The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-12-12

every penny should be spent I'm the
search. He cared not IL he sold every
possession he had In the world for NJ
what use was life without herr Yes
to-morrow-tomorrow-why not start
now?
He took out his watch Yes no
could catch the-the same train as she
mad taken. The thought unnamed
MIN for the moment. then he nerved
himself to the ordeal and busted him.
Seit In the hurried packing of a few
necessaries.
Az last all was ready and he stood
at the open front door One last look
around--he might never see the Mace
again; and then horror struck him
and he went sullenly back into the
room and threw himself. spent and ex.
hausted, In a chair. Suppose she re.
turned In his absencel II was the
hundredth time he had enacted the
same scene, ever to be foiled as now.
Morning, came. and when he de.
seended a letter in strange hand
lay upon the breakfast table. He
picked It up mechanically and tore the
envelope open.
win you come to meY am very
ill.-Elsie.''
A great chill seized his heart and
then he gave almost a sob OF relief.
He would see her.. that was all he
cared now. and if-he scarce dared to
frame the thought-if she were to die
he. too, could follow her into the great
unknown.
IL was a mean little street to which
the address on the letter led him.
and he staggered back as a woman i'm
the apparel of nurse opened the
door.
She has been very ILL.," she replied
In answer to his inquiry, but now"
How he hung upon her words.
And now"
She may recover, if"
The woman regarded his face Gu.
riously as he brushed hastily past her.
Up, up the narrow stairs-she might
yet be swaziland his heart beat so
unanimously against his breast that
he had to stop on the landing and
steady himself against the wall.
He was within the room, at the bed.
side, the pale, thin hand OF his wife
clasped in his; then he stopped. for
she was sleeping quietly, her face
turned away from him toward the
wall.
How wan and frail she looked, her
skin almost transparent in its clea,.
ness, but the closed lids heavy and
dark. as with long. sleepless nights
and days of helpless misery.
She was moving now, and the arm
which was further removed from him
seemed to tighten involuntarily as
though she was clasping some loved
object to her bosom.
Jack she murmured; dear, dear
Jack"
! And tue eyes of the watcher filled
and he pressed the little white hand
to his lips and played with the thin
fragile fingers, drawing them one by
one between his own.
Long he sat there, silently praying
that heaven in its mercy might grant
him this enc poor life. 1t was not
much he asked. Only this one-only
this one.
The afternoon was waning now, and
at last she awoke-awoke with a long
tremulous sigh and weary movement
Of the head She turned, with the
slowness bred of weakness and ap
athy, the tears already in her eyes, and
then
She was in his arms, her head pill
lowed upon his breast, sobbing unre
STRANGELY in very happiness, his hand
to her hot, dry lips.
why did you not write before p
he asked, smoothing the hair back
from her forehead with tender hand
did you not know how hungered fol
you? oh, Elsie, my darling!"
For reply she nestled herself closer
to him, placed an arm around his neck
and drew his face down to hers.
"You have been very III"
"To DEATH" she replied; but | am
better now. and shall live. You will
not let me go again, Jack, will your
He kissed passlonately the piteous
little face.
Never darling" he murmured
never. Nothing can part us now, ex
cept-"
She chung tighter to him.
Nothing can part u.s. she echoed
1-4-for-nov your ure-terc;,- a7rJi fur yUu1
sake and"
She covered her face with her hand
Jack, / have a great secret to tel
you, one / have kept all these months
--one that has upborne me in all my
misery
She drew back the clothes, reveal
ing a tiny red face peeping out of &
nest OF white wraps; and as, in a pas
sion OF love and happiness, he lifted
one of the dimpled little hands TO his
lips, he knew then that there was 9
bond between them which nothing but
death could sunder.