Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-04

Mrs. easy III the lamp. Dy 10 20 -
the pallor and Magazines Of her facs
were very noticeable, and Il was appar'
ent that her dress was torn and muddy
She dragged herself rather than walked
between the table and the fire. busyine
herself with preparations for Casy''
comfort. He could tell from her foot
ste ps that she was very weary.
you're dreadful tired, Henrietta
dear" he said.
Eyes, Thomas, am very tired, said
Mrs. easy, and it was an unusual eo'
mission for her to make.
'tI wish could spare you, Henrietta.
Pm nething but burden" said the oio
man, dolefully. "But oh, / doL'r
know what should do without you'll"
Perhaps her WEAKNESS had made heI
irritable. Never had she spoken to him
so GROSSLY or sharply In her life IS she
did now.
FOR heavens sake, Thomssg" she
said, stamping her foot, 'don't say that
sgIn. I'm sick Of hearin' 1t"
"hener-ietta, he said, plaintively,
sits because IL love yer Sony dear
I didn't mean to worrit you"
"Oh, Godl" said Mrs. easy, with q
great sob. And she sank on to q chair
and began rocking herself to and fro.
easy listened for a minute in wonder
and dismay. Then he slid of the bed
and walked up to her. He got down on
his knees by her side and fumbled for
her hand.
"You amt angry with me Hener-
ietta?"
"Angry Thomasl" And the two old
things, locked in one another's arms,
mingled their tears.
"Tell me, Henerletta, tell me what
ST a-troublin' YOU"
"Oh, I want to, Thomas. I've been
wantin' to ever so long. And / must
afore long. But it don't seem as II you
could a-bear tt"
Have you got to bear it too, my
deariSH"
ooh. yes, I've got to. I've had to
this long while"
"And you amt never shared 1t. Hen
erletta, you sin't dealt fairly by me.
Joys and sorrows, we said we'd never
keep 'em from one another, and there
amt thought Of my heart "a has been
secret from you. In the lpdgme1S
day there couldn't be a question asked
me, but you'd be able to answer for me
what I've a-done and said and thought
and yet you've been keepin' some
thin back"
81 did it for the best, Thomas; 1 did.
Indeed. But I'll tell you. l must, i
must. And you'll be brave?"
h. Hn..PtQffQ
said, quaveringly.
'T've deceived you, Thomas, but l
did it for the best. About that corn,
now, Thomas never had no corn; L
amt had one this ten years"
why, is that alp" he said, with re-
lief; "that Amt so bad, after all. Why,
bless me, you never had no corn? And
the killer, nowl You didn't really need
no killer? But what made you go and
pretend such thing, Henrietta? And
groan? Many's the time I've heerd
you groan. and 1t have gone to my
heart like knife. couldn't bear to
see you suffer. What made you pur-
tend, Henrietta? l don't blame yer,
mind" he went on, smoothing her
cheek. "But what made yer, Hen
rietta?"
Mrs. easy cIasped him convulsIvsly to
her. ''Oh, l did it to spare you,
Thomas"
"To spare me-to spare me-Hen-er
--iettal 1t ain't-oh. don't tell me-
It's somethlnk worse"
She was silent.
Henrietta" his voice came like a
whisper.
Then there was long, long silence.
And the fire lept up merrily and
shone on their old, despairing faces,
and on his sightless eyes, which sought
hers, and hers too full Of tears to see
him.
cts that" she said at last, speaking
slowly, and with long pauses. ut
have been coming on by degrees, and
sometimes 1t ha' been cruel, and the
pain. And when 1t come upon me sud
den 1 couldn't help but groan. And
the corn was an excuse. And when I'd
said it, I'd stuck to it. And l didn't
ever use the killer. And it have got
worse and worse, pass bearin' at times.
And to-day walked a bit Of the way
and it was agony, and then 1 went
further-and fell down, and tainted
right away in the road"
"Henerietta, you're breakin' my
heart"
"ADd was to the hospital" She
paused and gathered him closer to her.
ITO the hospital-and they said |
ought to stay there-and l wouldn't
because of you-and cried and went
on until they let me come. The doctor
he drove me himself, and he wanted to
come in, but l wouldn't let him.
thought you'd be afraid. Yes, drove
in carriage for the first time, Thomas,
and II were that comfortable"
She tried to be cheerful and divert
his thoughts. But he kept her to the
point
-said-?"
"He told me, Thomas, as couldn't
get we'll. Oh" she burst into tears,
she says It's only very little while
only very little while, Thomas. And
| don't mind a.goin', for 1 suffers so;
but what'll come to your It's you, I've
been a-thinkin' on all the time, aud
when come in this evenin' and see Il
all-no fire, and you so desolate, 1t
seemed too much. I've wanted you to
be happy all the time. And It I'D ha'
been best, may the Lord forgive me, II
IL you'd been took first"
The old mans face was as beautiful
in its love and dignity as it was touch
ing in it's sorrow. "Henerietta, you've
done it for the best" he said, 'and l
amt worthy, not to touch you. But
don't 20 blamln' the Lord, my dear. He
knows what he does. II l was to die
you might get along, crippled-like, but
he knows that when you go I'll Just die
too. couldn't like without you. Oh,
unnorin,tn he sohhad. ..Na didn't