fordham's bed
side. For John was both liked and re-
spected in Yarley, and one friend or
another generally divided the time his
wife had to spend with him.
On her way home Mrs. Fordham was
met by Fanny and the children. The two
little girls were delighted at the idea of
going back with their cousin, who helped
their mother pack their things, and de-
parted, with child by each hand, on the
following afternoon.
Good by, Fanny" Mrs. Fordham had
said. Don't grieve. It's first joy, and
then sorrow, and then Joy again And
there's more sunshine than clouds in our
lives, after all. Your Arthur will soon
get well again-as | cannot help thinking
and you will be as happy as the days
are long"
A fortnight passed. John Fordham was
at home once more. The first small
pleasures and excitement were over, and
he had relapsed into dizziness and de-
preston, as his wife had feared that he
would.
1t was gloomy autumn morning. The
two boys had gone TO school, and his wife
after giving him his breakfast, wished to
return to her washing but he kept saying
Don't run away from me so, Dorothy
| shall never get well if | am to be left SC
much to myself"
She did not know how to spare the
time; nevertheless, she sat by him until
by-and-by, he fell into light doze, when
she stole silently from the room.
As she reached the little passage, she
saw from the open door the postman APP.
preaching. He gave her one letter. II
was for her husband. Who had written tc
him Just now?
The postman's step had aroused the
sleeper, and his wife put the letter into
| his hand.
1t proved to be from their new friend,
Albert Weldon by name, the elderly pa
tient who had still lain in the neighborine
bed at the hospital on John Fordham':
removal. And thus the missive ran:
Come and see me. have no one to talk to
A poor young man with a crushed foot ha:
| taken your place in the next bed, and he speak:
| scarcely word through the whole day And
! besides, have something of great importance
| that want to say inclose postal order fol
| expenses. Bring your wife-and come to-day
| Yours truly, ALBERT WELDON
Ess
John Fordham and his wife sat by the
hospital bed, and Mr.. Weldon, lying back
on his pillow, gazed at them eagerly.
| "My business weighs on my mind he
is saying fretfully: "and have had another
letter from that tiresome and foolish
woman, my housekeeper, to say that the
place must be closed if | can't send some
one to look after it Now will You 60, Mr.
ordham?-children and all | have
seen and heard enough of you to know
that | may entirely trust you. There il
plenty of room; and your wife will fine
herself in her right place-exactly-or, a
least, it is my belief that she will. AnC
you shall have full liberty to do precisely
as you think best until come back; and
| then-but there will be time enough K
settle that afterwards. Will you go?p
But John and his wife could only lool
at each other in silent bewilderment, in