St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-22
Pick-Me-Ur

HlCk-Me-Op.
The electric light from burner shad-
ed with crinkled silk streamed through
the wide open windows into the dark
blueness of the sultry autumn dusk
Pale lowered damask was stretched
tent-like over the walls and ceiling of
the room from which all other drapery
had been stripped and most of the
furniture removed. Straw laid down in
the street below muff1ed the immediate
CHATTER of traffic; the atmosphere was
acrid with the smell of some powerful
diSinfectant.
On narrow bed of carved cedar
wood, pulled well into the middle of the
room, lay woman, and beside her
both her pale hands in his, and his
head bowed Upon them, knelt a man.
"How long will the nurse leave us
alone together. I wonder? l want
YOU" Her faint voice trailed off
into silence
what, sweetheart?''
He looked up, his handsome, ordi-
narily debonaire face almost grotesque-
ly convulsed.
But when she spoke again it was in
tone of one who makes an entirely
impersonal observation.
How strange" she said, weakly "In
few days, perhaps in a few hours,
I shall be a lonely, useless thing, only
a dead body, which was once your
wife,
MY poor little girl" he muttered,
filled with an immense, an intolerably
pity, "my poor dear, little girl"
"You are sorry for me as we'll as for
vOj1rcaIf oraD't xyolI CHI coid
fully.
He made no attempt to answer be-
yond that implied in his actions, as he
gathered her into his arms.
Are these your tears feel?-so hot
and bitter! Mine seem all dried up;
but it is hard to have to go away from
the people and places I know, out of
the warmth and light-where? Ah-h!
love isn't as strong as death, or you
would hold me fast always, wouldn't
your"
He began rocking her to and fro,
gently, mechanically, as one rocks a
sleepy child.
With an effect she clasped her frail
arms round his neck. mad all the
bright rain of her hair fell over and hid
her face.
Comfortable, sweetheart" he asked
after short silence
'Quite, thanks. Do 1 tire your"
His laugh of negation broke into
huskiness.
''Oh, I forget. I'm only a bag of
bones now. And used to be so pretty
You remember? 'Rose-leaf nights and
rose-leaf days we've had, haven't we?
Perhaps it is a lucky thing for me to
die while we are both young, before
we could tire and sicken each other
I wonder how long it will take you to
get over my death-a year? Six
months? Pugh! I give you three
months in which to console yourself"
He flushed with pain as physical as
though she had actually struck him.
For Gods sake don't talk like that;
I can't stand it!'
For your sake, then, I won't Dear.
kind, good fellow, after teasing you
for three whole years, the least 1 can
do is to humor you during what time
is left to u.s.
''Three years." he repeated, strainiag
her poor, shrunken little body closer 10
him.
Three happy years. They have been
happy, haven't they? 1 have been a
good wife, haven't L? Yes, kiss me.
Cleave to me, love me, kiss mine eyes,
Satiate my lips with loving me.
That's by Swinburne. You never cared
for poetry. Oh-h! put me down,
please
you are tired" he said, hastily obey
ing her.
Never mind. I shall have all
eternity to rest in" She laughed
rather mirthlessly. 1.-THE nurse will be
here soon, and before she comes 1 want
you Il told you at first I want
you"
What, sweetheart?" he asked.
She looked almost humbly at him,
with dimmed eyes sunken deep in her
white, sharpened face
will you do me ?'-her voice
failed her for a moment.
thing" he said.
You'll tell me later Oh"
Dear boy. there won't be any later
on for me. I want you to go to my