Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-01-19

she was as immovable as a rock, I'M
til, at last, my husband laid on her
his command as her pastor, and the
guardian Of her boy, He urged her,
for the sake of the poor child now
left TO her alone, to come with us to
our own home, and there wait in
patience the will of God, and after
long persuasion she yielded. Very
sadly our little party turned back to
our home, and poor Mary moved as in
a waking dream,
AS time passed by she faded into a
mere shadow Of her once bright,
cheerful self. Patient and subdued,
she seemed almost to forget her own
Identity and to live only in her sor-
row and her child, We could not al
low her-she did not seem to think
Of doing SOTO go back to that home
now so sadly desolate, So for nearly
two years she lived with us, a loving
sister to the elders, a tender teacher
to the little ones.
Accustomed as | was to her calm
demeanor, was surprised one morn
ing to see her enter the breakfast
room with hot flush on her cheek,
and In her eyes a restless glitter that
told OF a troubled mind and wake
tul night l asked no question, how
ever, but waited until the children
left the room, when suddenly she
came hurrying toward me, threw her.
self upon my footstool, and buried
her tears in the folds Of my dress.
"Mary, darling Mary, what is it?"
said l, tenderly smoothing her hair.
ooh, Mrs. Gray do not think me
Wild" she cried, 'do not reprove me
for my folly-but know that Frank
is still alive. All night / heard his
voice, calling Wife, wifer He is
not dead 1 have never believed that
he could die and leave me. What
will become Of me if / do not find my
poor Frank, who needs me so much,
and calls for me with so much long
ing?"
She seemed so excited, and so I'M
like her usual quiet self, that / was
half afraid to dispute her, although I
pitied her for the sad delusion.
''My dear little sister," said /,
soothingly, "you are broken down
with care and grief, and dreams have
troubled your poor tired brain.
Strange fancies come to us all when
we are out of sorts, you know. Will
you not rest to-day, and try to over
come this restless fancy?"
She raised her face toward mine
and YEARLY sighed.
at was no fancy dear friend, l
cannot prove it, but l know it is
true. Frank is alive and called for
me last night"
Then, with look of patient grief,
she arose and left me. All day she
seemed to be thinking deeply, ana to
avoid the presence Of the family, even
Of her baby boy,
Next morning I was shocked to see
the drawn lines about her mouth,
and the haggard eyes that told of an
other sleepless night. She came down
to breakfast with that strange air of
excitement about her, and all through
the day she moved about as one who
hears far Off voice, unheard by other
ears.
At sunset we sat together, after
the litGle ones had gone to sleep,
when suddenly the peal of the door
bell rang through the silent house.
Mary sprang to her feet, her slen-
der figure drawn to its full height,
her face set and intense in the rays Of
the fading sun; indeed, she seemed
to me as the embodiment of an ex-
pectant nearer. 1t was but mo-
ment before the door of our room was
opened and a rough but kindly voice
spoke to US:
"Does Mrs. Frank Hunter live
here? Can 1 speak to her?"
She sprang past me with a cry, to
meet the man who stood there, all
travel-stained and dusty.
"Oh, sir, do you come from my
husband? Oh, have you come to take
me to him?"
"Well, upon my word, that is the
truth" said the man, drawing a long
breath of surprise.
No doubt he had come expecting to
be met with disbelief, or at least
that he would have to prove his
words, With LOOK of great relief
he said,-
eyes, have come from man who
calls himself Frank Hunter. He is
in our camp, up in the Pineries, very
sick with brain fever. He hired out
with US mighty nigh two years ago.
When he came to our place he was a
lomesome-looKing sort of chap; the
boys used to pity him, for he never
talked like he had any kin above
or any friends, either. All
along he has been kind of dull and
slow in his ways and two weeks ago
he suddenly took down sick with a
fever. He lay in his bunk. moaning
sorter stupid-like, not speaking
word for several days. But two nights
ago, as was sitting by him a-wltch-
ing to see if he wanted drink or any
such thing, all Of sudden he raised
up in bed, and called OUT
Wife, wife, two or three times,
as natural as you please
"'Who are you calling, Frank?'
said |.