Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-03-06
CLEARFIELD PA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH g. 1867

Ardenham, coming to her side moment
atterward; but l cannot find the fan any
where. !! will take second look for it to-
morrow.
lit is of no consequence, said Grace,
in low. strange voice PLEASE take me
home, Mr.. Ardenham"
And Frank Ardenham obeyed, marveling
much at the sudden change that had come
over his beautiful companions spirits.
Her adieux in the parlor were brief enough
ere she hurried up stairs, with her feverish
blood beating like pulses of fire in her veins.
She sat down, sick and trembling, under
the white glare of the gaslight, and tried to
realize the full horror of her situation
Adrian Morley, her husband, was a drunk
ard and gambler! Was it all dream or
was it indeed true that she had uaked to
this horrible reality OF grief and shame and
yet live on?
As she bowed her head on her hand with
low shlverlng groan, a new phantom of re-
morseful agony rose solemnly up before the
accusing judgment seat of Eer open con-
science.
1t has been my fault-all my own fault,
she walled aloud. IF l had not torn him
from the home to which he was SO tenderly
attached-it [ had not kept him here to
CRAFTY my own individual vanity, this would
never have been. o, Gedl the punishment
is greater than can BEAR
And she remembered with sick heart
the arguments she had used to win him
away from home-the eagerness with which
she had resumed all the responsibility of the
chaBge-the very words she had spoken in
her reckless folly.
L teld him that was miserable at home,
she thought. Miserable if l h;.d known
the meaning of the word. But tomorrow
will beg aita on eay bended knees to re-
turn once more--I will tell him how foolish
have been-how mad. And perhaps--per-
haps we may be happy In our quiet home
once more. Oh if had never left it. y
One, two. three -
As the little clock sharply spoke out the
hour, Grace Morley started to her feet.
What t.etains him so? What can keep
him away from me? | will go myself and
look for him.
She drew the white opera cloak round her
shoulders, and hurried with trembling limbs
towards the door, !.
But while her touch was on the handle, Il
swung rudely open, and group of meii
less in their midst. .-. ..~.ss-.,,.- .e.tss.
And Grace Morley, while all the blood in
her veins seemed frozen into ice, knew that
she was looking into her dead husbands
face
Take care of the lady-she's tainted"
said rude voice. Doctor you better see
to her.
But she had not tainted. White, speech
less, powerless as she was, the blessed relief
of insen>ibility had been denied the bereav-
ed wife she saw and heard with agonizing
distinctness, all that passed around her.
HIS wife !" said the young surgeon, pity
ingly. Il did not know that he was mar.
ried man. She should have been prepared
for this Poor creature-poor crushed crea-
ture! Lay down the dead man, Somers,
and come here He is past help now. Call
in the women and take away that mob OF
staring men"
As the pungent breath of some powerful
restorative crossed her senses, Grace tainted
in the young surgeon 8 supporting arms
life and consciousness could not uphold their
domain against the great billows of agony
that wore sweeping across her soul.
When she came to her senses the first OBJ
ject on which her eyes rested was the kind
face of the young doctor. With conyul-
sive effort she streve to start from her couch.
Gently geatss" said the young. man.
" Lie still little aeager.; you are hardly
strong enough to rise yet.
Tell mel" she gaspea with colorless lips,
"tell me all
''Not yety you will be stronger presently"
II know it all she moaned. He's
dead, but thow?"
The surgeon saw that ccReealment would
be in vain; he bent over her sefa with
pitying gentleness.
Your husband had lost everything he
possessed at the gambling table, and in tit
of despair, partially aggravated by the intiu-
ence of liquor, shot himself through the
tempies. Your friends have been telegraph
ed for, and will soon arrive. In the mean
time, perfect quiet is what you most need
it may avert the symptoms OF brain fever
that are impending"
Contrary to the doctor expectations, she
neither screamed nor wept, but lay silent and
voiceless as statue.
''She takes it easily" thought he All,
could he have seen into the depth of her
broken, crushed heart.
A few days afterwards she returned to
the home she had been so eager to abandon,
only to mourn with the bitterest remorse that
one fatal mistake which had darkened her
whole existence with its baneful shadow.
STATE OF THINGS IN GEoRGIA.-An Au,
gusta letter says: Enterprise is as dead as II
the country was desert. There is little
sickly, pulling trade in the necessaries OF
T. IL l. Al