The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-10-11


with less Inconvenience TO herself.
render the assistance she protfered.
Seeing that Mary was worn out. and
likely to break down. Mrs. Patterson
consented. and wa, placed in charge Of
the house.
\ male nurse was needed. and in
4uiries for one were made at the
county seat. In time. strong. stout.
middle-aged. gentlcmanly appearing
stranger applied for the place. His in
tcrview was with Mrs. Patterson. She
employed him and installed him in his
work
There was mysterious something
about this man and his habits which
Mary Oftcntimes found herself trying
20 fathOnn. and the most singular thing
was that the mystery seemed 10 in
! volve Mrs. Patterson with it. VIII; or
| how no one that noticed it could tell.
! Mary threw it of with the thought
. Mrs. Pattcrsons' c&rly history was /,
blank a fan. a. the people in the neigh
borhood knew anything about it.
While she lad lived the life of /; Chris
tain woman since coming there. and
while her character wa, pure and
spotless. yet the closest observers had.
from time to time. noticed Il strange
ness in her actions which created /.
feeling that something was wrong.
Men unknown in the community had
! been lettering after nj hit in he shadow
| Of the trees that grew near her
! house. They came. from where no one
knew, and they went, no one knew
WHITTIER
! She was never known to mention the
name of husband. If he were dead she
! never told it. If he were living she
never mentioned it. Yet she had ii
son she idolizcd. Why silently feed
the mysterious with mystery:
The stranger faithfully applied him
self to the work assigned him. He
gradually won the respect, and. it may
be. the confidence of he sick man. He
latOrcd to make his services indispcn-
sihlc. There was. however. Il GOODNESS
between him and Mrs. Patterson which
others could not help noticing. Why
was the man nurse who was only Il
temporary employee of the household.
and Il stranger. too. and who. when his
services We're no longer required.
would 20. rs he had come. a stranger.
worthy of even being Stunned by Mrs.
Patterson:
The man soon became Il necessity at
! Ma or NOrdrum $ bedside. No nurse
ever more faithful served the sick.
Than did this stranger serve Ma jor
t NOrdr,ln. He was ever on the alert to
lrakc himself useful and he succeeded
III so inyratiatiny himself into the af-
fcctions of Mary and The physician. and
the nurse, by little acts of kindness to
all OF them. and by his constant devo-
ton to the failing invalid. that all was
ready to trust bin and put the utmost
confidence in his honor and integrity
! TO all these marks of respect shown
| the stranger. Mrs. Patterson dcm,,rred
by looks and signs. which seemed to be
never understood. but she commune
Gated her thoughts to no Twin" person.
She evidently wanted to warn the
family of something connected with
the strangers presence. but her lips
were sealed. She was the woman of
mysteries.
One morning. after restless nj ght.
the sick man called Mrs. Patterson to
his bedside. He told her that he be-
licvcd he had but II few hours
to live. He assured her that he
was prepared to die but ne was
in doubt as to a future world: ''Whcrc
can Heaven be-" had been the subject
of his thoughts for weeks. Could Mrs
Patterson. whom he had always found
So sensible and wise in worldly matters
give him some reasonable theory Us to
where God might put the souls of men.
when life on earth was ended: then
he would die full of faith in the pow er
Of the Almighty to redeem the
promises of Christ.
Mrs. Patterson stood ayhast. She
was astonished that Major Nordru,n. Il
,f I, int, nd
formation. whose life was spotlcss and
bamelcss. whose mature years had
been spent in doing good to his fellow
man. who. though making no outward
profession OF religion. was known TO be
Il Christian. should. on the Verge OF the
grave. harbor Il doubt as 20 the eN-
i.,tcncc of a future state.
The = God lady controlled her feel
inys the best she could. She under
stood the situation 1T once. Ma jon
NOrdrum had not seen Heaven. had
never seen any one who had. and now
h., WAS in doubt whether there was /,
Heaven.
Ma jor replied Mrs. Patterson. las
Nou have faith in God, promises. have
faith now that he will fulfill them
The dying man ~ravr The Christian
woman Il look Of satisfaction Is ii K
acknowledge the business OF her mild
reprnof. and IL accept her words ot
} hope and comfort. His lips parted 81
il he would say something more. Tina;
the end WAS nigh was evident. The
household was quickly summoned. hu,
20 word did he utter. Mary. weeping
is one whose cup of sorrow was full
held her fathers hand. Mr> Patter.
son. calm and almost @toical, held the
other. and the stranger hathed the
dying mans temples. y sigh. Il groan.
iluttering heart. and all was over.
Then came the funeral and after
that Il sensation that startled the W hole
community.
CHAPTER v.
STORY OF \ LIFE.
In Il drawer where Major \or,,.lr