The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-05

rose several times during the night,
and looked out. Still showing heavily,
as far as l could see In the morning
there was 10 change,and a very gloomy
and depressed party met at the break
fast table. A few unsuccessful at
tempts were made to be cheerful during
the meal, but when it was over all was
silence, except an occasional whisper
from cne of the anxious faces at the
windows, trying yainly to peer through
the thick white veil.
That it was useless to dress all had
agreed, and, wrapped in a large shawl,
| lay down on the sofa by the fire. with
my eyes fixed on the clock. Ten o'clock
eleven At the half hour my heart al
most stopped beating. Twelve o'clock
at last-and so the reprieve had come.
But hardly had the stroke sounded
when maid-seryant burst into the
room.
"Come quick, sir; there is a messen.
ger"
NV aunt and uncle followed her
quickly. I rose also, but staggered and
sank back on the sofa.
sit still, Nellie" said my bridesmaid,
Mary Lee; LII come and tell you
all about it," and she ran after them,
followed by the other guests.
They seemed long time away, and
at last got up and like one in dream
groped my way to the kitchen.
1t was large, gloomy place at any
time, and that morning there was no
light from without, the panes were SO
blocked up with snow; only the fire
lighted up the group before me. Ths
messenger.-a tall, strong navy, -bu,
evidently much exhausted-sat by the
hearth, the melting snow forming a
pool around him. My aunt. seated 4,
the table, looked as if she were faint
ing, while my uncle questioned the man
in subdued voice. Every face looked
pale and horri1ed.
What is the matter?" l asked, and
my voice sounded to myself as if il
were long way off.
"There has been an accident with the
dog.cart, Nellie" said Mary Lee, gently
putting her arm around me.
''Is any one hurt"
4 A pause.
"Mr. Denton is hurt, my DEAR" said
my uncle.
"MuchT' 1 whispered. for my voice
seemed to have gone from me.
looked from one to the other as nc
answer came, and then my uncle tried
to lead me away.
I understood how it was.
"He is dead"' said, and fell heav.
lily on the stone floor.
1t is about two years since | wrote
anything in my diary, for l seem now
too busy to attend to it. and yet things
have altered very much in the last two
years. My surroundings are changed
and I trust there is change for the
better in myself. During that long i'll
ness, which followed that awful snow
storm. my aunt heard of the death OF
her son-ln-lay in India, my cousin Ed
ith's husband, and it was arranged fol
the widow and her only child to return
to the old home. This rendered my
presence even less necessary than ever
and made it all the more easy for my
dear old friend and doctor to propose
a scheme ne had formed for the mutua.
benefit Of his wife and myself, as he
kindly put it.
1t was for ME to live with them as
companion. housekeeper, and in fact
daughter, for they never had childrer
of their own. and his wife was a con
firmed invalid. With this new home
health returned to body and mind
For some years had lived in worl(
Of my own, with but one object anf
one end In veiw. thought / tried to dt
my duty-to bear patiently the monoto
nous routing Of my uncle's house--no
to reply to my aunt's harsh words.
taught in the schools, made flannels fol
the poor, and yet | lived really ant
truly for myself, with but little sym
pathy for those Immediately !aroun(
Inc.
There was different rtmosnhara I,
Or. Fanshawe's house. His noble. un
firing work among the sick and suffer
ing filled me with wonder and admira
ton, and so did the patience and unset
fishness of his gentle, ladylke wife. wh'
had been confined to her couch with
spinal complaint for many years.
In a few months, however. came
great trial. The strong man fell sick
!! and died; nursed him to the last, ant
| promised never to leave his poor wife
; 1t was a sad blow to her at first, bu
borne with her usual quiet resignation
, Now she is quite cheerful again.
know she thinks her time here will b.
but short, and the hope Of a happ,
meeting with him she loved is her chic
solace. I, too, am resigned and happy
The doctors will has removed on
, source Of anxiety as to the future ant
am now eight and twenty, and fee
/ that | can settle down thankfully II
that state of life in which n has nleaco,