The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-10-02
GOING HOME TOGETHER.

GOING HOME T0GET Their.
AS | entered the room and felt my
way to the bedside Of the person had
been sent to minister to, Il could not
but feel i strange emotion Of pity well
up in my heart. / had often beheld,
and had become accustomed to scenes
of poverty and suffering. but there
was something different in this place
from what ! was in the habit Of ,asso-
ciating with in the lower class. The
room was almost devoid Of furniture;
in fact. / might say, entirely so, for all
my eyes could see in the semi-dark-
ness was little bedstead, mattressless
and covered with an old quilt, tat
tered blanket, a small table, Il chair,
and a tiny cupboard. But I did not
allow much Of my time to be taken up
with these observations, for I had
been summoned to relieve the suffer-
ings OF Il sick woman.
drew back a torn curtain from the
broken-paned window. and, by the aid
of a little shaft Of sunshine that came
dancing into the room, | saw a pale,
pinched face resting uneasily against
the cotton pillow, while pair Of deep.
blue eyes met mine with Il pitiful gaze.
A beautiful head, covered with a mass
of nut-brown curls, tossed to and fro
by the pains that We're racking it,
and slowly, but surely, swapping the
life from the frail form. I took the
wasted hand in mine and felt the hut-
$nr.s brs CT. In ~ sol,
noted great weakness.
How long have you been sick?"
asked.
about a month, was the gasping
reply, and half-suppressed moan fol-
lowed the answer.
You are not here alone, are you?' I
continued as a thrill Of sympathetic
sadness ran over me, imagining this
little creature without company in this
dreary place, and sick. 5a35s
A faint. tender smile fiuttered about
her parchedlips US she replied:
NO; John stays with me as much
as he can, but you know he must search
for work and c:ln not give me I'LL his
noble heart would like to-
| thought Of the stout. broad-shoul-
dered fellow who had come to me and
begged me to make the call and felt.
that lie must be John.
He is your husband, is he not?n 1
asked.
Yes" came the low answer.
why doesn't he get some one to
stay with you?"
| We arc strangers here" she said,
''and know no one who would come,
unless we were able to pay them, and
that is impossible, for John has not
peen at work bat a few days since we
came. He sits up with me ut night
and during the day looks for something
to do, coming every now aud then to
see that | am all right
Just then a soft step was heard at
the door, and looking up I beheld
John entering. He came to the bed.
and, STOPPING. tendcrly lifted the fraiI
body and held it in his arms as if she
were an infant. The great beaming
eyes turned toward him with love-
light shining from their depths that is
rarely equaleh and rs his lips bent
and gently caressed the little mouth a
look of perfect happiness lit up the
countenance ct the young wife. Pres
emily he put her back on the bed, and,
motloning to me, walked from the
room. followed and Joined him on
| the outside.
He turned us reached his side. and
j with a face worn and thin from tire
less watching and suspense asked:
Doctor. can she livc?''' .I.
Not III this place i replied, .'she
must be removed, and that at once, to
/ quarters where she will have careful
nursing and close attention.
He buried his face in. his hands and
sobbed like Il child, and huskily said:
81 have been trying to get her to %
/ to her mothers, in the country. where
she would get all Of this; but, doctor,
she refused to go Unless / accompany
her, and that is out Of the question. for
4 Ihave barely enough to send her. You
see, " and here he faltered, 1--WE ran
away from home and got married,
i which made her parents Very angry.
They have sent all Of our letters back
to us unopened. but If she would 90
to them know they would take her
i in ST.
Would you 90 if You could?, /
i asked as lie censed speaking and once
more broke the stiffness Witlhis sobs.
Would Up" he almost screamed,
"my God, doctor, ], would rive this
right arm OF nine for enough to nay
our way to the country home she de-
i serted for me. \ #3
Go, then, 1 quickly replied, s..and
4 get q carriage, aud / will have her
A ready by the time YOU return; YOU