Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-02-19

consequently ne Tell III, out temper
prevented his sending for the doctor,
until the matter was taken out Of his
hands by his servants discovering him
In a swoon, and Immediately sending
bility.
The children were so happy at the
seaside, and their mother was so taken
up with them and their enjoyment,
that for some time she scarcely thought
Of her absent husband. It was the
children themselves who recalled him
to her mind.
where's !. Daddy, Mumsy? Why
doesn't he come hereY asked little
Jack repeatedly. He'd like to be
here, too-should think" 1t was Jack
les habit to miss out a word or two
now and then.
"Ess, where's Daddy" echoed tiny
Effie. 'Poor Daddy hasn't got no
sea :"
wouldn't he like 1t? Poor Daddy |"
cried tender-hearted little Nell.
"Guess he would. Poor Daddy !"
Jackie exclaimed. "Mumsy," he turn
ed to her again, why doesn't he comet
He's a man-can come-if pleases."
YES" responded their mother, "he
pictured him to herself, stern, cold,
handsome, coming into the room, chill
Ing them with his presence.
"Wish he'd come" little Jack NUT
tered.
What a sunny sweet-tempered ma
ture that boy hast" thought Kate. "He
has forgotten how very cross his father
was with him sometimes !"
Her conscience smote her, because
she was less forgiving and less forget
full of injuries than her child.
All day the sore feeling remained,
and she had to strengthen her attitude
by recapitulating Johns offense.
"The children are WELL" she told
herself "and they might have fallen Ill
If we had remained at home. And
John would never have consented to
their coming here"
One day she overheard q woman
saying to her companion as they pass
ed by her and the children, what
lot of little ones! Hasn't the poor
lady a husband to help her with
them?"
After that she fancied her landlady
loked asl1ance at her sometimes as If
regretting that there was no Mr..
Hacker appearing on the scene.
Others asked her straight out where
Mr.. Hacker was and whether he was
coming down to join her? And she
had to make excuses for him.
Then, one morning, came a telegram.
1t was put into her hands when she
was playing with her children, as 1t
was wet and they could not go out Of
doors and she stood staring at 1t for a
few minutes, feeling powerless to
grasp its contents.
The telegram was from home and
had been sent by the family doctor.
your husband dangerously i'll. Come
at once"
Her head reeled. Dangerously Ill,
and she was not by his side. How
soon could she get there?
1t was the only question. All his
hardness, all his sins Of omission and
commission against her and her chill
drei, were forgotten. He was danger
ously i'll. 1t was possible that be
might die, and she was sixty miles
away.
She wrung her hands, consigned the
children to the friendly care of the
landlady, took a cab to the station,
and caught an express in the nick of
time.
"I thought you were never coming,
Kate. 1 am going to die" John
Hacker gasped out. He was looking
terribly emaciated, but was in full pos
session of his mental powers.
"No! MOI" cried his wife. 81 have
come to nurse you, and you will not
die"
He shook his head. II can see that
the doctors give me up he said in a
tone of finality.
But l don't give you up. You will
live now 1 have GOMEZ" exclaimed his
wife, trying to infuse some Of her own
resolute will into his morbid soul.
81 have been a BEAR" he confessed.
"Can you forgive me?"
Eyes, dear. Yes. Will you forgive
me for-for running awayY' asked his
wife, with the tears rolling down her
cheeks.
"Of course. drove you to i'll I'M
derstood-when you had gone" He
closed his eyes, faint with the knowl-
edge of his sin.
She kissed his brow. "Thy to re-
cover for my sake, john" she pleaded.
"You cannot care? You cannot sure
ly are-after-after all?" he faltered.
81 can. l do. 1 love you, John, and
We shall be so happy"
A sudden brightness came into his
eyes, a little color crept into his