North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-02-10

and cries, questions which neither waited fol
nor expected answer changed for more quiet
interchange of words, and Mrs. Marie held
letter toward John Malcomb. sa..ta.
He took it and read it 1t was hastily
written, blotted and scrawled, and these
were the words it contained, ..s ..Hn.
"You will thiak me wretch, Martina
So am, perhaps, / do not blame you. In
all things you have done your duty but
passionate love was not yours to give.
crave il. and it is offered to me- You will
not suffer; and to women Of yonr nature
children are sufficient. Adeu." f-.
When have loved him so dearly !" sob
bed the little woman-"so very dearly -
She could never love him so-ne7er-nev-
er!n ........ ..-...
And, for the only time in all his life, John
Malcomb uttered an oath as he ground the
miserable letter beneath his heel. 1t fright
ened the poor woman. She shrank and
paed, but forgaye the brother, in pity for
his shame and woe. Then, as her eye fell on
some housewifely preparation for the morn
ing made the night before she burst into
tears. .r s....... ......
" We shall. neither of us keep Thanksgiv,
giving again." she said: and John Malcomb
answered.: ...- -.. ..... ...
There can never be Thanksgiving for me
again on earth" ........ ......
Those were weary months which followed,
while the injured knowing that the eastward
house was empty, felt that John Malcomb
wandered over the earth searching for that
sinful pair, and, though to forgive such a
wrong was beyond woman's power, she
prayed that he who had abandoned her
might never meet that stern avenger Of his
slsters's sullied homer. ....
PerhaFa her prayers were answered. In
a year John Malcomb came back to the east
ward house. having found no trace Of those
he searched for He came back On Thanks
giving eve, but in neither house was tnat
festival kept save by tears and signs, and the
children at Martha Marle's knee wondered
why she was SO sad that day, and why no
turkey roasted before the fire and no golden
pies were drawn from the long oven.
BY and by the,lonely old man in the east
ward house found comfort in seeking the
presence of the lonely woman in the west
ward house. And she welcomed him, for
getting that he was his sisters brother in her
Christian meaknesss. John MaIcomb grew
at last to be the best beloved plavmate
OF the children, he teaching the boys TO swim
and the girls to ride, and doing many noble
act Tor their fair mother-dggng the garden.
planting the corn and Vegetables, pinckinc
the fruit, Tescuing the brindle COW from the
pound, and bringing her books and papers
from the city. For he went thither often
always with one purpose at his heart. aud bv
neither OF them was Thanksgiving Day ever
kept And as five years ghded by, and there
were no tdings of those whose act had for.
bldden thanksgiving to two human hearts
FIVE years On the sixth, three nights be-
lore the anniversary came around again. John
Macomb awoke from strange dream, which !
seemed, as he recalled it, like vision His
sister. her fair face and ebony hair dahblad |
with bIo1d, hap stood at his bedside and call
ee to hIm for aid, and he had arisen and IL. |
lowed her. She moved before him. and the
scene changed 10 to the busy streets of New
ork, and he was conscious that no eyes saw
the shadowy form save mis- own. When
before the gray walls of Trinity Chnrch, she
pointed toward it, and at the lifting of her
Iinger John Malcomb's eve peered through
the chu rch, and saw behind il den of filth
and Wretchedness, crazy dwelling, seeming
ly to weak to sustain the load of human
misery which 6welt within It's walls. He
nad never seeu the place before with his
waking eyes, but he marked it wei, in his
sleep, and said, IN answer to movement of
he spirits arm, II will come"
lie awoke uttering these words, to find the
gray dawn streaming into his room. -a
That morning John Malcomb came to New
fork. He told no one of his vision, not even
Martha Marie, but went with belief in it
which puzzled him. ..--
'l'm growing childish that put faith in
signs and omens," he said. .....
Yet, nevertheless, he went-ay, not to
New York only, but to old Trinity, and be.
lind it. ..
There rose rowiof wretched buildings and
me of them John Malcomb recognized. 1t
vas the house he had dreamed Of the night
before. There was a ragamufffn crowd at the
ioor, staring at some thing within. John
Nalcomb went closer .-.. -. 49, .....s.t
what has happened 2" he asked. Ira
"Only a murder % said one of the assem-
'lage. -.f...s ..-.. .-.y...
IA murder 2 .- -.r.... b.. .-.h
Eyes, A man murdered his woman here
asst night" ...s ....-.....r.v 4ar s.~.
John Malcomb staggered as though blow
oil