Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-07-25
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With quiet tread he entered the
sick-room Death was not present
yet seemed very near. The beautiful
face had grown even more colorless
the nerveless arms had almost relaxed
their hold.
Violet" said Miss Mari, bending
over her, "can you hear me-"
But there was no answer Again
she spoke, but it was with the same
result.
Il am afraid we are too late" she
said. Speak to her yourself
Then he came forward and looked
upon her, his wife, his darling, his
only love, lying there 50 still and pale
with their little son in her arms. He
did not look at the child, his eyes
were riveted on her face. This was
his Violet, whom he had found where
"Junes palace was paved with gold"
A bitter cry, the cry of a strong man
in despair, came from his lips as ne
fell upon his knees by her side.
At the sound Violet opened her
eyes. It had pierced her heart, and
stirred what little life was there.
Violet" he cried-"oh, my darling,
speak to me, look at mel"
A faint color rushed to her face, a
faint light came into the Swallowed
eyes, the white lips smiled.
''Violet, my darling, my dear wife,"
he cried. ooh, thank Heaven that
see those dear eyes once again!
Violet, say rWeIcome!'"
WELCOMED" she responded, family.
And then he heard her whisper
something about the baby. He
stopped and kissed the tiny face.
"My little son!" he said. "May
Heaven bless and keep my little son!
Violet, you must get better. You
must live for my sake"
She drew his head down to her face
and whispered in his ear:
at will be better, much better for
me to die; then you can marry Miss
Mari, and you will all be happy. l
should be only in the way, and she
will be kind to my baby
IF you die, Violet, l shall die" he
said. There will be neither love nor
marriage for me. I want not Miss
Mar, or another, but you, sweet, only
you. Live for me, Violet"
you did not come when l sent"
she whispered.
II never received the letters; l
never heard of them until today"
And then it seemed to her as
though the sting of death had been re-
moved.
81 should have come at once.
should not have delayed one mo-
ment," he said. ooh, Violet, live for
me?"
Her eyes closed, and her head
dropped upon his breast; she fell into
a deep, sweet slumber, and those
round her watched in anxious ex-
pectation. Over the face of the
doctor came an expression of relief;
Mrs. Carstone breathed more freely.
eff Lady RIVERS should recover"
she said to Miss Mari, ct is you who
will have saved her life by bringing
her husband to her"
Once the little child stirred; and
the nurse took it away; but Violet
still slept.
at is almost miraculous" said the
DOCTOR Il believe she will live"
How long she lay in that deep.
dreamless sleep, her husbands arm
around her, her head pillowed on his
breast, Violet never knew. When at
last she woke, it was to find his hand
some face bent over her with undying
love shining in his eyes.
Still for many hours her life hung
spon a thread, a thread so slight that
the least jar might have snapped it.,
and during that time Randolph never
left her, neither did Miss Mari.
Inch by inch they helped to fight the
grim battle for her. 1t seemed as
though they wrestled with Death and
disputed his ground. Then came
faint flashes of life, a smile, a CLEAN
of light in the eyes, whispered word,
q request for the baby. Gradually
the deathlike languor left the young
mother, and life came back Through
it all she chung to Randolph. If he
were absent a short time, she re-
lapsed; she seemd to live only in his
presence
At last came the day when the
doctor declared that there was no
more danger, and that with good
nursing the patient would soon re-
cover.
Lord RIVERS was at loss how to
express his gratitude to Mrs. Car
stone.
You will be the dearest friend that
my wife and have" he said to her.
As for the heiress, neither he nor
Violet tried to thank her. She was
to them simply the noblest woman in
the Gorld, more angel than woman
When all danger was past, and a faint
rose-bloom returned to the face OF
Lady RIVERS, Miss Mari left them.
She had done all she could, and no
one but herself knew what it had cost
her.
The day came when the windows
were opened wide, the lace-curtains
drawn back, and the sea-breezes al
lowed to come in and kiss the beauti
full face from which all pride and
wilfulness had died, leaving nothing
but sweetness in their place. An
on that day husband and wife had j
long conversation together. Never &
shadow came between them in after
life, for they told on that morning the
deepest secrets of their heart to eacI
other. Then Lord RIVERS heard fol
the first time how his mother ha(