The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-04-12

to her unopened, she took it quietly
from richards hand, and spoke no
word of disappointment. Never again
was it mentioned between them; and
Richard, as he Iabored in the little
store, felt his heart ightened by the
sound of her voice singing low Groom
ing songs; she would soon be her happy
self again, he thought.
But the old eager life was slow to
creep back into the listless frame; in
her weakness, that sweet vain hope
had grown into the very fiber of her
being, deeper even that she herself was
aware
She had them roll her lounge close
to the door, so that she might watch
Richard as he worked. and told him
laughingly that the shelves needed her
sadly to set them straight.
He grew used after time. as we
grow used to all things, to see her w.
ing there in the forget-me-not wrapper
he loved, with the rose-pink flush in
her cheeks, and the bright hair tied
back with blue ribbons by deft-handed
Katie. And his heart forgot its fear
as he listened to her bright talk and
laughter.
But in the night Marion, lying with
wide-open, feverish eyes, heard through
the stiffness the waves of eternity roll
ing ever nearer and nearer across the
narrow sands of time.
One night in the early summer the
baby died, and as they bowed together
before this, their first grief, the girl
wife found strength to tell him of that
other grief that was drawing near.
She had long prayed for courage to
break it to him, but now she sat fright
ened and still before the passion of his
grief.
u cannot fear death now, Rick" she
whispered when he was calmer; 'for
the baby waits for me. Even in Heaven
it would miss me, think; it is so little
and timid.'
But, my wife, my wife, 1 need YOU,
too; more, more than baby can! Stay
with mel" She was the stronger now.
as she bent all her power to comforting
him.
In the days that followed, Richard
learned the full bitterness of waiting:
that terrible waiting, with the shadow
of the death angels wing ever enfold-
ing one, until it shall draw yet nearer.
In vain he tried to hoard up the sweet
ness of these last days He felt
numbed, but half awake. and would
come every moment to her side to
stroke her hair and curl it about his
fingers, as though to assure himself
that she was still there, in the sweet
living presence, beside him.
1t was twilight, aud Katie watched
alone in the little store. Not many
customers crossed that step to dis
turb the sacred silence. Together in
the cleaning sat the husband and
wife, she close gathered in his arms,
with the rough, bright head pressed
close against his shoulder. Now for
the first time she spoke to him of her
father, slowly, hesitatingly, as though
fearing to wound him.
You will be gentle to him, Rick;
and tell him that | loved him, and
thought of him often, so often?" She
did not ask him to forgive her faith
er; he could not. Yet only time could
mellow his heart to true forgiveness.
AS the cleaning grew darker the
girl-wife nestled her head more close
ly against his breast, and unused si-
lently
RICK" she whispered, presently,
Rick, we have been so happy, dear;
you do not knoW how this comforts
me, for l know God could not let us
so love each other, if the loving was
just to end here. We will take up the
beautiful thread again by and by, just
where we drop it here"
And the husband only held her
closer, and bowed his cheek silently
against the bright curls, till, by the
gentle breathing he knew she slept.
When Katie entered with the shaded
lamp he bent to look more closely in
her face. She was sleeping still; the
still, sweet sleep that knew no wax
ing.
The next day as the husband, in the
iNo'y o1liiIiCo5, DCSlIC lis ucdus
he did not hear Katie's sobbing word
at the door, did not hear the hesitat-
ing footstep at his side, and knew not
of that others presence, till, lifting
haggard eyes, he saw his wife's father
standing opposite him, looking down
on the smiling face, and the bright
curls that folded its fairness in.
For moment, his one passionate
instinct was to snatch his darling
from those cruel eyes, to shield with
his own body the still, defenseless
face; but her words swept over him,
and he buried his face on her folded
hands, while his tears burnt the lilies
that she held
Long years since the little drugshop
unfolded into large and handsome
emporium" with glittering plate
glass windows, and the little counter
showcase that Marion lined with red
velvet paper has been replaced by a
marble fount.
Often, on entering this store, have
seen an old man with proud, hand
some face, enter and seat himself ST.
lently behind the prescription coun-
Ger, where he could watch the drug
gist silently at his work, and the
drupOiSt lifts his prav haad with n