The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-02-26
est girl he ever saw, and to be con-
sidered middle-ap and sedate. was

est girl he ever saw, and to be con-
sidered middle-aged and sedate, was
anything but pleasing to him. Yet
he mad no power to change such
state of things; it seemed to be es-
tablished-and that irrevocably-by
the most innocent, yet most despotic
tyrant in the world. He went away,
resolving to change this phase
of affairs on his return. He
had a strong will, and some
tact; he would not be out-gen-
eraled by this willful little empress.
Returned, he met Fanny in the hall
as he entered the house. She came
forward to meet him, and he, resolv-
ing to establish new relations i'm
mediately, took her hand, warmly,
and kissed her, watching, meanwhile
the grave eyes which met his unhesi-
tatingly.
Mamma is very i'll, Mr.. Conway. I
am glad you have come. She re-
quires to be kept very cheerful, and
we are all so sad that it is almost
impossible for us to do it. We are
afraid she will never be any BETTER"
Here all his gallantry was blown
to winds again by her tender, sad
dened manner, and he had little heart
for gayety when he entered the sick
room. What a change had come
over the pallid, white face! 1t was
contracted with pain; patient still,
but fearfully wasted and sharpened
by suffering. He forgot to assume a
cheerful manner, as Fanny had
begged him to do, but showed his
surprise and regret at the change in
every feature, and only recovered
himselfWhen he saw Fanny's sad face
trying to smile, and saw how she was
endeavoring to cover his awkward
ness with light words, and a playful
tenderness toward her mother.
Those were long days, indeed, while
the sufferer waited for the summons
which all knew must soon come. Mr..
Conway staid, for Mrs. Hurlburt
could not bear to have him go. He
aud Fanny were her constant com
panions. The daughters devotion
was beautiful. The dying mother
watched and understood her efforts
to cheer and comfort her, while the
young heart was taking in, day by
day, more fully the certainty and
greatness of her coming loss. She
read, sung tender little songs, bright
ened the children by her own cheer
fulness, SO that, whenever they came
near their mother, their ignorant,
child-hearts caught no premonition
Of the shadow falling upon them,
and the mother was spared the sor-
row of a long farewell.
To Mr.. Conway this saddened in
tercourse was a blessing he could
hardly comprehend. Daily and
hourl y toshare Fanny's deepestsolic-
itude, to minister, with her, the
most loving comfort, to sustain her
under the gradual but terrible bur-
den that was gathering upon her
heart, was all that he could lave
asked.
1t was mid-autumn-long, warm
smoky days.
Just at evening, when Mrs. Hurl-
burt's pain seemed to subside, and
she grew calmer and more at rest,
Mr.. Conway and Fanny would walk
down into the garden, He watched
sadly the grave lines which settled
more and more about the mouth, the
deeper look in the eyes; but, oh! how
gladly did he see and feel the grow
ing reliance on him, which she be-
trayed in every act! The weight OF
her little hand on his arm grew more
trusting, and his heart was full to the
brim of worship deeper than it had ev.
erknown before; for it was the worship
of human nature, the gathered idol
airy of years and of suffering.
We will pass by the blow no HUI
man skill could avert. We will pass
by the grief no human sympathy
could alleviate. Mr.. Conway did all
in his power to soften the pain and
loss.
In time he told Fanny the story of
his life and love, and he heard the
sweetest OF all words from her pretty
mouth, now wearing it's mothers
patience instead of only laughter.
No truer words were ever spoken-no
holier ones can bespoken-than those
which made them one flesh.
And the pretty mouth now smiles
a mothers love on one "sole darling
OF their house and heart" Peter
sons Magazine.
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