Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-07-21

10 her; but when he was so Ill it
seemed hard all the same. Still, he
went on working, and kept up won
derfully throu yh the summer, though
with autumn his cough grew terribly
bad, and is winter, that every one
said wou-l be SO trying, was very
near. But on Saturdays we still had
our walks, and still went the old way
till west northwest grew to be a
watchword between us for all that
we wanted and could not get. We
seldom said it without laugh; but
there is no one but me who knows
the meaning of it now.
1t was one Saturday in October
that Chris came in with a letter in
his hand l knew before he told
what the news was, from something
in his face. Pauline was to be mar
ried in November--to the other fell
low.
my prayer has really been an
swered," he said, little restlessly,
'in six months. And now want to
buy a wedding present--that is all
that remains to be done. You'll
come with me, won't you, Janetl"
/ nodded, and we went. Chris
was very bright and eager about
buying that wedding present-rather
too bright, perhaps, when one saw
the restless look in his eyes. We
went from place to place, and at last
found an exquisite little flower vase
that took his fancy, though it cost
far more tEan he ought to have af-
forded. / fancied he must.often have
taken her flowers.
II shall not send my name" Chris
decided, when his gift was packed
up and even addressed. But l think
she will know"
1 knew she would know.
"Now let us take the road" said
Chris, laughing, when his parcel was
sent off-and l knew which road he
/ could walk it in the dark.
| think if | had only one inch Of
strength left l would choose to walk
there till l died. We took an onni-
bus and went rather farther out than
usual. Chris was very bright and
brotherly-rather in an absent way,
and seemed bent on showing me that
he was not downhearted. But we
talked of other things, never Of Paul
inc.
We had tea at a little shop really
in the country" as Chris said hope
fully. l think they took us for
brother and sister. 1t was a very
pleasant shopwoman; she had lit
tie girl with a round, ruddy face and
very light hair, who made friends
with Chris at once, as children al
ways did and he gave her bright
new sixpence, for which l shook my
head at him. We had tea at small
round table by the front kitchen fire
rather than in the cold, deserted
room where they had visitors in the
summer. 1t was so warm and COM
Portable, and Chris liked the warmth,
though he could eat little. When tea
was done we still sat there five.min-
utes by the fire, chatting quietly.
Perhaps it was because a crisis was
over and one could breath more free
ly; perhaps it was because he knew
the vase would please her; but I
think those few minutes were pleas
ant even to Chris. Sometimes his
face comes up before me as clearly
as possible, with the freight on it
though l cannot recall it when try.
Then we set out to walk back. All
the way there the wind had been
with us, and we hardly felt it, but
now we met it full. II was a bitter
wind, and before we had left the
shop ten minutes driving sleet be-
gan. We walked two miles before
we could get an omnibus. Chris
thought lightly of it, of course, and
was only anxious for meas if I
could have been hurt Death is for
people like Chris. l try to forget that
walk home, and go back to where we
sat In the freight; but l dream Of
the other sometimes, ard the sleet Is
IN our faces again and l 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 difference; what hap
pened 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 a blood vessel. But he
lived for two days, and nursed him
to the end; he wanted no one else.
He said l was good nurse, but
knew my hands were very hard and
rough with housework. | did pray
5hat l might lose the use of them for
ever if God would only make them
,ool and soft till Chris died; but l
suppose that would have been
Chris did not mind. He
vas very grateful, and said he should
certainly meet me again. He had
always 80 much faith. A little be-
'ore he died he smiled and said he
vas going west northwest,
That is three years ago and am
glad now; for the summers seem to
10 growing shorter and shorter and
he winters longer; there is a great
ieal of distress everywhere, and
I'm glad he is away, for while he
ived he would always have taken
he hardest part. But sometimes in
he spring and summer there are