Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-12-01


"Oh. Maud, you are so beautiful.
Always wear this dress, darling, when
you want to please me Z"
The May sun wheeled lower and |
lower, and ut last went down, leaving !
the earth wrapped In the dusky mists !
of twilight. Maud began to grow
impatient. she lit tho lamps In the
parlor and then went out to the
porch to wait. lie surely would
come he would not disappoint her
The golden tints of day faded
like the colors of q dream. The
stars came out one by one in the
hazy luster OF the sky. and then the
moon arose. coming up grandly above
the purple sleeps. Still he had not
come. and the poor wife's heart began
to grow sick with hope deferred. An
other hour, and then. above the
nlurmurous music Of the night, she
heard a sharp step upon the gravel
and started to her feet, flushed and
breathlcss, but the next instant she
fell back. pale with disappointment,
for the step was not his-she knew
that long before the person came In
sight. lie had advanced toward the
porch where she sat with slow, ur.
certain step, observing which, and
recognizing him Us one Of her neigh.
bors. she advanced to meet him.
Mr.. Rutherford. Is It you? ] am
looking for my husband. What do
you think can dctain him?'
The man stood still, his face full Of
silent, unspeakable pity. Something
in his expression caught her quick
eyes, and she sprang forward and
graspcd his arm.
"Nlr. Rutherford. you bring me
tidings. Speak; don't keep Inc In
suspense"
Still the man was silent.
"Oh. dr. she entreatcd, don't
trifie with my feelings. DO you know
anything concerning my husband?
II you do for mercy sake speak
ort!'
MADAM, I have heard-that Is.
there Is bad news" he begun. his
voice husky and broken.
Her face grew us white as death.
but her eyes were clear and calm and
her hand strong AZ she grasped his
arm.
"sir, II you pity me, tell me the
worst ut once. l Gun bear It,"
"Well. madam, your husband and
his party have been waylaid and muir.
dered by the Indians. :"
"All? Did none cscape?"
mot one!"
She turned sharply, leaving him
without word, and he saw her enter
the house and close the door after
her. and that was the end. lie would
never come back any more, no matter
how patiently she might wait and
watch He would never know that
he had son, never look upon the
little chubby face, with its bold, blue
eyes, and sunny curls. so like his
own. From henceforth her heart and
homo were dcsolate.
And this was the anniversary oil
her wedding day. Six years ago ant
she was happy bride. Five years
she had been q hcartbroken widow
Her boy slept In his little bed, ant
she sat there thinking, thinking, ant
gazing out ut the low leaden sky and
the wind tossed trees. The night wal
closing rapidly-a night OF storm ant
darkness. The rain came down II
great smoking sheets, and the wild
wailing winds rushed round TIN
gables and went shrieking over tn
hills like human souls In agony. He
heart ached with q desolation tina
seemed almost insupportable. Lit
was so hard, yet for the boys SAX
she must endure and 1.-Two on.
She looked down Mt her sable gar
ments with hot. binding tears. ST.
years ago, and she was robed in gem
and blossoms. His face, his yer.
voice, seemed to come back to her
and she fancied that his spirit mus
be near her No matter how higl
above her, how happy, she knew tina
he loved her still, and his glorifie
spirit may have left Its home Of bills
to keep with her that sacred ann
versary. The fancy consolcd her be
yond expression. She glanced owe
ut the sleeping boy with dim hop
I that his father loved and watche
over him. Then sudden impuls
. shot across her mind. She would no
! keep the anniversary Of her weddin
! day In the garments Of her widow
I hood; she would put OH tho robe h
loved. II he knew aught OF he
: poor, sad life hc should sec how 8,
J credly she remembered and observe
his simplest wishes.
!, Stealing up to her chamber, sll
8 took out the mauve silk and TIL
I dainty laces, growing yellow an
: timeworn, and pretty jet and gol
: ornament, and arraye1 herself rs !
y days gone by, and the old bloom cam
Q back to her cheeks and the bright
ness to her eyes, and she seemed
J. drop her years and her widowhoot
{ and to spring out afresl into the raj
D beauty Of her early maidenhoot
h Thus arrayed, she went down softl
t and seated herself before the blazin
d fire, her face fearful and eXpectan
IS IL his soul was near-she chung to IL
IS hope that 1t was as she chung to IL
:, he should see how tenderly she r
= membered him.
Is The anniversary night wore OF
|, wild and dark with storm, and sti
,r the poor wife, half dazed by her te
II rible sorrow, sat by her lone
1t hearthstone, robcd in her festi
a garments. At last there came II ST.
\, ,,i,Lnp, Al uharn ipnnntiani Stan I