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 -
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 the 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 u dream. The
stars came out one by one in the
hazy luster OF the sky, and Their 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
murmurous music OF the night, she
heard sharp step upon the gravel
and started to her feet, flushed and
breathless. 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 a 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.
MIR. Rutherford, you bring me
tidings. Speak; don't keep Inc in
suspense.
Still the man was silent.
"Oh. SIR" she entreated, "don't
triae 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 ncws," 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 as she grasped his
arm.
"Sir, II you pity me, tell me the
worst ut once. I Gun bear It,"
"Well. madam, your husband and
his party have been waylaid and muir
dered by the Indians"
"All? Did none cscapc?"
mot one ~
She turned sharply, leaving him
without word, and he saw her cnte
the house and close the door afte
her, and that was the end. He woult
never come back any more, no matte
how patiently she might wait an,
watch. He would never know tina
he had u son, never look upon tn
little chubby face, with its bold, blu
eyes, and sunny curls, so like hi,
own. From hcnceforth her heart ant
home were desolate.
And this was the anniversary o
her wedding day. Six years ago an
she was happy bride. Five year
she had been q hcartbrokcn widow
Her boy slept in his little bed, IN
she sat there thinking, thinking, an
gazing out ut the low leaden sky an'
the wind tossed trees. The night wa
closing rapidly-a night OF storm an
darkness. The rain came down I
great smoking sheets, and the wilt
; wailing winds rushed round til
gables and went shrieking over Il,
hills like human souls In agony. HI
heart ached with desolation tina
seemed almost insupportablc. Lii
! was so hard, yet for the boys SAX
Y she must endure and 1.-Two on.
! She looked down ut her sable ca
: ments with hot. binding tears. 81
years ago, and she was robed In gen
$ and blossoms. His face, his Yer
, voice, seemed to come back to he
9 and she fancied that his spirit mu'
Z. be near her. No matter how hig
Q above her, how happy, she knew TIL,
4 spirit may have left It's home OF bill
g to keep with her that sacred snn
versary. The fancy consoled her b
Y yond expression. She glanced Ov'
!. ut the sleeping boy with u dim hoI
I that his father loved and watche
d. over him. Then sudden impull
Q shot across her mind. She would NJ
8 keep the anniversary Of her weddir
\ day In the garments Of her wido,
4 hood; she would put OH tho robe ]
1 loved. II he knew aught OF IL
poor, sad life no should sec how .
y credly she remembered and observe
Q his simplest wishes.
}, Stealing up to her chamber, 81
Q took out the mauve silk and II
It dainty laces, growing yellow al
l. timewOrn, and II pretty jet and go
l. ornament, and arraye1 herself rs
y days gone by, and the old bloom can
g back TO her cheeks and the brigl,
ness to her eyes, aud she seemed
l. drop her years and her widowhoo
II and to spring out afresh into the ra
o beauty of her early maidenhoo
h Thus arrayed, she went down soft
It and seated herself before the blazil
ID fire, her face fearful and eXpectan
IS II his soul was near-she chung to Il
Is hope that 1t was us she chung to II
y, -he should see how tenderly she !
r membered him.
is The anniversary night wore o
4, wild and dark with storm, and ST
or the poor wife, half dazed by her te
III rible sorrow, sat by her lone
ut hearthstone, robcd in her festi
a garments. At last there came II st
If without. n shurD. imputient step