In her delirium she called continually for Ralph to come home and bring her something to eat.
And where was Ralph? For three days he had been laying in a drunken stupor in the cellar of a saloon, but this evening he had sobered somewhat, and remorse for his cruel neglect of his wife and children was finding a place in his heart. He recalled the starving condition in which he had left them.
Perhaps for the first time he began to realize how dearly his wife must love him to give up the pleasure and luxury of her girlhood home for him, and there in that room not fit for cattle, this man cried out in his anguish, "Oh, God, protect my wife and forgive me."
He started at once for home but as he neared the house his heart was filled with fear, his head began to whirl. Where was Rose? Why was everything so still?
He opened the door and was met by a little girl dressed in white and with golden curls.
How beautiful she was; she ran to him and cried, "Papa has come, Papa has come!"
Then he knew she was his own little daughter.
She led him to the bed on which lay his wife, but the only words which greeted him were, "Ralph come home and bring us something to eat."
He called her name but she heard him not.