Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-20
Mortester Daily Spp.
LIFE AS IT Is.

Notd souhu came from tlle stricken woman.
Ten. Lane listened in an agony of suspense
for the fantest sound to relieve the dread he
felt lest the heavy blow had killed the trail,
loving wife. Several minutes passed. Then
he could endure it 10 longer.
am Old enough to be her father" he solil
oquIsed. 81 will throw aside all etiquette
aud see if she is hurt" lie forthwith opened
tue door and looked within. Ah what a sight
net his eyes! Upon the floor lay the strick-
en- wife, pale aud molonesS, the blood trick
ling from the rounded arm where it had come
III contact with the stove. Lifting the mani
mate torm he laid it upon the sofa, and tears
that were 10 shame 10 his manhood-iell upon
the pale tace. lie balhed her face with water
and soon, to his great joy, the large, dreamy,
blue e) es opend and rested upon him. Size
looked at him, lis though bewidered then in
moment, recollection returned, and flush OF
shame dyed her tair face. In answer to the
Questioning look in her eyes, he said
My room joins yours, madam l knew
you were alone; and hearing no sound after
your tail, feared you might be much hurt,
therefore took the liberty OF coming in. DO
not mind me- | am an old man-old enough
to be your father. l will ring for the chamber
maid TO assist you, and then leave you"
oh no! | can do very well. l would not
have her come and see me in ull dinner dress
at this hour, and see this blood, too"
Trying 10 rise, she Tell back family, and
tears pressed III; Ough the closed ashes.
81 am deeply indebted to you already, Gen.
Lane: and, II you would assist me into my
bed room, can then manage alone" Tender.
~ the old man supported The slight form into
the adjoining room AS he turned 10 leave,
she said
General. you will keep this dreary scene
secret, will you not? l should die with
modification to have it known throughout the
house"
81 will never speak of it, madam but 1
would advise you to inform your brother, and
have him remove you from under Mr.. Leeds
control. Excuse my buntness, madam it is
meant in kindness My heart aches for you,
and cannot help speaking paily. Good
night, madam"
Next day the sweet face was very pale and
the eyes heavy but that was the only trace
OF the last nights CONFLICT. The wounded arm
was covered up from the brothers sight, and
he never dreamed of hs only sisters suffer.
ings. Mr.. Leeds did not return that day. The
brother and sister spent the evening alone--he
reading aloud while she sewed. 1t seemed
almost like the pleasant evenings at their dear
old home, and something very nearly approach
ing to smile fingered about the lips Of that
anxious wife. Ten o'clock came and no Har-
ry; then Observation-Disclosures
at is strange what keeps Harry is he in
the habit OF stayiu out SO late, Carrie !''
Before the sister could reply there was the
tramp OF many feet upon the stairs, and in an.
other moment a knock at the door. On open.
ing it tour men entered, bearing rude litter,
on which lay the body of Harry Leeds.
Drunk !" exclaimed Mr.. Sloan, his sus-
picions for the first time giving themselves
vent
"No; dead, SIR" answered the man. Gle
was killed in drunken brawl."
The wretched vile sank to the floor in a
deadly swoon, while the brother shed many
tears over the wreck OF what was once good
man-the loved friend of his early years. OF
the sad burial aud the bereaved womans grief,
we need not speak. She had loved him
through ALL and, now he was dead land as it
ever isl, his faults were forgotten Again he
was the beloved Harry of other days, the hus-
band OF heI choice. OF course everything
was exposed now, and the ladies of the house
found out at last thetcause of Mrs. Leeds fit.
full conduct-knew at last why she was so Of
ten seen in the halls at night-why she stood
listening, with her door ajar, at all hours of the
night. Those who had been the first to ma
lign her now came forward to offer their ear
nest sympathy. They were all admiration
now OF the heroic wife who had borne her sOr
rows SO meekly and so quietly. But it was
too late. When kind word would have been
and gave instead, cold, suspicious looks, That
sometimes cut TO the heart with deeper pang
than cold words. Thousands suffer thus day
by day, from the mlSconsructlon OF the world
They must bear it, too for if the sufferer is a
woman, there is no redress unless she unseXes
herself and goes forth to battle Tor her rights
Oh this scandal that brushes people to the
earth = that lramples thousands OF bleed
ing hearts under the feet of the multi
tlaIn not l,pt,,. L, q
sorrow Will not our earth path be full
enough Of thorns, and LIES cup full enough
of woe, thai these our friends ard neigh
bors, must strike it home more surely |?
No, it is not enOu"h. Hearts always have
and always will suffer from this great cruel
fiXion, scandal While the world lasts hearts
will be shorn OF every flower OF hope and fancy
by the too often thoughtless) tongues of scan
dal.lovers-wili see their sources of happiness
and their hopes drop Oft one by one, because
few words OF scandal has deprived them of
this that precious friend They must learn
to suffice for themselves be outwardly
calm-nust turn away from the too happy
past-take up the broken threads of life, and
try to weave them in among their everyday
distress but alas and alas ! skillul as one
may be, the ragged edges will he uppermost
1t was the tenth OF July, that warm, OPP
prcssive month, when all the fashionable fry
the almighty dollar" that they cannot go in
reality, let such put themselves under our
guidance and, in the twiukling of an eye, our
Journey "by land and sea" is compasstd, and
we are nearer the shore Of no matter where !;
enough that we at a watering place. There
are the usual pleasant faces hidden under neat
travelling bonnets, or those more convenient
dark-c0lored hats the pretty creatures sport
As the steamer rounded up to the landing all
was confusion. Amid the short, hurried puff.
lngs of her engine and the mad shrieks of her
whistle might be heard such remarks as
these -
"Jon, where is my shawl and basket? Get
them quick, and let us hurry out and get
seat in one of the front carriages"
bridget, have you the lunch basket and
the three valisesl Are the children safe 90
"Alother-mother! wait a moment-please
let us stop at the - House the Ridgeways
are going to stop there. It's only fifty cents
day more!"
'.Your foot off my dress sir-there you have
torn all the gathers out"
Amid all this hubbub, one gentleman
stands calmly by, an amused spectator of the
scene Look We again. ALI as | live, it
is the gallant General Lane, looking youn-
ger and handsomcr than lie did two years
ago AS they landed, seeing that the car
riages and hacks would all be inll, he threw
his shawl over his shoulder, cleared the
fence at one bound, and after crossing sew.
eral fields found himself in private lane
that led up to the hotel. That pleasant,
shady lane was familiar ground TO him, for
many time in other years he had Travelled
it. lie soon reached the hotel, and passing