The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-27

AT last. 10 MS great Joy, DO DearO Tue uoOE
opened. and with slow and falterlDg steps
some one stumbled into the room. lie
sprang up.
"Heneriettaw he cried, lis that youi"
Yes" said a feeble voice. Its me.
Thomas"
"Ob." no said pathetically. Il thought
you was never cominQ. Pm so tired OF
waitin'. Where are you Heneriettaf Let me
feel your hand"
Some faint raysof moonlight stole into
the room. They showed her the figure of
her husband. and she crept towards HIM
and put her arms around him. The relief
was so great after the strain of anxiety
that he began to sob like a child.
"Oh, Henerietta," he said. what have
you been a.doin's It's a CROWN late. and
Pve wanted you. And l didn't know what
might have happened. And / couldn't do
nothink. And Pm so helpless without you.
What have KEEP you. Heneriettaf"
She did not answer his question, but con-
tented herself with soothing and comfort
ing him. His emotion shocked and hurt
her for a reason beyond that which be
knew. and she was very tender with him.
"PH tell you presently. my dearie." she
said. Let me get O light first and see TO
the fire. You're hungry, aren't you, and
want your support"
II don't want nothing but you. Pm
about content now" he said. But he let
her 60. He was too tired and exhausted to
demonstrate.
Mrs. easy Int the lamp. By it's light the
pallor and haQgardness OF her face were
very noticeable. and It was apparent that
her dress was torn and muddy. she
dragged herself rather than walked be-
tween the table and the fire. busying her.
self with preparations for Casy's comfort.
He could tell from her footsteps that she
was very weary.
You're dreadful tired, Henerietta, DEAR"
he said
"Yes, Thomas, Pm very tired" said Mrs.
Caav and il was an unusual admission for
her to make
Il wish i could spare you. Henerietta.
Pm nothing but q burden" said the old man.
dolefuily. But, oh, i don't know what l
should do without your
Perhaps her WEAKNESS had made her irri-
table. Never had she spoken TO him so
GROSSLY or sharply in her life as she did now.
For heavens sake. Thomas" she said.
stamping her foot, don't say that agln.
Pm sick of hearin' it,"
"Hener-ietta." he said. plaintiveIy, tits
because IL love yer SONY dear. l didn't
mean to worrit YOU"
sob. And she sank on 60 chair and began
rocking herself to and fro.
easy listened for q minute in wOndor
and Gismay. Then he slid off the bed and
walked Mp to her, He got down on his
knees by her side and fumbied Tor her hand.
You Amt angry with me, Henerietta9''.
angry, Thomas" And the two old
things, locked in one anOthers arms, MIN
gled their tears.
Tell me. Henerietts. tell me what is
a-troublin' your
"Oh, 1 want to. Thomas. Pve been
wantin' to ever so long. And l must afore
long. But it don't seem as If you could
a. bear it."
Have you got to bear it too, my dearie7"
"Oh, yes. Eve got TO. Pve had to this
long while"
"And you ain't never shared it. Hen
e~rIetts, you amt dealt fairly by me. joys
anA o4rra-n un oofH rva,l6 nnuop " aan Jam
from one another. and there Amt a thought
of my heart as has been secret from you.
In the Judmint day there couldn't be q
question asked me but you'd be able to
answer for me-what I've a-done. n said,
and t~hought-snd~ yetyou've been a-keepln'
somethIn' back"
II did it for the best, Thomas: 1 did in
deed. But IIl tell You. l must, l must.
And you'll be bravef"
Yes, iii be brave, Henerietta,n he said,
quaverin gly.
I've deceived you, Thomas, but / did it
for the best. About that corn, now, Thorn
as-I never bad no corn; l amt mad one
why, is that alI7" he said with relief;
"that amt SO bad after all. Why, bless
me. you never had no corni And she killer
now! You didn't really need no killerl
a thing, Heneriettaf And grosns! Many's
the time I've heerd you erOan, and II have
gone to my heart like a knife. l couldn't
a-bear to see you suffer. What made you
purtend, Henerlettai / dOn't blame yer,
mind," he went on. smoothing ner cheek.
But what made yer, HeneriettaV
Mrs. easy clasped him cOnvulslvely to
her. "Oh. / did it 10 spare you.- Thomas
40 spare me-to spare m~e-Hen-er-iet-
ia! Ii ain't-oh, don't tell me It's some
think gorse."
She was silent.
"Henerietta," his voice came like a whis-
per.
Then there was o long, long silence.
And the fire leapt up merrily and shone on
their old despairing faces, n on his sight
less eyes which sought hers, and hers too
full of tears to see MIN.
ats that" she said at last, speaking
slowly, aud with long pauses; lit have
been coming ON by degrees. and sometimes
IL amt been much and sometimes it ha'
been cruel. the pain. And when IL comes
upon me sudden l couldn't help but groaD.
And the corn was an excuse. And when
I'd said it, l stuck TO IL. And i didn't never
use the killer. And il have got worse and
worse-past bearin' at times. And to-day
i walked a bit of the way and it was agony,
and then went farther-and l fell W
and / tainted right away in the road"
"Henerietta, you're a-breakin' my heart"
And | was took TO the hOspItal--" She
paused and gathered him closer to her. 10
the hOspital-and they said / ought TO stay
there-and l Wouldn't because of you-and
/ cried and went OH till they let me come.
IL AA0 RAN hO
wanted to come in. hutI wouldn't let nm.
Thought you'd he afraid. Yes; / drove in
D carridRe for the fust time. Thomas. andiJ
were that comfortable"
She tried to be cheerful and, divert his
thoughts; but he kept her TO tho point.
"Well, Heneriettai And the d~octor-said
-q"
HE told me, Thomas, as / couldn't get
we'll. Oh" she burst into tears, "he SAYS
it's only q very little whiie-only a worry lit
tie while. Thomas. And don't mind a
goin', for / suffer so; but what'll come to
yous It's You I've been a-thinkin' OIL all
the time. and when ] come In tins evenin'
and see 1t all-no fire. and you so desolate,
1t seemed too much. Pve wanted YOU TO
be happy all the time. And it'd ha' been
best, may tho Lord forgive me, if you'd
been took first"
The old mans face was as beautiful IN
Its love and dignity as IL was touching in
its sorrow. "Henerietta, you've lone 1t for
the best" he said, land | amt worthy not
to touch you; but don't 20 blamin' the
Lord. my dear. He knows wat He does.
II i was 20 die you might got along, Grip
pled-iike, but He knows that when you 90
I'll Just die too. l couldn't live without
you. Oh, Henerietta." he sobbed, I'VE
didn't ought TO grumble. Takin' one thing
along with another. we've had better times
than most" Henerletta."
-Cornhil Magazine.
OFT OF THE