New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-04-01
CHAPTER XXI.
UTTER PROSTRAT[ON

CHAPTER XXI.
UTTER PROSTRATION.
From the transient repOse in the
-IIlttle room of the Blue Moon, and the
ospitality OF it's good-natured host,
fiNelly had been startled by the con-
Fteat lOus scene described in the last
Schapter, and had fled like the alright
fedE deer at the sound of the hunters
thorn
,The few mouthfuls of food she had
swallowed, and the lift upon the road,
had so far recruited her that she was
liable to take her Weared child without
effort in her arms, as she quilted the
house by a back door and set off
across the country in the direction, as
well as she could judge of the market
town.
\ She had spoken at random when she
mentioned London to Laxity, yet she
#pondered, if that goal could be reached,
what better one could she fix upon?
Y was a weary Journey footsore
and heartsick, friendless and almost
without hope yet the longing. the
urgent, fixed desire to be far away
from him, from his place his presence
and his acts polluted, gave her
strength, at times, almost super
human.
But, powerful as is the human will,
and dominant as is the mind over the
material humanity, thelatter will not
pc left wholly to reconsideration.
Feet will blister, and limbs grow stiff
and nerves relax, bethe determination
- over SO firm, the will as strong.
1t was evening: the sun had set, and
twilight shadows were gathering fast
over the wide landscape, in which no
sign or sound OF humanity was discov-
erable, save the two tired travellers,
woman and child, who rested them on
Che bank of small, lazily creeping
-proOklet that ran beside the narrow
country road. Not dwelling, not
Spire, not the most distant intimatiOn
81 town or village within view.
{ The last penny had been exchanged
For a small loaf and a draught of milk,
Cor the child at the hamlet they passed
Through that morning.
There they told her the town was
but seven miles off, and they had walk
led, atleast shehad, almost without in
Permission since. Could she have
missed the way? she asked herself, as
she yielded to the child's desire to sit
down by the 'pretty water"
stNo, can't have missed it," she
fsaid to herself; Eit must be that I am
ESQ faint and weak l have not walked
lso well. Oh God, help me! where will
I5his end? No money, and no food,
land for the last two days only a bit of
Epread; my strength will not hold out
Amuch longer. [ have strange aches
land faintness come over me already
what if should be i'll? what will be-
ERome Of her? oh! my punishment is
7theavy, heavy
E The last words she moaned out
E{Aloud in the despair of her heart, and
I5he child who had wandered off a few
Ipaces after some cleaning object in the
bWater, ran back to her side, and looked
ihp into her face, where, seeing sadness
I1epicted, she laid one little hand up
| pn her mothers arm in childish sym
Epathy. ;' "
IaDon't cry, mother! dear. good
lmother, don't zee cry, I won't cry,
Imother, and it's nicer out here by this
pretty Water than at home; en- mother
Iiear, eh?"
Her mother kissed the pale cheek
Iand anxious eyes other darling. Ida's
gentle, accomplishing endurance of
discomfort had done more to give her
lstrength than all the exhortations OF
Imore advanced comforters could have
Hone.
81 sha'n't cry, dear pet, while my
Edy is so good; but, my darling fear
1--we shall get no house tonight to sleep
I ia, and perhaps no supper" -%
ct are hungry said the little one,
Jlaintively; then quickly added, sbuts
Tomorrow, mother, tomorrow us
Ikhall, eh?'
Could the most eloquent preacher
Ehave painted more forcibly the impli-
| Dit trust Of faith?
Yes, yes, DEAR said the poor
3hother, almost unconsciously, as the
athild was attracted again by some
Fresh novelty from her side.
III She arose, and, calling the little one
1 10 her side, resumed her walk forward.
IBut, even in that brief interval, she
4 seenned to have lost all the energy
Which had hitherto inspired her limbs;
1 HE dragged on feebly a fewsteps, then
4 halted, then, by dint of leaning on
Hilarious objects along the hedge-side,s
feached a corner, where q narrow
|ane, with green banks on either side,