Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-02-17

simply. Il am going 70 see my
father"
This answer seemed to satisfy her
humble friend, who, noticing her en-
tieme fatigue and the effort it cost her
to speak, forbore to ask any more
questions, but good-naturedly recon-
msnded her to try to sleep. She
slept soundly herself for the greater
Fart of the journey; but Thelma was
now feyerishly wide awake, and her
eyeballs ached and burned as though
there were fire behind them.
Gradually her nerves began to be
wound up to an extreme tension OF
eXcitement-She forgot all her troubles
III listening with painful intentness to
IL 9 rush and roar of the train through
the darkness. The lights of passing
stations and sigpai-posts cleaned like
scattered and lying stars-there was
the frequent shrek of the engine
whistle, the serpent-hiss of escaping
steam, She peered through the Win
dow-,all was blackness; there seemed
to be no eartn, no sky,--only a sable
chaos. through which the train flew
like u flame mouthed demon. Always
that rush and roar! She began to feel
as if she could stand it no longer.
She must escape from that continuous,
confusing sound-it maddened her
brain. Nothing was easier; she would
open the carriage-door and get out!
Surely she could manage to jump OFF
the step. even though the train was In
motion!
Danger She smiled at that idea,-
there was no danger; and, If there
was. Ii did not matter much. Nothing
mattered now,-now that she had lost
her husbands love. She glanced at
the woman opposite. who slept pro-
foundly-the baby had slipped little
from its mothers arms, and lay with
it's tiny face turned towards Thelma.
II was pretty creature, with soft
cheeks and sweet little mouth, she
locked at it with vague, wild smile.
Again, again that rush and roar surged
like storm in her ears and distracted
mind! She rose suddenly and seized
the handle of the carriage door. AM
other instant, and she would have
sprung to certain death, -when sud
denly the sleeping baby woke, and.
opening its mild blue eyes, gazed at
her.
She met it's glance as one fascinated,
almost unconsciously her fingers
dropped from the door handle, the
little baby still looked at her in
dreamlike, medltative fashion,-its
mother slept profoundly, She bent
lower and lower over the child. With
a beating heart she ventured to touch
the small, pink hand that lay outside
It's wrappings like softly curved rose
leaf. With a sort of elf-like conf
dence and contentment the feeble, wee
fingers closed and curled round hers.-
and held her fast! Weak as a silken
thread. yet stronger in its persuasive
force than grasp of iron, that soft,
light pressure controlled and restrained
her. very gradually the mists
of her mind cleared, the rafting.
thunderous dash of the train grew less
Dreadful, less monotonous, less painful
TO her sense of hearing. her bosom
heaved convulsively. and all suddenly
Ter eyes filled with tears -merciful
tears. which at first welled up slowly.
and were hot as fire, but which soon
began to fall faster and faster in large,
bright drops down her pale cheeks.
Seeing that it's mother still slept, she
took the baby gently into Der own fair
arms,-and rocked 1t to and fro with
many sobbing murmrr of tenderness;
the little thing smiled drowsily and
soon fell asleep again, all unconscious
that its timely look and innocent touch
had saved poor Thelma's life and rea-
son.
She. meanwhile. wept on softly. till
her tired brain and heart were some
what relieved of their heavy burden,-
the enlargement of her thoughts be-
came unravelled.- and though keenly
aware of the blank desolation of her
life, she was able to raise herself In
spirit to the Giver of all Love and Con
ISOLATION, and to pray humbly for that
patience and resignation which now
alone could serve her needs. And she
communed with herself and God in
S lence. as the train rushed on north
wards. Her fellow-traveller woke up
as they were nearing their destination.
ard. seeing her holding the baby, was
profuse in her thanks for this kind
ness And when they at last reached
Hull. about half an hour after mid
night. the good woman was exceeding
ly anxious to know II she could be OF
any service.-but Thelma gently, yet
firmly, refused all her offers OF assist
ance.
They parted in the most friendly
manner, -Thelma kissing the child,
through whose unconscious means, as
she now owned to herself, she had es-
capped a terrible DEATH and then went
directly to quiet hotel she knew Of,
which was kept by native Of Chris
tiania, a man who had formerly been
aon,otp+ad with her father AT first