El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-24

and led him to a reclining chair. he
| leaned back and looked long and earn
estly into my face Did he see there a
trace of the tell-tale tears, the emo
| ton l was trying SO hard to master?
/ arose to my feet and stood by his
side, passing my fingers through his
hair. which lay in brown ringlets
around his damp temples. Ralph"
said /. how would you like for us to
send the children back to Brooklyn
for the winter with Helen. and you
and l and Auntie go to California.
and take cottage and winter there
at Nordhoff back from the coast, away
from the fog?" / saw that my darling
was breathing heavily and great drops
of moisture stood out from his temples.
Darling" said he, as he placed his
right ar mabout me. you have been
one of the sweetest and most devoted
of wives. / have been an invalid for
the past six years. You have humored
and cared for me. as though l were
but achild. Every wish of mine you
have granted. Oh. my dear, words
fail me in giving expression to all
would say" My arms were both
around his neck now. and was press
ing kisses upon his brow, eyes. and
lipe. He drew my arms gently from
about him. and pushing me little
ways back. where he could see my face
continuing in slow voice. as though
every word was an effort, and know
ing. too. that il was infiicting deep
pain on me. TO have him so speak.
Child said he. you are full of wis
dom and gentleness. You surely know
| am slipping away-slipping from the
arms of one of the noblest and sweet
est woman God ever blessed man with
into that Home beyond, where. We
are taught to believe. all is rest ard
happiness By this time. | was I'M
able to control my emotion. and the
tears were streaming down my face. |
dropped to the floor. and chung to him.
bowling my head on my beloved's knee.
murmuring in broken words: 'Oh.
Ralph. my darling? surely you don't
mean that wou are leaving me. me and
the children"
He leaned forward and raised my
head. pressing kisses on my hair and
face. without replying. until | looked
up to meet his gaze so full of love and
tenderness. Then. slowly. as though
measuring every word he said: My
child. my wife. we have been so. so
happy. together: I simply go little
before thee. but in, spirit | am with
thee to the end.
I stood up close to my husbands
his neck and drawing his head against
my bosom. Thus, | stood for nearly
five minutes. his arms encirciing me
in a close embrace. until finally they
seemed to relax. | raised his head
very gently. and | saw that he had
ceased to breathe. Gentle reader. you
who have passed through such an or
deal can sympathize with me. Alone
in a strange land. with three little
children and the lifeless body of my
darling. my husband.
Gentle hands came and rendered all
the kindly aid possible. | telegraphed
my husbands brother. who was with
me in three days. We sent the be-
loved form back to Brooklyn. and plac-
ed it in the family vault.
From there. l went to Lakewood
for the winter. where we lived quietly.
just my beloved children, Helen, and
dear old Auntie. who never ceased to
be a comfort to us all. The following
spring. l went to Washington, ID. c..
and spent a month with my aunt. Lat
er to Denver. Colorado. and Glenwood
Springs. longing to visit all the places
where | had been with my husband.
/ then decided we would go to Cali
fornia for the winter, stopping at diff
ferent points along the route.
On reaching Las Vegas. New Mexi-
CO. | left the children and their nurse
at the hotel. and taking old Auntie
with me- went out to the hot springs
and stayed over night. On reaching
the hotel. | was fatigued, SO took a
bath and retired early. On falling
asleep, l dreamed my childhood dream
again. not once but twice. was
walking over the same open country:
the only change | noted was an under
growth of low shruDbery. There was
the rolling land and mountain, the old
wall crumbling away. and on passing
there was the same raise or |
seam. pushed through the opening.
and beheld the hidden treasure again. |
On awakening the following morn |
ing. I could only think of my dream. |
but | did not mention the fact to any |
one. not even to old Auntie. We re
turned on the first train to Las Vegas.
expecting to leave on the afternoon /
train for California. but on going to
the ticket Office. | found that through |
some misunderstanding. We had only
secured two sections in the sleeper
when | desired three. and the third we
could not have until the following day.
So | determined to wait.
Thus. il came about that we arrived
II Albuquerque on No. II over theSan
"a Fe route on June 9Th. 1900. all OF
which. as I will explain later. had to
10 with my dream. Yet. my delay at
Las Vegas twenty-four hours, has
simply that poor old colored Auntie,
who had devoted her life to me and
ny mother before me, could have
section to herself. and be comfortable
IN three days trip to California.
She was a negro woman, but human
With it all and deserving of every con