The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-14

they do when you're goin' to have fever.
But she didn't have a fever-better If she
had perhaps, but she didn't We couldn't
bear 10 leave her that night, but she said
she wanted us TO 20 TO bed. and il seemed
most as il il made her nervous like Us
sittin' up, so we went TO bed. But we didn't
sleep all night; we heard every breath she
made, every sigh, and seems there was
more signs than anything else, my poor
little bruised baby. Well. early in the
mornin' 1 went to her and asked her If she
slept any. oh, yes she said, but / knew
she hadn't. She was too weak to do a
thing that day, and pa and me just nursed
her and petted her. and never said no word
as if anything was different from what IL
used to be. We thought TO give her her
own time, you know. Oh, Annie, every
time when | would come in the room and
see her sittin' there | wanted to Just cry
out: my heart seemed burstin' nearly. She
set by the window in her own chair all day
long, lookin' out, but never ssyin' much.
She watched me with her great eyes so
wistful like, and then I'd go over and kiss
her and speak real cheerful. Shewas such
a wee little thing. and she was more beau
tiful than ever, I thought. But | missed
lub AdukuAu CNCS anu lAbNs NA4ANs hut 4
thought that would come again in time.
But it never did"
Dorothy took up her handkerchief and
pulled it through her hands nervously,
while Annie choked down the lump that
would rise in her throat. Dorothy went
on in her sad way:
zone night some four weeks after she
come home, after we had gone 10 our room
l went TO Esther's room to see if she wanted
anything. but | stopped as / got TO the
door, There in her little white night gown
Esther krelt by the bed and | heard her
say, % God. take me before | see the shame
in my parents eyes, Then, Annie. went
right in before she left the bed and kneelin'
beside my child put my arm around her
and prayed 10 my God, % Father, help US
to take up our childs burden and bear it
for her sake, for she is tired Then / sat
beside her bed and she said, Mother,
some day ] viii tell you, when / can
/ bent down and smoothed back the
pretty hair and says: Yes, some day
when you want to. And remember,
little one, your pa and me will love and
honor you above the world. But never
leave Us again, darlin,' and she answered,
Never, mother, until God calls That
night John and me had a talk What |
told him wrung only a moan from his lips,
but not a word. Long | talked to him,
child, and often | pas my arms around
him as did our child, and at last he looked
up and said, Together, Dorthy, US three,
always Well, the winter went, but
Esther failed slowly as the spring come.
One day at shutdown, the lst of Nav,
Esther's baby was born. IL never see the
light, poor little thing, but we thanked
God for that. Esther cried little, but we
wouldn't allow that We buried the baby
out in under that tree, and three weeks
after Esther was moved TO the door here
to look out on the little mound. Two
weeks after that little life had come
and gone Esther called us TO her one
night and told US her story. I'll tell
it, Annie, as near as she told il as | can
With her pa holdin' her, her head on his
breast, she begun. / think | ought 10 have
told you before, father and mother but
was tryin' to put behind the past and be
come reconciled. But | cant, and I'm
done. The night | went 10 your room /
knew l was gOin to leave you, and my
heart was nearly breakin'. ! wanted 10
tell you, but he said yoH would never let
me marry him, and that we could 20 TO
his home, be married there and then come
come back and he knew you would forgive
us. Father. mother my child cried, L
knew so little of the world and its WAYS.
and believed in him Shall ever forget
that Journey We went 10 New York CITY
There we were married; friend Of his, "A
clergyman, married us, and then Phil took
me TO the most beautiful rooms lever saw.
He said that we would stay there n while
and then come back here. Oh, was so
happy there, Esther cried. though every
night / cried for you and home. Phil kept
sayin' we'd come back soon
"Her pa. Annie. held her closer. and put
back the soft hair from the ltlle white
face, and | could only look AZ her with eyes
full OF love Then she went ON: But As
the time passed Phil grew uneasy. and
finally knew be mad tired Of me Many a
night he would never come home. and
often it would be four or five days before
would see him again. ON, the misery Of
those daysl One afternoon / put on the
pretty hat be bought me. and started out
for a walk. | had not seen him for five
days and was almost mad with grief. As
! was going along the avenue ] saw him
come out Of an elegant mansion with
lady. Oh such q beautiful woman, with a
proud, cold face, and saw him help her on
to horse, then get on another, and ride
away together ! turned back sick, and
went home. That night ne came in. lie
gave no excuse for bein' gone 50 long. lie
was readin and looked 50 gentle and hand
some that / went up 20 him and put my
around -. r...~L- ir.f
anything. He pulled me down on mis- lap
and said, My beautiful little Esther and
kissed my lips and neck Then / asked
him who that lady was. Oh. father moth
er. if you could have seen his face, be
looked so guilty. lie rose and stood be
fore me and said 'E,ss.e. do bot bother
your little head about her Then / de-
manded the truth. lie grew angry then
and said. Do you want % know, them
She is the woman I love and will one day
make my wife. stood frozen mother.
but ! said: iour wife, When ] am deadY
and he said. NO, before then Then
asked him, " nat al p and be told me
You are not my wife. and deceived you.
Essie, wish you hadn't made NE tell you
this Everything would have come right.
l turned from him and walked - the win
dow. When ( -ed him again be cried,
Good God, F.ss.s. dar.iu', don't look Ike
that" / only said. VIII you leave me
alone for a while" but he said no, will
not leave you alone tonight, Ess.s, child,
you're too badly sEaAeH- o.. heaven, had
not cause"
Annie knslt by her n ard could not
speak Her pa croau-1. but only he'd her
close, our innocent l.t.e oa1y glrl' But
must finish IstHer wen. on The next
day left him. te eyed III him and loved
him 20 that it broke my heart. had bat
one idea, 20 gzt bark Iere % zee you.
"a 81 .---- IL