Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-07-08

But there came . time when Shuitz
could no longer avoid his mothers
friend. nor yes keep silent before her.
II was on the day she found the good
old woman, sitting peacefully In her
easy chair, her knitting in her hands as
usual. but quite dead. with a smile on
her face that was not soon forgotten
by either Of the two that were left.
To Roberts widow this seemed the
very climax OF her bcreavements. For
the third time in her life she was left
alone. and once more she must begin
all over again. But she had learned
fortitudc from her earlier gricfs, AMI
her feeling was not. as before, that she
was entirely desolatc.
The day after the mothers funeral
Shults found voice before Roberts
. wido~. though he began his talk as
awkwardly as of old. and in almost the
same words he had used before.
MY mother said to me more than
once" he began. hooking and unlock
ing his index fingers. that you would
be- a good wife for me"
She stopped him with a fash from
her eyes
But your mother is dead" she cried.
and you are not a child to talk of mar
rage because your mother advised IL.
Why do you not. just once, speak for
yourself? Why"
And then she checked herself, remem-
bering she was Roberts widow. But
she had loosed the mans tongue, and,
speaking In German. as his mother had
always done when her emotions were
reused. ne poured forth such torrent
OF passionate protest Of love. Of suppli-
cation. that she was positively fright
ened. She had not dreamed that this
slow. awkward man was capable Of
intense feeling; he had always seemed
to her to think only Of his drugs and
the money they sold for. She had
thought the entrance of herself. a third
person. into his little home. had always
been distasteful to him. Yet here he
was, making most passionate declara-
ton OF love. But she hesitated. Could
she, Roeert's widow, marry this drug
gist7 Suddenly she knew she loved
him. and had loved him for q long
time.
".
And so, after an interval. they were
married and life was happily begun
again for her who had been Robert's
widow. Her happiness was not ex-
actiy like the happiness she had felt
as Roberts wife. yet It was real and
shultz knew II and rejoiced.
But the little girl still remained with
the kind sisters. and this was Just a lit
tie mote in the sunshine for the mother.
Every Sunday she visited the child. lust
as before, though this was never men
toned in the fat over the drugstore.
Tut one Sunday when the mother went
away shultz looked very serious, and
when he was alone he began walking
up and down che floor.
Il shall be back soon. dear" she had
said with a smile on her bps. on leav-
ing; but there had been a tear in her
eye, and perhaps that was what made
him impatient and caused his index
fingers to hook and unlock themselves
in the old way. automatically, rs II
they were parts of an unthinking piece
of machinery. After a time he put on
his hat With n determined air. and went
heavily down the stairs, muttering IN.
der his breath:
Yes, yes. II is better that she should
make no more Sunday visits to the Sis
tiers home, and will see TO that. OH
| will see to that. Yes. yes,"
On the car which he boarded he con
tinued to talk below his breath, to tn,
sstonishment of his fellow passengers
His wife was bidding good-by to tn,
little one when he entered the visitors
room of the home; and mother ana
daughter were too absorbed in one an
other to note his approach. In spite o
his heavy tread. He was thinking how
like the mother was the child when hi
wife saw him, and his look was SO in
tense as to startle her as she had befor,
been startled by him.
mol" he said in German: Tho
shouldst not say good-by. The chill
shall no more be left in this place
Come to me. little one; come to on
home. Come! there is room enough 70
three, and thou shalt not longer b
separated from thy mother,"
And after that there were no mote
in the sunshine for her who had bee
Roberts widow.