The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-16

4,
this'H be quite enough-more than
enough, Thomas. Don't never get an
other bottle
That evening, before going to bed,
she pulled out the cork and prepared
10 see the mixture. But her method of
procedure was strangely like that of the
old woman who had a cough, and be-
ing hidden TO put a blister on her chest,
promptly applied it to her box and left
it there all night. Mrs. easy dipped
the brush in the mixture and smeared
little on piece of rag. 1t gave
forth a peculiar, pungent unpleasant
smell, which the old man shifted as if
1t had been the odor of flowers
You're applyin' the mxtur', Heneri-
etta?'
''Oh yes" the old woman answered,
holding her nose, I'm applyin' of it,
Thomas"
do it sting?'
Not particular"
"Ah, I expee' it'll do that later on. I
count it'll do you good from the smell
on it; but it amt altogether disagree
able neither, considerin'. Do you-do
you think it'll go off soon, Henerietta?'
Il should hope so, Thomas" Mrs
easy replied, and she softly dropped
the rag into the fire
This operation was repeatedly night
ly and, greatly to Casy's satisfaction
at the end of the week, Mrs. easy pro-
nounced the corn much diminished in
size. 1t must have been entirely a case
OF faith healing if SO, for not one YES
tige of the corn-killer had touched Mrs
Casy's foot
But if the corn We're smaller. It had
apparently not ceased to pain her. AS
time went on the look of suffering
seemed to have imprinted itself on her
face, and often she would lay down
her work and wiring her hands together
IN silence. The luxury of groaning was
denied her. She still let her husband
go with the little girl to fetch the work,
and manifested no desire to accompany
him. When he was away she would
attend to her small household matters.
and then it would appear she INDUCED
herself, for she would often cry bit
terly and aloud while she went about
her duties. Her eyes grew still more
sunken her face had even less of full
ness than before, and her skin became.
If possible, tougher and more leathery
The blind man, meanwhile was spared
the pain of seeing the change in her.
and was as peaceful, as happy and as
contented as ever.
But one day, having been out in the
rain, he caught a cold which settled on
his chest, and though she wanted some
more work, she would not let him go
out for 1T, but put on her shawl and
took the old umbrella, which they fond
~ imagined was protection from the
rain, and went forth herself taking the
little shoes under her arm. And the
old man sat at home by the fireside and
awaited her return.
All the morning he waited. but she
did not come; the fire went out, and
the room grew chilly, and hunger be-
set him. And for the first time she
was not there to minister to his wants.
And the afternoon passed away and
the dark came, and though day and
night were the same to him. yet he
knew that it grew late, and still she
did not come
No one came near him. For little
Bess, who would have done so, did not
know that Mrs. easy had not come
back, and Bess. though she was only
years old, had to mother three
young brothers, and did not have much
spare time. She was washing shirts
that afternoon, and singing a music
hall song that she had heard in the
streets, and the melody of which SEEM
ed to her entrancingly lovely.
As time wore on easy grew more and
more wrestless and uneasy He long
ed to go in search of his wife. but did
not know how to set about it. And his
nervousness seemed to affect him bod
lily, for he was afraid to walk across
the room, though he did so often and
often when she was there He wanted
some one to guide his steps, and once
or twice he called for Bess in a voice
that was too feeble to penetrate even
beyond the closed door, At last he
stumbled across to his bed and lay
there, feebly whimpering and wringfng
his poor old hands as he muttered:
enerietta-come-oh where are you
Henerietta?"
AT last, to his great joy, he heard
the door opened, and with slow and
faltertng steps some one stumbled into
the room. He sprang UP.
"Henerietta!" he cried, sis that your"
Yes" said a feeble voice. It's me-
Thomas"
Oh he said, pathetically, 81 thought
you were never coming. I'm SO tired
of waitin'. Where are you, Heneriet-
ia? Let me feel your hand"
Some faint rays of moonlight stole
into the room. They showed her the
figure Of her husband, and she crept
towards him and put her arms around
the strain of anxiety that he began to
sob like a child.
ooh, Heneretta!" he said, what
have you been adoin'? It's grown late,
and I've wanted you. And 1 didn't
know what might have happened And
l couldn't Go nothink. And I'm so
helpless without you. What have KEEP
you, Henerietta?'
She did not answer his question, but
contented herself with soothing and
comforting him. His EMOTION shocked
and hurt her for a reason beyond that
which he knew, and she was very ten
der with him.
Til tell you presently, my dearie,"
she said Let me get a light first and
see to the fire. You're hungry, aren't
you, and want your superb
Il don't want nothink but you. I'm
about content now" he said. But he let
her go. He was too tired and exhaust
ed to demonstrate.
Mrs. easy lit the lamp. BY its light
the pallor and Magazines of her face
were very noticeable, and it was APP
parent that her dress was torn and
muddy. She dragged herself rather
than walked between the table and the
fire, busying herself with preparations
for Casy's comfort. He could tell from