St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-16
HER HUSBAND LOVED HER.


keener anticipation of pleasure than
when accepted the invitation of my
former pupil, May Gordon, to pass
few of the summer weeks at Morton
Hill.
May naQ been my music scholar in
the days when she was May Reeves, be-
fore John Gordon came "a-wooing."
AS the coachman opened the door, a
little figure ran down the broad stone
steps, ard was in my arms in moment,
half-laughing, half-sobbing. careSsing
me and kissing me, with loving words
of welcome.
Leading me to beautifully appointed
room, May allowed me there TO get my
first real look into her face
When had seen it last it had been
round and blooming with the fresh
young beauty of eighteen. AS l looked
now | could have believed the young
wife had aged ten years instead OF four.
While was dressing the patter of
little feet across the hall and a sweet
treble calling mamma" prepared me
for the entrance of the sturdy little
urchin of two and one-haif years, the
heir of Morton Hall. or As May proudly
introduced him, "Our boy Harvey"
But even the proud light of mother
1OfC OuiH llSHlcu paw luCO lOL
moment, as, taking her boy by the hand,
May led the way to the dining roo Ill,
where the bell had already ammo unced
US.
Here met my host, courteous and
dignitied as ever, charming in CONVERSE
ton, and full of polite inquiry as to
WilIoughby and its inhabitants. And
here, for the first time. began to find
some of the cause of dear Mays pale
cheeks and sad eyes.
1t was evident to me, though May
gave ME no spoken confidence. that the
four past years had been passed in
vain attempt to win the loving praise
that had been her daily portion i'll her
own home.
John Gordon was liberal. affording
purse could give; he was gentle and
courteous, and it was evident that he
was model husband.
May was Self-SacriticIng and devoted,
not telling even her own heart that she
had any ground for unhappinesS, yet
surely pining for open, cordial love
and praise.
1t was fearfully hot night in Au-
gust when John Gordon, rapping at my
door, called:
will you come to May? She is III, land
am gong TOT the DOCTOR.
Before morning tiny girl was sleep
ing in the nursery cradle, but the
mother lay in dangerous stupor. For
three long weeks we watched the fraiI
life hanging OH thread, sinking little
by little, with no point OF hope for the
anxious hearts that loved her.
The most dangerous symptom, the
doctor assured us, was the patients own
apathy.
If you can rouse her." he said to
me, Ito try to live. she may yet re-
cover. But a few days more of this
dull apathy will surely kill her."
Then | resolved to make one great
effort. With my resolution taken l
went, after that interview with the doc
tor, straight to John Gordon's library.
He was sitting in weary. listless
attitude, but rose to place chair for
me.
May is betterp he asked, with
touching eagerness, his face falling
again as / shook my head.
john" | said, plunging at once into
my errand. Twill you let ME speak
few plain words TO you? l have loved
May since she was tiny baby, and l
cannot see her die without an effort to
save her. believe you love herw
Il would give my life to see her we'll
again." he said passionately.
And yet" l said, sadly, "tis your
want of appreciation that is killing her.'
Il do not understand YOU" he said,
and lie was perfectly sincere when he
spoke.
Then very gently l pointed out to
him how faithfully May had filled all
wifely duties.
But women like these things. My
mother ALWAYS kept the house and
table So" he said.
women like them" replied; "true,
loving woman like them just in pro-
portion as they give pleasure to those
they love-"
But surely they always gave pleas
ure. DO you imagine do not know
how lovely my wife is, how patient and
careful? A mother to my boy who will
make him noble, true man. Surely,
know my wife is almost perfect"
TEL her you know it," | said. LET
kiss. Go TO her, take her in your arms,
and tell her how dreary life Will be to
you if she is lost. Bid her live for your
sake, and she Will not die"
But the excitement. the agitation!''
he said. II have scarcely dared to
speak to her or even to kiss her, for fear
of agltating her."
''And she is dying for want of those
very loving words and kisses"
l marched the nurse into the next
room with the baby. and then took
John to Nays side. With a tenderness
more touching from his natural re-
serve, he bent over the pale face and
spoke one word:
Darling"
She looked into his face and eyes, so
full of deep. true love that involuntarily
she lifted her weak hands to draw her
husband nearer.
Darling" he repeated.and his lip
quivered, ''bow pale you are, and so
weak! Oh. May own sweet wife, it
cannot be you would die and leave me,
When will you come to me with baby
May in your arms. as you aid with
Harvey, to ask me ii am not proud to
be papa?"
.Do you remembers she whispered.
"Remember! Why, May, there is no
word or look of yours l cannot remem-
ber."
| stole away. Heart meeting heart
was too sacred for any third party to
witness. An hour later | went in softly.
May was lying in her husbands arms,
looking into his face with loving eyes.
Upon her cheeks was faint flush. ard
the smile that greeted my entrance was
like the smile of four years ago.
Baby May was three months old be-
Hall, but left smiling and bright
| band and father, and in my heart knew
that never again the cloud could fall
upon Mays life that rested there when
ohn thOupht hprSalf uuannrapiatpd