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

Tell me- Henerietta, tell me what is
a-troublin YOU
''Oh, 1 want to, Thomas I've been
wantin' to ever so long. And 1 must
afore long. But it don't seem as If you
could a-bear it."
Have you got TO bear it too. my
dearie?"
"oh, yes; I've got to. I've had to this
long while"
And You amt never shared it.
Henerietta, you amt dealt fairly with
| me. Joys and SORROWS, we said weld
never keep 'em from one another. and
there amt a thought of my heart as
has been secret from you. In the iudg-
ment day there couldn't be a question
asked me but you'd be able TO answer
for me-what I've a-done, and said, and
thought-and yet you've been a-keepin'
back
I did it for the best, Thomas; I did.
indeed. But I'll tell you. 1 must,
must And you'll be brave?"
Yes, I'll be brave, Henerietta," he
said quaveringly.
I've deceived you, Thomas. but did
it for the best. About that corn now,
Thomas-I never had no corn; l amt
had one this ten years"
why, is that all?" he said with re-
lief; that amt so bad after all. Why,
bless me, you never had no corn? And
the killer nowi You didn't really need
no killer? But what made you go and
pretend such a thing, Henerietta? And
groans. Many's the time I've heerd
you groan, and it have gone to my
heart like knife. 1 couldn't a-bear to
see you suffer. What made you pur-
tend, Henerietta? l don't blame yer,
mind" he went on, smoothing her
cheek. But what made yer, Heneri-
etta?"
Mrs. easy clasped him convusively
to her "Oh, 1 did it to spare you,
Thomas"
ITO spare me-to spare me-Hen-
er-ietta! 1t amt - OH don't tell me
it's somethink worse.
She was silent.
"Henerietta," his voice came like
whisper.
Then there was a long silence.
And the fire leapt up merrily and
shone or their old despairing faces. and
on his sightless eyes which sought hers.
and was too full of tears to see him.
II lli<l, sic SetlQ DIT last, SPNdtN-
ing slowly, and with long pauses. 1T
have been coming on by degrees, and
sometimes it amt been much and some
times it ha' been cruel the pain. And
when it came upon me sudden l couldn't
help but moan. And the corn was an
excuse. Ard when I'd said it, I stuck
to it, And I didn't never use the
killer And it have got worse and
worse-past bearin' at times. And to-
day 1 walked a bit of the way and it
was agony, and then I went farther
and fell down-and 1 tainted right away
in the road"
"Henerietta, you're a-breakin' my
heart"
And I was took to the hospital"
She paused and gather him closer to
her. ITO the hospital-and they said
ought to stay there-and l wouldn't
because of you-and 1 cried and went
on till they let me come. The doctor
he drove me himself. and he wanted to
come in, but I wouldn't let him. 1
thought you'd be afraid Yes, I drove
in a carriage fer the fust time, Thorn
as, and it were that comfortable"
She tried 10 be cheerful and divert his
thoughts; but he kept her to the point.
"Wel, Henerietta? And the Doctor
said-?"
He told me- Thomas, as I couldn't
get we'll. Oh" she burst into tears,
''he say it's only a very little while
only a very little while, Thomas. And
don't mind a-goin, for / suffers so;
but what'H come to you? It's you I've
been a-thinkin' on all the time, and
come in this evenin' and see it all
no fire. and so desolate, it seemed too
much. I've wanted you to be happy
all the time. And it'd ha' been best,
may the Lord forgive me, If you'd been
took first
The old mans face was as beautiful
in its love and dignity as it was touch
ing in its sorrow. ''Henerietta, you've
done it for the best" he said, land 1
amt worthy not to touch you; but
don't go blamin' the Lord, my dear.
He knows what He does. If / was
to die, you might get along, crippled
like, but He knows that when you go
I'll just die, too. I couldn't live with
out you oh, Henerietta," he sobbed,
1--WE didn't ought to grumble. Taikn
one thing along with another, we've
had better times than most Heneri-
etta-"-Cornhill Magazine.