The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-10-19
TOMMY TUCKER AND HIS
FIDDLE.
Con fnued. |

There, in the lighted home out upon
the flats, that had drifted by forever, she
sat waiting now. 1t was about time for
him to be in to supper; she was begin
ing to wonder little where be was; she
was keeping the tea hot, and telling the
children not to touch their fathers pick
les; she had set the table and drawn the
chairs; his pipe lay filled on the shelf
over the stove. The baby was fretting
the baby always fretted towards
night-and she was walking about with
him; walking very slowly and weakly;
singing now and then. Her face in the
light was worn and white, the dark
rings very dark. She was trying to
hush the boys, teasing for their supper;
begging them to wait few minutes,
only :, few minutes, he would surely be
here then. She would put the baby
down presently, and stand at the win
dow, with her hands-Annie's hands
were not once so thin-raised to shut
out the light-watching, watching.
The children would eat their supper;
the table would stand untouched, with
his chair in its place; still she would 60
to the window, and stand watching,
watching. 0, the long night that she
must stand watching, and the days, and
the years!
Home, sweet Home"
played Tommy.
By and by there was no more of "Sweet
Home"
"How about that cove with his head
Topped down on his arms 7" speculated
Tommy with business-like air.
He had only stirred once, then put
his face down again; but he was awake,
awake in every nerve, and listening, to
the very curve of his fingers. Tommy
knew that, it being part of his trade 10
learn how to use his eyes.
The sweet loyal passion of the music
it would take worse playing than Tom
wy's to drive the sweet, loyal passion out
of Annie Laurie-grew above the din OF
the train.
Twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true.
She used to sing that, thought the
mau-this other Annie of his own. Yet,
she had been his own, and he had loved
her once. How he had loved her! Yes.
she used to sing that when he went to
see her on Sunday nights before they
were married, in her pink, plump, pref
ty days, Annie used to be very pretty.
Gave me her promise true"
hummed the little fiddle.
"That's fact" said poor Annie's hus-
band, jerking the words out under his
hat, "and kept it, too, she did"
All! how Annie had kept it! The
whole dark picture of her married years
the days of work and pain, the nights
of watching; the patient voice, the quiv-
ering mouth, the tact aud planning,
and the trust for tomorrow; the love
that had borne all things, believed all
things; hoped all things, unoomplaining
rose into outline to tell him how she
had kept it.
Her face Is as the fairest
That e'er the sun shone on"
suggested the little fiddle.
That it should be darkened forever,
the sweet face and that he should do
it-he, sitting here, with his ticket
bought, bound for Colorado.
And ne'er forget will l."
murmured the little fiddle.
He would have knocked the man down
who had told him twenty years ago that
he ever should forget; that he should be
here tonight, with his ticket bought,
bound for Colorado.
But it was better for her to be free
from him. He and his cursed i'll luck
were drag on her and the children,
and would always be. What was that
she had said once 7-"Never mind, Jack,
l can bear anything as long as l have
you"
And here he was, with his ticket
bought, bound for Colorado.
He wondered if it we're ever too late
in the day for fellow to max 9 man
of himself.
And she's a the world to me,