The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-13

woman loosened the little girls fingers from
the tablespread TO save the lamp. She pushed
the child clear of the table and then starte'
for the door that led into the room where th
sick woman lay.
The doctors comm again." said Buds. a
the window ~ sse him froo the gum trees
an his horse is runnin fas' as fss can be-"
BY the time the nurse had reached the bed
side the doctor had opened the gate and wa
treadug the gravel walk. He came in anc
hung his hat OH the rack. There was great ex
pcctancy in his face when he asked:
Has she slept any,"
"'Bout IL minutes, / sh'd saw"
"And that's all? Are you sure?"
I've ben by her side all the time, 'cep
when | fed the children"
THE chiidren2 i told you to send them Il
Mrs Bulters's"
But she wouldn't let 'em GO. She said sh,
knew il was the end an that she'd wan
'em here al the last"
There was something wet in the nurses ey,
IS she spoke. She brushed it away with tn,
corner of her blue Bingham apron.
You gave her number two?"
YES, sir; jest row."
A low moan camo from the bed and there
was rustiing of the coveret.
You mustli STILL pow-there'sa DEAR" said
the nurse, softly.
IL know; but ] want his picture-Harry's.
It's OF the mantlcpiece." The tone was faint
and the voice quavered.
The picture was brought It was a cabinet
photograph of a rather young man with a
pointed beard and large, handsome eyes that
looked straight out and at the woman who
took the picture in her thin, white hand.
The nurse and the doctor stepped into the
sitting room, where they spoke in whispers
that did not go beyond the cheap little portiere
that hung between the foidingdoors.
I'm glad they have not taken away the
light" said the woman, half-aloud. 81 wonder
if anybody knows that this is our wedding day.
1t was just eight years ago to-day, in Sacra-
mento. Wasn't i frightened that morning
And at the church door, didn't feel queer
when ] saw all those people inside! Henry
seemed nervous, too. How he fidgeted with
his gloves know they were a whole size too
small for him, but he wore them that way for
pride. A proud man! Was that why he
couldn't bear to live with me? He said / was
only little country girl once. l never for
got that, though he begged me to e. rive him
afterward. and took it all back and 4 was
the sweetest and incest of all-of every body in
the world.
But he was city man. And he is some
where in the city to-day. while / am out In q
roadside house, under the gum trees-'only
little country girl / told Auntie Tiford to
write. He might not want to have me die all
alone. even if he did say / was nothing to him
when lie went away"
She lifted the picture. resting her elbow on
the coverlet. The sleeve fell down and showed
poor white arm.
This was taken at Fawcetts that hot after
noon. He did not want to have me 90 with
him that day, but went / wanted TO have
him taken in his Prince Albert but it was Just
as good-thst cutaway. There was little
thread of red in that coat and sort of iuvisi-
bic check. But there was never q wrinkle in
IT. He always kept bis clothes 60 smooth
How well j remember the feel OF that coat
sleeve. II was so woolly and soft.
" He got the letter. of course, and be knows
be must come right off if he's going to see me
alive What nice hair he always had-so soft
and fne. used TO bang it sometimes, just for
fun, and he locked as pretty as an op'ra tenor
il was mean OF BIN to go off and leave me ; but
that's all past. The children haven't seen him
for nearly year. I've only seen him once
myself in that time. That was ON Market
street the day i went TO the city. ] almost
rushed 10 to him, ] was SO close, and forget;
but didn't. / knew he wonid he angry.
There was some great reason for his going away
What was it? What WAS itP i was a faith
ful wife to him. / never acted Jealous He
never saw it If did, and he wouldn't have
cared. anyway. 1t must have been because
was only little country girl"
The big, dark eyes looked very vistful The
picture shook in the tired hand
was too quiet for him-not lively enough;
but OF course had the children to look out
for, and we couldn't keep girl, and pay rent
besides, and do everything else on S25 week |
His clothes cost twice as much as mine-yes. |
three times But he had to 20 among we'll |
dressed men, and OF ccJrse il was right that he |
should dress well. 1 never blamed him for |
that-never said anything about it. ] didn't |
see. though, bow we could afford those seats at /
the tbeater, and didn't want TO 90 every week /
And knew shouldn't make anything out of |
those singing lessons with Professor Schmidt, |
though he Insisted on my taking them, and |
they cost three dollars apiece. And wouldn't |
take that trip to the Yosemite, for knew we |
couldn't afford il.
Still, ought to have done everything he |
told noe. Then. perhaps. I could have kept
MIN. But he went away-he left me and the |
children. And had TO go away from that
house. too. l couldn't live there after he left |
there was nothing to live on, and the children |
were al darns and patches. And now III have !
TO leave them for good and all. Why can't | |
stay and take care of them? Ny God why |
can't Etay2 They'll be so lonely-so lonely, |
unless -
Her eyes frightened. yearning look stole
over her face.
He'll come and take them when I'm dead
aud take care Of them. They'll need someone.
he knows how badly they'll need someone.
He'll take Them"
Her gaze centered on the pictured face
" You'll take good care Of them, won't Won.
Harry You used 10 say you loved them,
You must love them yet. They're not much
care now. Gwen is five aud Budsie is seven.
They're good children, Harry, and your very
own"
The nurse came In and shifted the shade of
the lamp. Then, for the hundredth time, the
woman on the bed asked he had come or sent
any word TO her. The nurse shook her head.
Let me tx your pillow, dear"
No; il is quite easy"
She closed her eyes. Soon she was breathing
softly.
ASLEEP aaain-that's good sign"
HE nurse arose 10 go and tell the DOCTOR who
was still behind the portiere. As she d i'd So the
white hand stole under the pillow and feeblv
erasped the photograph lying there The eye
lids moved gently; then they closed. and the
soft breathing went on.
The doctor went away, better satisfied with
the state of affairs than he had been on bis
arrival. lie wbistled lightly as be opened the
gate, and bis horse whinnied knowingly.
Auntie Iilford put the children 10 bed.
Then she lay down on the cot by the side of
the sick woman. The cot creaked a little nm.
der her portly form as she settled herself
down.
/" won't go TO sleep" she promised herself.
> I'll jest rest bit aud keep one eye open, if
she'd need anything"
But the poor old soul had not slept for three
nights, and it was not long before she was dcz-
ing Soon she was in profound slumbcr.
Harry" was what she heard when startled