The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-12-26

=lG.sSz<AysNZlC141
Allie called: for attentions Such memo
ries aressleft h& now; to ..<fill a. void
! well, well, it is an old mans story, let
me tefl*ft to TIC end Md =: ~:
| Five long years past away, and the
little cottage still held it's inmates, but
in the place of a child's voice was heard
a woman's tone; in the stead of frail,
| chlld-llke figure was seen a graceful
| woman,s form, fully developed by
health, freedom, and careful education.
| In the place of: a mans protecting in
terest in. the child, had grown in my
heart the mans strong tender love for
the, woman.
All, how loved her. All the pent-up
tenderness of my youth and manhood
was poured at her feet; all the lonely
lounglng OF my mature years was filled
| py her presence, her voice, her touch.
| Her child-like freedom, her tender gra-
tltude-all seemed to. me the forerun-
| ners OF the love I coveted, and hoped
TO WIN. l had sent Edgar abroad, I'M
oer careful guardianship, the summer
a1ter the Burgess family came to Oak
dale and having but little to call me to
the city, had spent most of my time at
the country house. T had provided no
masters for my darling, watching the
| mothers careful teaching, her refine
ment and care; but 'as my bud of pro-
! mise POISONED, I saw the perfect wo-
| manllness and thoughtful love of the
teacher duplicated and refined on the
scholar. j,
1t was on a hazy September after
noon, When was dreaming over all
these things and thinking must soon
let my child learn that the guardian
had become the lover, when, without
even the ceremony of a knock, Mollie
| dashed into my library.
"Oh, sir, if you please-Mrs. Burgiss-
Miss Meta-oh, come quick, land out
she dashed again, sobbing and running,
| before l'could ask a question. I follow
ed quickly, found the cottage door
open, and went upstairs.
Mrs. Burgess had ruptured a blood
| vessel, and. lay on the bed, dying
| Meta, pale as her mother, but quiet and
/ calm, even IN that trying hour, was
washing the blood stains from the pale
| lips, and trying to quiet Allies screens.
lake the child,"' I said to Mollie,
and send John for the doctor. Quick"
She snatched up the" shrieking child,
| and ran off. to obey me: Too late, I
telt; but any action was relief. Even
| before she had left the door, the pale
lips closed quickly, the eyes took one
long loving look AT the fair face above
them, and then closed in death. She
Knew, she saw, felt the truth, but
she neither screamed nor tainted.
Gently, with tender reverence, she fold
ed the dead hands, and bent to kiss
the dead face. Then, Keeling and shiv-
erlng, she turned to me. I opened my
arms, and like a child to a. father, she
came to me. No sob, no cry, only the
shivering, shaking. form, the cold hands
and convulsive shudder, told of the
agony pent up in her poor heart. In
the bitter days that, followed, was her
comforter, her protector, her stay
next to God to whom she had from child
hood carried her: whole soul. Sustained
by her religion, conlforted by my love,
consoled by Allies dependence, size
pore her great triad: with resignation
ana rs hope. - And soteElthe, coffin where
I h le mother stood sbesid 'Hi1re,
hey. hand IA mIne head oa%1ry bosom
I3-rn1t promise Yifg: HIEfo wing il that
solemn hour my love for her, nv: desire
to protect her from all lifes ills. nv
ambition to stand in parents as well a.
husbands place to! her, she put her un-
tried heart into my keeping, gave me
her true, pure gratitude, thinking it
love. never blamed her; do not now.
my Meta,. my own. precious child.
All winter she lived with Allie in the
little cottage, sewing, and teaching the
child, and daily, drew her close to nv
heart to renew my vow-to love,
cherish, and protect 'for"life.
In the spring:I was to make her my
bride. She had made her simple pre-
! parations, and we were to travel for
months before she entered my house as
its mistress. ''':-' -
Early in January, Edgar came home.
He had grown from a merry-hearted
boy into genial, whole-souled man.
A man full Of noble impulses, warm,
true purposes and generous resolves.
A man to fill with a glad pride the
heart that loved him, as mine did. How
his hearty voice and merry laugh made
the lonely house echo, and my heart
glad, can only be: told by the contrast
1T made to the quiet of the years Of his
absence I did not tell him of my en-
gagement, fearing it might prejudice
him against Meta; but made my will.
leaving him half my property-as I had
ever intended to do-and I trusted to
MIN and Meta's charms to reconcile him
to an aunt, and a half heir-ship. T
watched his speaking face telling it's
admiration when took him to the cot
tage. The graceful figure in it's deep
mourning dress, with the fair noble
face crowned by Its coronet of dark
! hair, was worthy Of the low courteuos
bow, the gentlemanly greeting he gave.
and my heart thrilled proudly over the
homage my darling received
Three months I passed, blind to the
fate that was before me; then, with a
shock. I awakened from my dream of
love and hope. I never blamed her
never Tho Snrinu yuoo RI l,,x,a