Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-08-11
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Scar on the Forehead.

Midnight has tolled its solemn
chime, yet the weary watcher sat be
side the hearthstone, plying her busy
needle. Her eyes were dim ana
sunker, her cheeks thin and pale
ber lips pinchcd and purple, and
her slende: fingers so shriyelled
with the icy chill that was fast
palsying her, that the plain gold
ring they wore and the silver thimble
that they held we're every few no.
ments dropping into her lap with a
slight musical tinkle. Her delicate
form was sbivering even in the heavy
bed blankets that she had thrown
about her shoulders, and she looked
often Hitha wistful glance at the little
basket Of chips that stood beside
the tongs.
An hour pass. d, snd the clock
struck one. He must soou be
here now," whispered she in half
frightened tone 81 will lay aside
my work and make things rs CHEEKY
as ! cal;' and she brushed up the
ashes from the hearth and drew the
Goals together, threw On item a
handful of the carefuily-saved fuel,
and famed the faint flames till it
flashed light in the chimney. Then
sic looked about The room to see
if areht coulG lie meldcd there
but the few articles it held were in
their wonted place, and everything
as neat as the lands OF love could
make it. An arm chair was drawn
from tbe corner close to the cracking
fire. the dressing gown that burg
uron it spread out anew, and a pair
Of Slippers were hing upon the fen
der. The lamp was trimmed afresh
be stand busted, and a carefully
covered dish set upon it. and beside
it was placed a knife almost as
bright as though the blade had been
made Of silver instead Of steel.
81 have done The best ! can,"
said The pale watcher, rs again she
sunk into her rocker! co. and
she W rung her hands convulsively, |
ii were only sure efone kind word. |
Hark! And she started up and lis
tened. ut is he. and how he bangs
the gate. shall have a fearful .
time with him" And she FASTENED
10 the front door and opened it.
He staggered in and reeling this
wsy and that, reached finally the
room his geutle wife bad mad6 so
bright and cheerful. But what was
her reward? A volley Of oaths so
foul that it seemed as ii an army of
fenls bad spoken with one voice,
He Cur sed the hcggally fire, though
to make the scant blaza she and her
children had half frozen all the dsy;
he s@ore at the patched dressing
grown, though out Of her own thin
wardrobe she had planned it; he
ravad at the bread and meat, though
her own lean fingers had earned them
both. And when, angel-like and
woman-like, too, she she gave him q
smile for every frown, and an en-
dearing epithet ior every oath,
and would have wound her arms
around him to win him back to rea-
son and 20 himself he raised bis
band and dealt her powerful blow
aye, he struck her, till every nerve
quivered with anguish, and she bis
wife and the mother Of bis beaute
Gus children AND now when she
lay PROSTATE before him he raised
himslf to kick her thence. A slight
young hand pushed off the booted
foot, even as it was falling on the
trembling woman, and voice ago.
nizing in its tones, exclaimed:
"Forbear, my father; for though
your wife. she is my mother, and |
will save her from your ragei"
The eyes of the drupkard quailed
a moment before the upturned gaze
of his first borD, so mournfUlly holy
was the look that boamed from his
fearful face; then fepdish glare
burned in them, and he exclaimed,
"You, too. Must level my house
hold ere I can lind peace, he seized
the gIisteniug knife and strack.