Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-02-18
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
A Communication From Nathaniel
kingsnorth.
NM HE months that followed were
the hardest in O'Connell's life
Strive as he would. he could
find no really remunerative EN-.
ployment. He had no special training
He knew no trade. His pen. though
fluent, was not cultured and lacked the
glow of eloquence he had when speak
ing. He worked in shops and III fac
tories. He tried to report on news
papers. But his lack of experience ev-
erywhere handicapped him. What he
contrived to earn during those months
of struggle was all too little as the
time approached for the great event.
Angela was now entirely confined to
her bed. She seemed to grow more
spirit-like every day. A terrible dread
haunted O'Connell waking and sleep
ing. He would start out of some ter
rible dream at night and listen to her
breathing. When he would hurry back
at the close of some long. disappoint-
ing day his heart would be hammer
ing duly with fear for his loved one.
AS the months wore on his face be-
came lined with care and the bright
gold of his hair dimmed with streaks
Of silver. But he never faltered or
lost courage. He always felt he must
win the fight for existence as he
Mt IN v,iv no fnr Air.k
later-for liberty.
Angela. lying so still. through the
long days. could only hope. She felt
SO helpless. 1t was woman's weak
ness that brought men like O'Connell
to the edge of despair. And hers was
not merely bodily weakness. but the
more poignant one of pride. Was it
fair to her husband. Was it just? In
England she had prosperous relatives.
They would not let her die in her mis-
cry. They could not let her baby come
into the world with poverty as its only
inheritance. Till now she had been
unable to master her feeling of hatred
and bitterness for her brother Nathan
lei. her intense dislike and contempt
for her sister Monica. From the time
she left England she had not written
to either of them. Could she now?
Something decided her.
One night O'Connell came back dis
heartened. Try as he would. he could
not conceal 1t. He was getting to the
end Of his courage. There was insult
ticient work at the shop he had been
working In for several weeks. he had
been told he need not come again.
Angela. lying motionless and white,
tried to comfort him and give him
heart.
She made up her mind that night.
The next day she wrote to her brother.
She could not bring herself to ex-
press one regret for what she had done
or said. On the contrary. she made
many references to her happiness with
the man she loved. She did write of
the hardships they were passing
through. But they were only tempo
rary. O'Connell was so clever. SO
brilliant. he must win in the end. Only
just now she was Ill. She needed help
She asked no gift-a loan merely.
They would pay it back when the days
of plenty came. She would not ask
even this were it not that she was not
only Ill. but the one great. wonderful
thing in the world was to be vouch-
safed her-motherhood In the name
of her unborn baby she begged him to
send an immediate response.
She asked neighbor to post the let
ter so that O'Connell would not know
of her sacrifice. She waited anxiously
for reply.
Some considerable time afterward-
on the eve of her travail and when
things with O'Conneli were at their
worst-the answer came by cable.
She was alone when it came
Her heart beat furiously as she open
ed it. Even if he only sent little it
would be SO welcome now when they
We're almost at the end. 1T he had
been generous how wonderful 1t would
be for her to help the man to whom
nothing was too much to give her.
1he fact that her brother had cabled
the belief that he had
hastened to come to her rescue
She opened the cable and read it.
Then she fell back on the pillow with
low. faint moan
When. hours later. O'Connell return
ed from vain search for work he
found her senseless with the cable in
her fingers He tried to revive her
without success. He sent neighbor
for doctor. AS he watched the worn.
patient face. his heart full to bursting,
the thought flashed through him what
could have happened to cause this col
lapse. He became conscious Of the ca
BILE he had found tightly clasped in her
hand. He picked It up and read It. 1t
was very brief. All 1t said was:
You have made your bed. Lie in it.
NATHANIEL KINGSNORTH.
Toward morning the doctor placed a
little mite Of humanity in O'Connell's
arms. He looked down at 1t in a stu
por. 1t had really come to pass-their
child-Angela's and his. A little baby
girl! The tiny wall from this child.
born Of love and in sorrow. seemed to
waken bis dull senses. He pressed the
mite to him as the hot tears flowed
down his cheeks. A woman in one of
the adjoining fats who had kindly Of
fered to help took the child away from
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