Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-12-28
PRICE ONE CENT

cied he mus, often have taken her now
ers.
Il shall not send my name Chris de
cided, when his gift was packed up. and
even addressed But think she will
know.
knew she would know.
Now let us take the road, said Chris,
laughing, when his parcel was sent of
snd knew what road he meant. 1 could
walk il in the dark. think il | had only
one inch of strength left would choose
10 walk there till died. We took an
omnibus aud went rather farther out
'hsn usual. Chris was very bright and
orotherly - rather in an absent way,
md seemed bent on showing me that he
was not downhearted But we talked Of
other things, never of Pauline
We had tea at the little shop really ia
he country. as Chris said hopefully.
;hink they took us for brother aud sister.
1t was a very pleasant shopwoman; she
tad little girl with round. rudy face
md very light hair who made friends
with Chris at once, as children always
did, and he gave her bright, new six
pence, for which shook my head at him.
We had tea at a small round table by the
front kitchen fire. rather than in the cold,
deserted room where they had visitors in
summer. It was so warm aud comfort
able, and Chris liked the warmth, though
they could eat little. When tea was done
we still sat there five minutes by the fire,
chatting quietly. Perhaps il was because
crisis was over and one could breathe
more freely; perhaps il was because he
knew the vase would please her; but |
thing those few minutes were pleasant,
even 20 Chris. Sometimes his face comes
up before me as clearly as possible, with
the freight on it-though can not recall
it when l try.
Then we set out to walk back. An the
way there the wind had been with us.
and we had hardly felt it, but now we
met it full. II was bitter wind, aud
before we had left the shop ten minutes,
a driving sleet began. We walked two
miles before we could get an omnibus.
Chris thought lightly OF it, Of course,
and was only anxious for meas il
could have been hurt Death is for poo
home, and go back TO where we sat in
the freight; but dream Of the other
sometimes, and the sleet is in our faces
again, and know it is killing him, and
wake myself with calling out
Very well; that is all over The doctor
said that perhaps it made no real differ
ence; what happened then might have
happened any day in the state Chris
was in. 1t was an hour after we
reached home, and he was coughing
terribly-he broke blood vessel. But
he lived for two days, and | nursed
him to the end; he wanted no one
else. He said j was a good nurse,
but l knew my hands were very hard
and rough with housework did pray
that might lose the use of them forever
if God would make them cool and sof'
till Chris died-but | suppose that
would have been miracle. Chris did
not mind. He was very grateful, and
said he should certainly meet me again
He had always so much faith. A little
before he died he smiled and said he was
going west northwest
That is three years ago, and am glad
now; for the summers seem to be grow
ing shorter and shorter and the winters
longer; there is great deal of distress
everywhere, and am glad he is away,
for while he lived he would always have
taken the hardest part. But sometimes
in the spring and summer there are very
lovely days, and then / wish he were
back. 1t is rather like living in vacuum,
where one can't draw long breath be.
cause there is no air; but all that will
pass over. Milly is married at last &c
some one very rich; but there are all the
others, and the SCOT is worse than ever,
and new things are always turning up TO
be done. / am thankful for that
should like every hour and minute to be
filled quite fulfill l go west north.
west.-May Kendall, in Longman's Mag
azine.