The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-01-16

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Floy, Eddie, it's time for little folks to SO
to ped" The youngest child came ODE
dientiy, and the mau Standing outside
saw this other man catch her out of the
mothers arms and swing her high above
his head, while the little one laughed and
shouted 10 glee. and Christie said plead
ingly, Please don't, husband, it makes
me afraid TO see you throw her up So"
Husband
The mystery wa. growing clear now.
The moonlight fell on a white cCnvulsed
face, and the angels seeing it, must have
pitied the man. There vas more other to
pityj no kindly human voice, only the
remembrance ofthe conductors face which
stayed by him somehow, aud the words
that curiously enough recurred to his
mind now, "God give you happy home
coming" He uttered no syllable of re-
proach, only the words that we're almost
cry, "Oh, Christie Christie p
Even at this moment Of bewildermeut
and torture the wronged husband saw
clearly how the wrong had been done. lie
had teen reported dead, and Christie, a
timid woman always, had married again.
She had been married many mouths
his eyes told him that-and he could not
bring shame and disgrace on her. Another
train would pass in two hours. Fl would
take it and 20 lar away, back to the army
perhaps, anywhere, it did not matter, ,aod
she should never know but that he was
really dead 1t would be best so.
Oh, Chris,ie if you had only known
whose eyes looked upon you that night !!
Whose unSelfsh heart was planning for
you, placing yonr future peace and well
being before his owD craving hunger for
home happiness and children's love.
When Mark Ry der glanced again towards
the window, the strange man had moved
aside out Of his range Of vision, and be
saw only Christie sitting there with her
child in her lap, while Eddie leaned on
the arm Of the chair Home, and wife,
and childreu-alI that he had hoped and
prayed for through three years Of absence
aud eighteen mouths of captivity before
hls eyes, within his reach at last. think
none but God knew what was in that mans
soul theu when he gave them all up and
elected to become wanderer. One long
look at the dear faces he should never
see again this side of heaven-then he
turned resolutely away.
He had his hand ou the fence to get
over when dog came out of a kennel near
by, growing savngely. "Bruno's good
fellow" Hearing his name calledin that
voce,the dog knew his masterand sprang
up with quick, glad whine, licking the
hand that caressed his shaggy head and
the face that bent down close for an instant
as the man knelt On one knee upon the
frozen ground, his arms about the dogs
neck.
"You will see them all tomorrow, old
fellow-Christie, and Eddie, and baby
F!oy-but [ shall never see them again
uptil meet them up yonder. They II
never know that have been here tonight
and you can't tell them, can you You
keep my secrct,aud when all the rest have
forgotten, my dog will remember No,
you must not follow Back, | say aud
goodbye"
lie did not look back once as he wen.
kept sraigh on across the fields towards
the station, In the same path he had come
over less than an hour before. The wind
was in his face now, that bitter, piercing
wind which sceiVed to pertrate he blue
oyercoat so easily, chilling him through
and through Ho shivered at first aud
shrank as it swept over him, but after a
while he did not feel it so mucn,
It must be getting late, he thought; ne
was getting very slecpy-walkiug slower
and slower, pausing once az The moprnful
howl of dog fell on his ears. Poor
Bruno. He's griesing for me. Nobody
eloc'lI erieve. Nobody else knows or
cares. It's strange-what makes me so
tired. | must-sit doSn-here-aud
rest. There's time-enough. .NO-need
--to--hurry. Chrstie--is asleep--by
--this-time--and L"
Leaning his elbows on his knees and
his face in his hands, he sat quietly Not
asleep, for he heard stiH the bowling Of
the dog, but it sounded to him miles and
miles away. His senses were getting
dulled his faculties benumbed
An hour passed--two--tben the shrek
of locomotive broke the stiffness, start
ling the echoes far and near. Bat Mark
Ryder did not move. Had he forgotten
that he meant to take this train? When
daylight came he was sitting there still.
Later in the morning Christie's husband
coming down through this very field paused
at the sight of man in uniform, sitting
there in that detected attitude. 4
"Are you sick, sir ? Can | help you in
any way?"
But the soldier did not look In or snnal,