The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-27
l stood beside him to the last, determined

as penance for my nnfeelng Joy, to spare my
self no one of his painful though short suffer
ings. In few hours, on the very morning
that was to have da.wned upon our wedding, he
breathed his last. His death set me free.
Yes, was free,, but my freedom did not
bring me any hope Leander had gone to
Europe Immediately upon the death of his
wife. Holme place was closed, and it was said
years passed on anAl It's master did not arrive.
home, except in tie; briefest business letters.
So more years passed away. l busted my
selfin the education Of my sister and intro
ducing her into society, as she grew up beau
tiful and brilliant girl, while ceased to feel
sensible to the title Of "old maid,' and took
my place pacidly among the elders and brush
ed my still luxuriart hair, now thickly streaked
with gray, beneath d tasteful cap.
had become almost satisfied with my lot
and had ceased to think very frequently about
Leander Holme, when | was startled out of my
usual placidity by hearing that he had returned
to his home. The lletter that brought these IT,
dings stated furthes that he was making many
alterations and Improvements in the old place,
and that it was conjectured that he was again
about to bring bride thither.
e'That old man'' exclaimed my pretty sis
ter, as she read this item: 'tSister Katherine,
can you conceive cf a man marrying at his
age9''
smiled and reminded the blooming little
1 beauty that the mas, she called old could not
be over forty five, although it seemed great
age TO her l sighed little as / glanced at
the mirror and saw my faded features as refec-
ted on its surface.
Soon after my sister married. I gave her to
the man she had chosen, well pleased, for
felt that he was worthy Of my treasure. But
it was with very lonely, saddened heart that,
after the wedding breakfast was over, and the
newly y-wedded pairand all the guests departed,
| went to shut myself into my own room. |
wept little, for s7as growing old and was all
alone, and the future seemed very bleak and
drear to me as | thought, what should have
been, had | been To- val to my hearts allegiance.
Ny maid knocked at my door. A gentle
man was in the par|or and wished to see me.
s'Dd he send his card or name?'
No. madam; be said he was an old friend,
and would detain Won but a few moments
$50 back and say that I can see no one to-
day, except on bussness-tell him that my Sis
ter has lust left me.--that am not we'll"
The girl went ard listened as lay for the
clang of the street door But, instead, it was
with feeling of vexation that heard her
footsteps returning, She came in, and per-
haps, seeing my ;mpatience of interruption,
laid card in my hand and retired without
speaking: LEANpER HoLME.
The letters SWAMI before my eyes, and trem-
bed so that l coulq@ scarcely stand, as | tried
| + tlo + LAM
with unsteady steps, descended to the par
lor: opened the door, and stood in the pres
ence of the man I pad loved, and from whom
[ had been separated SO long.
His hair was gray; there were lines of suffer
ing all over his face, only the bright, dark eyes
were unchanged. Il gave him my hand he
looked at me steatffastly little while. Then
he drew me towards him, and, without word
| lay sobbing upoI; his bosom.
sat last at last. he murmured.
! Thus was reunited to my first and last love
We are very happy now at Holme place. My
husband is all that is good and noble, and my
life is spent in ministering to his happiness, and
in trying to fill mothers place to the long
neglected children bf the wife that he had never
1 loved.
There lived in Pittsburg, some years ago
an old fellow who served in the war of 1912
in which he had lost a leg. Before he enlisted
he courted a young lady of that place, and
knowing that she would have whole man OF
none, he kept his Fayiny lost a leg secret, and
replaced it with a Yodden one. In his absence
the young lady haG met with another admirer,
so that, on the return of timberleg, he and his
rival were on terms of deadly enmity One
Sunday night timEerleg went to see his love
rather early, with the intention of popping the
question, and, that :he might not shrk, had
imbibed not a little to give him courage. The
lady not being able TO receive him, he sat down
in the parlor to await her coming. But the
/ liquor proved too strong for him, and he had
scarcely sat down: when he fell asleep. His
rival coming in at The moment, thought this a
good time to satisfy his curiosity regarding Mr.
Timber's right leg, which he had always re-
garded with suspicion. So, slipping up, he
quietly slit the right leg of Timber's panta-
looms as far as the knee, when at a glance, he
saw all. To run fol a saw was the work of a
moment, and in few minutes the leg was calm
ly reposing on the.centre table, it's owner slum-
bering unconscious Of the amputation. Mean
while the wl.llom surgeon had sloped. When
the lady entered the room, Timberleg was
promenading it, after the manner of turkey
during the few moments of life succeeding de-
capitation The writer isvery sorry that, be-
ing opposed to PROCLAMATION, he cannot favor the
reader with Timberleg's remarks. Suffice it
to say that the lhdy's remark on entering,
was s'good heaveAs;" that of Timberleg quite
the reverse. Timber got new leg, but he
| didn't marry that gal. -....
LIVING WITHIN 'osE's MEANsG-We are be-
ginng to hear again the cry of "hard times, "
s.awful hard times There is more truth than
fiction in the cry, al will admit How can the
times be made easier? How can the intense
hardness be taken'out of them? There is one
sovereign remedy. as general thing is cure
ali. It is this. Let every one live within his OF
her means. Cut elf your luxuries If your in
come is four or FIVE hundred dollars, conform
yourself to your circumstances. Dontlet your
manner of living be as expensive as if your in
come was one thousand dollars. Let your
dress, your food, your pleasure be eurtailed.
There is no honesty in living beyond your
means If it cost you about thousand dol
lars to live, when: your means are only five
hundred dollars, tie excess is sponged out by