Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-08-28
After Darkness
By AGNES c. BROCAN

htAit NhltF1dctH one silent, her
pathetic eyes gazing without recogni-
ton. The tiny warm body at her
side, the imperative baby cry, had
failed % rouse her. Much the nurse
and doctors had counted upon babys
power, but the young mother heart
had grieved too deeply to turn at
once to rejoicing.
The very appeal of the girls help.
lessness had won for her loving care
freely bestowed. In the chilly fan
night she had come to the hospital.
IF | may stay" she had begged, Il
viii make myself useful, scrubbug
floors if that may be, anyway"
The matron looking at the small
white hands had smiled.
Il could carry trays. az least" An
nabell Lee eagerly suggested.
Then the matron comforting the
little homeless creature before the
gas fire in her own pleasant room,
had drawn from Annabell Lee her
story.
She had fallen in love with young
civil engineer who had been upon the
broad road near her Southern home.
Annabell's hollow, dark eyes shone
and her white cheeks flushed rose
color as she unfolded the romance Of
her girlhood.
Il ran away with Jack Lee" She
confessed, black to his own Northern
country. My people would not listen
to reason. Jack was just struggling
along in his profession. Why, this
highway, where we met, was almost
his first commission. But he would
make good, he told me, when we mar
ried. And If you knew Jack" the
girl paused eloquently, ''Oh You
would have no doubt of his success.
$50 he brought me first to the home
of his mother" Annabelfs voice
broke tremulously-"And his mother
was angrier even than my people had
been I--could hardly blame her.
You see she had sacrificed great
deal in her widowhood to put Jack
through college, to start him upon the
career they had chosen together.
Jack tried 10 reason he plead FOR
her patience; he would soon be able
to care for us both he said But the
mother was 0bdurGte Oh she was
very severe. and she told rs to GO
to make our way as we could and
leave her to her own. So, we found
the contest rooms Annabell's eyes
were alight again, 'and Jack taught
me to cook
81 was so strangely alone that he
~. gl..fr
| perhaps than he should, and business
| did not make much progress but"
the girls voice sang "Oh we were
| happy, happy! Then came the ter
| rible war. Jack and | talked ii over
| seriously. We could see that he must
| go. The responsibility of it was in
| his eyes before he spoke TO me, and
| while my heart sank like lead, l
smiled at him.
| "'Why, Of course, dear | said, your
| country needs you most He was
| troubled at leaving me alone, but all
| at once / had grown very brave AM
| confident shall keep the one littl
| room | told him, with our small saw
| ings / win manage my housekeeping
1 InttiN. Anu 50 4 Sllpuitts AlludbFiA
FASTENED to add, 'but for the sickness
which came upon me and took IT ALL
| Jack never knew of that And now
| because | am still SO frail, | come to
! you to beg work in exchange for
| slight care"
| Suddenly the young wife leaned to-
ward the matron, the strong capable
lvr 40
| small frenzied ones.
II must-work," Annabell said,
"for this is now my haunting sorrow
my terror by night and day-Jack has
| been taken prisoner by the Germans.
| Do you know what that may meant
| 1t was through the Red Cross l OBJ
| tanned my informs lion, but they could
tell nothing further. He is-a pris-
oner. Those fiends are his keepers
Soothingly the matron caressed the
| girls soft, dusky hair 1t was then
that Annabell Lee was admitted into
the home and heart of the great city
| hospital
But the haunting terror fingered 10
her eyes. A newspapers heading was
sufficient to drive all color from the
face upon which suffering had left It's
mark. And then one night like
weary child she sank into sort OF
waking sleep from which not even
the cry Of the little new life at her
side could rouse her.
The doctor sighed as though weary
of the hopelessness about him. me
Little Annabell Lee had endeareo
herself to all Then, toward the
dawn of one long night, came sud
denly a sound Of bells through the
city-whieh grew rapidly to UNI
yersal clamor of triumph.
Voices called out III the street 10
low Above all came the newsboys
militant cry, afppappf Germany mas