The morning call., 1893-11-19

and Mrs. CATER for long time. cen
Guided that they had completed their visit
and returned TO their home, and pictured
to myself ''Myra" or zone of the boy s"
, meeting them al the station ana eseorting
| them home. [ wondered how the presents
pleased the recipients thereof, ana IN
Imagination went over the whole scene.
The old couple had quite passed out Of my
mind when one day detail taking me
TO the R-ceving Hospital [ encountered,
as | was leaving. confused thrOng.
preceded by two officials bringing in a
crushed. bleeding form on stretcher. l
was hurryiDg away, for my heart ALREADY
ached and my nerves had been severely
tried by a scene that had just been en-
acted IN that hall of sorrOws, and ! was
10th to witness further human pam; but
to my grief | recognized IN the SD figure
follow ing close behind the Ulcers with the
stretcher my wbiOm friend whom the
thOughtless young fellow in the sireetcar
had dubbed Mr. CATER.
He had lost his hat and was white and
dazed-almost crushed with anxious grief;
but there was a simple dignity about the
bent figure and the wrin killed., red-bearded,
sun burned face that made even the at
PENDANTS, Injured to sorrow and pain,
speak with more than usual tenderness to
the old man AS they thrust him gently
aside that the surgeon might better exam
Inc the hurt hgule now stretched upon one
OF the recelVing-ta Dies.
Some one hurrledly explained how the
accident occurred. The old couple had
been attempting to board a cable-car when
frightened horse came tearing wildly
down the street. The old man had en-
deavOred To pilot his wife out OF the way,
but, becoming confused, she had run
directly in front of horsecar coming in
the opposite direction. The horses had
avoided her, as horses somehow always
manage to avoid stepping upon human
being, but heel of the heavy car had
passed over her, and she had received, 10
addition, a terrible wound 10 the head
from which the blood flowed profusey.
despite The hastily cOnIrived bandages
that had been bound about il.
Tunderly ascertaining the extent of her
Injuries the surgeon shOoK his gray head
rrgreltully. The shock had been a terrible
one. had she been unhurt. otherwise. and
life was already ebbing away.
The Old man was quick to catch the
pcrtent of the Doctors look.
Doctor! doctor" he cried. pressing
closer. Don't let her die. Oh, doctor
she mustn't die. l can't live without her.
Ma, ma. Do you hear me? it's me, your
husband. l always loved you. I always
loved you SO. On, doctor. do something
to save her!"
The aRonzed cry seemed to reach the
fast duilng ears. A feeble hand reached
out. cropping for the one that had never
tailed to meet 1t IN their twoscore years of
life toEether. The old man seized it and
guided Its feeble course until il rested
upon his sparsely covered head. Age fell
away from them. The poor, shabby old
pair standing there ca>ping hands for a
moment across the gulf of deaths mystery
widening so rapidly between them were
q, rlhrd In the light of their lifelong love.
The stiffening lips of the form on the ia BILE
moved family. The old man bent over
them, stralDlng every nerve to catch the
last faint whisper. ~ know, l know,
una" be answered, land 1 always loved
you. won't be long away from you, ma.
l always loved YOU"
The doctor turned away with quivering
lips. An attendant furtively brushed from
his eyes the tears Of which he had no need
TO be ashamed. There was nothing one
could do In that sad moment, even to ease
the pain. IL pain she felt, of the dying
wOman-the end was too near
AS turned to leave the place, with that
tender refrain, II always loved you, ma"
ringing in my ears, there came in to nv
mind, by some law OF contrasts, that
other. that ptiful wall of the Rev. Amos
Barton at the grave of his wife. That bit
ter moan that, to me, always seemed TO
epitoml2e the saddest OF all that unhappy
gentleman's sad fortunes: "MillyI Miliy!
Dost thou hear me? l did not love thee
enough, / was not tender enough with
thee; but think of it all, now" And I
could not but think that the BROWNING
drop in poor old CATERS cup of sorrow
WAS, after all, the remembrance that in
the days to come would bring him cont fort
and peace. ADELINE E. KNAPP.