Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-07-22

! LOVES SHELTERING WAY.
BY MATTY c. MASH.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
An AIRY WINSLOW hurried a little as
lVI she climbed into the ten-thirty
accommodation train from New Ro-
helle to New York. The accommo-
iation trains were always crowded;
ind she wanted very much to get seat
IN the side of the car from which she
'ould catch glimpse of her house,
where her babies were. She had al
most missed the train lingering over
.ood-by kisses and baby love-maling.
She was doing very bold thing. For
he first time in the four years of her
married life, she was undertaking some
hing without consulting her husband
about it. But it was for his sake-to
ave him from terrible anxiety; and to
10 that she would dare anything.
The tears stood in her eyes at the
hought of his shoulders. already
topped under their burden of care, and
lis face SO crossed with lines that told
is plainly as did the scantily covered
rown from which the curly, boyish
rop of brown hair had slipped how
lard had been, and was, his fight up the
tream of fortune.
And bis shabby coat and fray yed linenl
'avid rarely got any new clothes. and
vhen he did he went to o cheap tailor
sho did not fit him very well. He was
little man. Mary used to think if he
lad been few inches taller he would
iave cared more for dress. But she
vas wrong about that. David was very
modest and not wonderfully clever;
,ut he knew it would have to be a coat
IS beautiful as Joseph's to make him
more respected at his Office or more
owed at home. All beyond those two
laces was nothing to him.
But Mary loved him. She more than
oved him. She put him on pedestal
md crowned him with glory and hon.
IT. She broke the alabaster box of her
shole beings alteration at his feet;
nd she would have died for him gladly.
Mary was large, fair woman, who,
Ichly and fashionably dressed, would
rave looked like duchess. AS it was,
n her simple, homemade gowns and
aodest bonnet, she only looked like
cry beautiful mother, which Is more
han some duchesses do.
A conventional looking young curate
ind handsome, large-featured man of
80, with deep mourning band on his
nat, sat in the seat directly in front of
Mary. The elder man had his little
laughter, dressed in mourning, on his
knee, and he and the curate laughed
and chatted with the little girl to
amuse her.
There is newly made widower,"
thought Mary; ''and he doesn't seem to
mind much. / wonder if David would
tshe had almost said "will"l care SO
little"
Suddenly the older man turned to the
curate, and Mary saw his face drawn
in an agony of grief.
did you ever bury anyone you loved
desperately 2" he asked.
The curate answered with appropri-
ate courtesy: mo, / have been very
fortunate. have always thought, how
ever, that the only wise way to face
such a grief would be philosophically,
knowing it was Gods will that it
should come to all"
You have never buried anyone you
loved desperately. When you come to
do that you will not be thinking of phi
losophy," said the other.
And then they spoke of other things.
Mary pulled down her vail to hide her
wet cheeks.
Poor Davidl He will mind; he will
not forget right away" she thought.
A half-hour later, Mary stood In a
clean, bare little room high up on the
top floor Of quiet boarding-house on
side street. A young doctor with
wide-awake. intelligent face was talk
ing to her.
Yes. Mrs. Robinson" he said. grave
ly. the operation is imperative; it is
the only way to save your life. If it
succeeds, you will become a perfectly
strong woman; If it fails. you'll be
spared the pain of lingering death, for
you'll not survive the operation more
than half hour at the most. / put the
case plainly to you. You must know
all the circumstances, all the risks. that
you may decide wisely"
II have decided" she answered,
steadily.
Very well, will have the nurses
here in little while, and the other doc
tors will meet me here at a quarter be-
fore two. have spoken to them about
it. / was only waiting for final word
from you to complete all the arrange
ments."
He bade Mary "Good morning" and
left her alone.
Mary was naturally rather coward,
especially about little things Spiders,
worms and snakes, even very small
ones. made her almost faint; and she
was afraid to travel alone, or to sleep in
u room by herself. But her pulse was
very steady now. 1t seemed to her to
say: David, David, David as it beat.
She walked over to the window and
looked down at the people coming and
going in the street. 1t seemed to her
that she had entirely lost her personal
ity. She had really become this Mrs.
Robinson she had told the doctor and
the clearinghouse keeper she was.
She was of vital Importance to nobody
about her. To the doctor and nurses she
vas "case," and there were many
cases. Like her in the city. The hos
itals were full of people who were
soing to die soon, we're dying even now.
Us she thollohf of IL fhe hlaclr r,ail ~
cath seemed to settle over her and alll
he saw. and smother her.
Ny husband-my husbands' she
asped; "can ! bear it without youSp
Presently she sat down at little
'able. and wrote a letter to him. She
nut bis full address with careful clear
iess ON the envelope. Then she wrote
note to the doctor, inclosing her
lsbaRd's letter In it.
4.