gasp;
Her fingers have touched a weapon of death in her husband's hand
close clasped:
"O, surely, you would not--dare not--go uncalled to your Maker's
sight?"
"Wife, when passes your spirit away, mine, too, shall take its
flight."

It boots not to tell of the loving prayers that welled from that
true wife's heart,
She sued with an angels holy power, a woman's winning art,
Till that desp'rate man, with quick low sob, his weapon tossed
away,
And promised, till came his Maker's call, on this cheerless earth
to stay.

Then sunshine lit up her wan white face and brightened her
failing eyes,
Enkindling upon her marble cheek the glow of the sunset skies;
Closer she nestled unto his breast with a smile of childlike
bliss;
"Already a foretaste of yon bright Heaven is given me, Will, in
this!"

A little while and the lashes drooped, unstirred by life's faint
breath,
Whilst the sweet smile on the perfect lips was sealed, for aye,
by Death.
With the second sunset he laid her in her lonely prairie grave,
Then joined a passing miner's band that a friendly welcome gave.