The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-18


deemed it advisable to find some COM
Portable shelter at once for him if his
life was to be preserved.
''1t is three miles to town. Who lives
In that cottage?" inquiries tho captain of
the crew.
Don't know her name, but she's a
widow lady with a daughter"
Follow me, lads, and bring him care
fully"
In very few seconds he taps sharply
at the door, and is met by kindly-look
ing old lady.
"a poor fellow, ma'am, nearly
drowned just off the wreck. Will you
take him in? His life depends upon it. ="
Heaven help him; put him ON the
sofa''
THANK you. ma'am, warmth is what
he needs.''
And while the men who remained
changed his wet clothes for the blankets
they had been supplied with Mrs. Ellis
Ter busted herself in preparing bed for
him in the adjoining room-
But recovery was not Immediate; in
deed, for many days the doctor despaired
OF saving his life, and credited the prog
ress he eventually made to the tender
and contant nursing of the poor widow
'Ah, DOCTOR" she said one day, in re-
buttal of his compliments, 81 have to
thank strangers for caring for my own
daughter, who has been grievously sick,
though they told me nothing till all
danger was past. Some love affair, l
fancy. She will be here in few days
as she is not fit to work yet awhile"
"You deserve the best of daughters.
Meanwhile, remember this young man
needs every care; there is an apathy in
his speech which may result from his
weakness, but has led me to think that
his mind is little unhinged," and
with these words of caution the doctor
went his way.
One week from that day dear Mrs.
Ellsler's heart was futtering wildly in
the expectation of her daughters
arrival.
She was not disappointed in this, but
the tears started to her eyes when she
beheld the pale face and wasted form of
Martha, who really needed assistance to
alight from the buggy-she who had
often prided herself upon her dexterity
in jumping over the wheels and all to
the ground.
''Oh, mother, MOTHER" sobbed the
poor wanderer, ''there's no place like
home. Would 1 might never have to
leave this haven of peace and rest. /
could lie down and die here, mother,
without pang."
my dearie. don't talk of dying; you
are i'll, child, come in. No, let us take
the back door, my patient is in that
room, and you had better not disturb
him. He is stronger than he was, but
the shock of the shipwreck has left him
cloudy in The BRAIN"
That evening Martha Ellsler stole
quietly to the little, upright piano and
ran her nimble fingers over the keys.
Her thoughts were still of Robert
Hickman and his desertion of her, and
in spite of the certain evidence she had
that he had cared but little for her, she
found comfort in the melody as in the
words of ''Some Day.
She was singing the second verse when
the door of the patients room opened
gently, and figure, all expressive of
veneration and wonder, watched and
listened.
The last strain was floating in the air,
the last words: 81 love you now," when
Martha's heart filed too full, and her
face fell forward buried in her handker-
chief, as she cried:
''Oh, Robert, Robert, my darling, how
could you leave me without word?"
"You did not want me. had to go!"
1t was a hOarse whisper the words
were uttered in, and Martha rose as she
turped, but stood dumfounded as she
recognized in her mothers patient the
man she loved.
Martha, why did you not answer my
letter if you loved me?"
"What letter? / know of none"
"Did not Jessie deliver my note the
day after our last chat at the gate?'
She had not, as the reader knows, and
on learning this he was not slow to re-
peat it's contents, and beg her to be his
wife.
When Mrs. Ellsler came to bring her
daughter to supper she found she had
company, and scarcely recognized her
late patient, whose dull, meaningless
expression had given place to one of
bright intelligence and radiant hope.
mother, darling, this is Mr.. Robert
Hickman, my future husband"
1t was not until many happy months
had passed over their heads that they
had an opportunity of questioning Jes-
sic, when, with a sudden flash of recol-
lection, she confessed her negligence,
and led them to the old elm tree, where,
safe in its nook, they found the lost
love-letter. Family Story Paper.