The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-04-30

VhCt no ouO hSoiu s"S
close, and the footsteps grow fainter in tn
distance.
Then she threw herself on the lounge
and burying her brown head in the crimson
cushions, wept loud and bitterly, and be
tween the sobs that convulsed the figure o
Ellen Howard, came the self.accusing words
"Oh, II had only told him"
At last, exhausted with her violent weep
ing, the lids closed over her eyes, and Mrs
Howard sank into heavy slumber.
She started up quickly, for the silvery
voiced time piece had broke in with its stor!
Of ten o'clock, on the hush which filled tn
room.
"And he has no, come yet He who ney
er left me alone an evening before! Oh, !
harm should have befillen him" And ,
pang shot through the heart which had beer
very heavy before with its weight Of shad
ows.
She went to the window, and looked uE
at the clear, cold stars. She vent to the
door and listened for his footsteps; then she
went to the crate, and stirred up the glow
ing bed Of anthracite, until a golden light
o filled all the room; but still he came not
Eleven o'clock came, and yet he was moi
there.
Twelve o'clock came, and still Ellen How.
ard sat alone.
One o'clock what pen shall record the
suiferings which during those two hours had
been the portion Of Mrs. Howard.
The bell rang-it was a loud, startling
peal; and she hurried to the door, for oil
the 1omesiics had retired
There were two gentlemen there-she
recognized them as acquaintances, but the
third-one glance, and as she looked she
grasped the door-handle, or she would have
fallen.
"Dont be alarmed, Mrs. Howard" said
ore Of the gentlemen; "your husband has
not experienced any injury, and a good nights
rest will restore him. He was at supper
given by one Of our club this evening, and,
unfortunately, drank rather freely" They
carried him in, his wife leading the way,
with faltering steps, laid him on the bed and
Immediately departed. She was alone with
him, and the scales had fallen from her men,
tai eyesight.
She saw then how truly he had loved hcr,
how the pride Of both had driven him from
his home that evening, and to the sin OF
which he had been guilty, and she shudder-
ed ut the brink to which both had been
drawing nigh.
She put back the thick hair from his broad
burning forehead, moaning all the time over
the unconscious man words of love and ten
derness, which had they been spoken earli-
er, would never had found him there; and,
at last, when he had fallen into that heavy
slumber, which is too frequently the accom-
paniment Of inebriety, she went into the
parlor, and kneeling down in the fire shine,
prayed the Great Father to forgive her sin,
and grant unto her that "meek and quiet
spirit" which is the chief ornament Of wo-
man.
During all that night she hung over his
pillow, bathing his forehead, and watching
his restlnss movements in his troubled slun-
bers. The woman's heart was awakened
now, and the pride had all gone before its
holy whisperings.
The gray dawn was streaking the east,
when, weary with her nights watching, Mrs.
Howard once more repaired to the parlor,
and, throwing herself on the lounge, was
soon in heavy slumber.
The sunlight laughed brightly thro' the
muslin curtains that draped the windows,
and Henry Howard opened his eyes mo.
ment-the story Of the by. gone night flashed
into his mind-he closed them. al shall
never be able to look Ellen in the face again,
he murinured.
At last he rose and went into the paror.
She was lying there, her cheek pillowed on
her hand, and her long, ,luxuriant curls sweep
ing upon The carpet.
He bent down and kissed her cheek very
softly; tear fell on her forehead-she OPEN
ed ber eyes and smiled.
"Oh, Henry" and the white arms were
wrapped and the white cheek laid on his
own. III have been so wretched. You do
not know-you cannot dream Of all have
suffered during the last two days, and las,
night, Henry, 1t seemed as 1t 1t would kill
me!"
sand deserve that it should me, Nellie.
You see, was very desperate last night,
when left you, for a terrible fear has been
haunting me ever since made that cruel
speech to you-a fear that you did not love
me. II was this that drove me to that dread.
ful act last evening. And feared you would
never forgive me this look up, my swee,
wife, and tell me with those dear blue eyes,
that you do"
"And now, Henry" said Mrs. Howard, as
her husband was leaving home very late
that morning, 1--WE have promised that the
past shall be forgiven and forgotten-wiil
you promise me one thing more, and | shall
be very happy"
"Well, what is it, durliug7 will do ev-
erything for your happiness"
THAT you will Sign the pledge this very
day."
He did so, and when any angry though h'
came to the heart, or any angry word to the
lip Of Mrs. Howard, she went and looked on
that pledge, and it was bond Of peace be-
tween her and her husband.