Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-05-19

ISitung beside her exhausted patient.
iClrika faucied she saw q change on
the wan face-a softer, more peaceful
look than had been there for many
days. Half in fear, half in hope, she
| watched, -Thelma seemed TO sleep
but presently her large blue eyes
opened with calm yet wondering eN-
| preston in their clear depths, She
turned slightly on her pillows. and
! smiled family,
Have | been ill?" she asked
Yes my dear" returned Clvika
softly. overjoyed, yet afraid at the
girls returning intelligence Very
| Ill, But you feel better now. DOM
YOU"
Thelma sighed. and raising her lit
| tie wasted hand, examined It curiouslN
Her wedding and hetrothal rings We're
SO loose on her finger that they woul
have fallen off had they been lail
| downwards. She seemed surprised at
! this. but made no remark For some
time she remained quiet steadfastly
gazing at Ulrika and evidently trying
ITO make out who she was, Presently
she spoke again.
Il remember everything now she
said slowly. II am at home at the
IAltenfjord and know how came
jQuiveled. And shall sec my father
no more. for he has gone | am
all-all alone in the world" She
paused then added, DO YOU think
am dying? If SO, | am very glad"
Hush my dear" said Ulrika.
You mustn't talk in that way. Your
husband is coming presently she
broke off suddenly. startled at the look
of despair in Thema's eyes,
You are wrong" she replied wear
lily. He will not come-he cannot.
! He does not want me any more"
And two large tears rolled slowly
down her pale cheeks Ulrika won
dered, but forebore to pursue the sub
tect futher fearing to excite or dis
tress her. and contented herself for
the present with attending to her pa
fire, and began TO pour out some
Inourishing soup, which she always had
there in readiness, and while she was
thus engaged, Thelma's brain cleared
more and more. tin with touching
directness, and new hope flushing
her face, she asked softly and hesooch-
ingly for her child. Il forgot" she
said simply and sweetly. "Of course
am not alone any more. Do give
me my baby am much better
nearly well-and | should like to kiss
It,"
ulrika stood mute. taken aback hy
this demand. She dared not tell her
the truth-she feared it's effect on the
sensitive mind that had so lately re.
gained It's balance. But while she
hesitated, Tnelma instinctively guessed
all she stroEe to hide.
1T is dead she cried. Dead. --
and | never knew"
And, burying her golden head In her
pillows, she broke into passion nf
convulsive sobbing Ulrika grew posi-
lively desperate at the sound what
was she to do? Everything seemed
to go against her she was inclined to
cry herself. She embraced the broken
hearted girl, and tried TO soothe her.
but in vain. The long delirlum and
subsequent weakness, combined with
the secret trouble on her mind, hal
deprived poor Thelma OF all resisting
hn L..
rika's arms TIL nature was exhausted.
and she could weep no longer. Then
she lay motionless. with closed eyes
utterly drained In body and spirit
scarcely breathing, and, save for a
shivering moan that now and then es-
capped her, she seemed almost insen-
sible. Ulrika watched her with dark
ening, meditative brows, -she listened
to the rush Of the storm wind without,
1t was past eleven O'Clock at night.
she began to count on her fingers 1T
was the sixteenth day since the birth
OF the child, sixteen days exactly
since she had written to Sir Philip Err
rington, informing him OF his wifes
danger-and the danger was not yet
past. Thinking over all that had hap.
pened and the apparent hopelessness
OF the case, a strange idea came into
her head. Retiring to a distant cor
ner, she dropped on her knees.
20 Lord, God Almighty" she said
in fierce whisper. Behold have
been Thy servant until now! have
wrestled with Thee In prayer till am
past all patlencel II Thou wilt not
hear my petition, why callest Thou
Thyself good? Is 1t good to crush the
already fallen? Is It good To have no
mercy on the sorrowful? wilt Thou
condemn the innocent without reason?
IL so, Thou art not the Holy One I'm
aSined' Send forth Thy power now
now, while there Is time! Rescue hel
that Is lying under the shadow Of
death-for how has she offended Thee
that she should die? Delay no longer.
or how shall put my trust In Thee?
Send help speedily from Thine ever
yr.E