The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-04-24

her blonde hair literally touched with
silver; her clothing fine and in the
latest fashion. She looked out of
place in the plain little room.
ALAS, Ruth, you find me in sorrow.
My wife-the best of wives-has passed
away. That is she has left her own
tenement and is awaiting in ethereal
space reincarnation."
The lady looked at him in dumb sur
prise for moment, then said politely:
Il beg your pardon2" She waited for
moment, but he made no reply.
II know how to sympathize with you
in your terrible hour of affliction. 1
lost my husband some months ago. My
only consolation is my children. l
hope you have like source of comfort. {"
mo, we have no children, and am
rather glad of it. think Mary fretted
over it, but if she had had them she
would have worried over them, poor
SOUL it was her way. She never was
able even with my example to get upon
as high a plane of spirituality as
wished for her. She was always a
slave to the details of life. l have at
tempted, and may say with some sue
cess, to reach condition where the
purely physical has small sway. Why,
when came last night, or rather this
morning, for I was engaged in literary
labor up to an early hour, found
Mary with her head upon her arm lean
ing upon the kitchen table, dead. 1t
staggered me for a moment, almost
out Of my senses. Then | called my
philosophy to my aid. Death is as nat
ural as life if You only look at it so."
He was glad for his own sake that
Ruth took it as she did. He gave her
credit for having q well-balanced mind.
Some women would have burst out in
sobs and tears. He lifted Mary's cat
to his knee and tried to stroke it gen.
tly, but it sprang away from him and
retreated outside the door.
Silence'reigne for time. Martha,
who had stood like statue during
the conversation, now spoke. Pore
critter. low there warn't one pussoD
In ten thousand as good as her. Never
harmed q soul as l know No. and not
an enemy in the neighborhood. She
was alluS ailin', but never complainin'.
And though she was took sudden, she's
all right, for she allus was a follower
of the Lord"
"Yes, Mary would cling to her old
superstitions, although l tried my best
to enlightep her. Brought her all the
most advanced books to read, but sho
didn't seem to be able to shake of the
shaclSles of her old faith. Well, it's
unfortunate you came too late. Mary
sometimes spoke of you. She wanted
to see you. But come with me and we
will see the remains. IT'S but the
husk, the spirit has flown"
Ruth glanced in the mirror in pass.
ing, fearing the few tears she had shed
might have Redeemed her nose. AT
her age one can't weep as gracefully as
at sixteen.
In the chamber of death all was
serene and calm. The odorous breath
OF the violets cast delicate perfume
through the room. The dead woman
lay with peaceful smile upon her
countenance. Kind hands had attired
her in folds of sofest. white. Her hair
lay In soft ourls beside her waxen fore.
head. A look OF sweet surprise had
taken the place OF the marks of care.
Such is the skill Of the artist-Death.
AS they gazed, the sun broke forth
from its curtain Of clouds and cast
ray across the dead woman's face, glori-
flying the expression and silvering the
curls Even the husband was struck
with feeling akin to awe. He tried
TO speak, but the words stuck in his
throat Ruth gazed specchless. Her
own life, which had been respectable
chase after gold and fashion, looked
cheap beside this one.-Clara B. Miller,
IN Good Housekeeping.