The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-17

" Otnd 70 the children said the mothers
and there the matter ended, for the most
skilliul queStioner could extract nothing
from ner about her past life, and her quiet.
retiring disposition put at defiance any
floating, vague rumors. So the good neigh
bors bad to content themselves with her
present life, which was certainly very blame
less, indeed.
The low-roofed, humble schoolhoase
where she taught was very pleasant to her
Dear little children With rosy cheeks and
ne ~ voices were grouped around her, some
good aud doclle, others willful and wild all
healthy, happy country children that il
won'd do your heart good % See Every
mori iag they brought their bright punches
oi Il werS.
Jane could have counted the months bet
ter by these than BY anything that had hap
pent i. Indeed, YOU would have believed.
had YOU seen what quiet face she had,
that all life must be just monotone to her,
and nothing more. Her pale cheeks held 20
varying blush, al ! her eyes were as still
and col as the little spring under the hem
lock, whose spreading branches shaded the
schoolhonse her hands were slim and
white the blue VEINS there aud in her tem-
pies beat with an even motion; aud all about
Ter seemed at rest. Bot Il was the calm az
ter the storm Jane had not re- cbed 10 tbr-
T. years wlthou trial and grief But she
as very siroug-stronger through sorrow,
she thought-aud so she bad taken her sad
memories, and with the dream she Dad dream
ga, sht burned them Ia one grave; and the
earth was piled high and the sod chung close,
and no one should know the grave Of her
past years, nor what lay buried there.
Every morning she opened the school
room door W.lh pleasure, and closed il in
tne evening With regret. Through the day /,
little faces, and childish voices, and bright
flowers, made tue room a very happy place,
and soc had grown 10 love IL aud he little
children with the warm love Of lonely
heart.
Z am very bappy," she said to herself,
a- She fastened the door and walked down
che slippery path under the pines az the
close oi bright, sunny day. 4 am very
happy
And she lifted 10 her hand the bcquet she
carried, and laid her face upon The beautiful
flowers. They werg just lt,le faded With
the beat Of the day, she noticed, and when
she reached the spring she stopped 70 sprink-
le them with the cold water. Il was 50 re
freshiBg in It's delicious goodness after the
warm day she had just passed, Sat she sat
down on The bank, and baring her arms,
plunged them 10 above the elbow again aud
again and laughed at the splashes on her
face ara dress. Her childhood came back
q Der az she sat there, before any shade
bad cruie 10 DIM The brightness Of her life
when she was a merry, geeul girl, with no
thu ulht or care beyo"d the passing day
when be ed N the brook by the mill IN
The hot summer days, and played with the
fishes ii ne still, shady pools when she
Sid yer The frczn surface in the cold win
ter, and locked with admiring el rs at the
amazing exploits Of Tom and Ned, sho whirl-
ca ith,r ard thther on heir sharp skates,
cutting queer, fantasies figures 10 tie clear
iCe, writing their names ID beautiful letters
That really were very wouderlul and extreme
II ficult to read, aud here, now there,
s, Wetimes up and sometimes dCwl, Away
% cry, Away kind, Il ways gentle with the
little sister no was their inseparable CON-
PanCn ana ally.
That was twenty years ago Could she
believe ity Locking there in the ripping
minor surface Of the spring, she saw her
lace, not giTlsh in It's look, perhaps, but
very peaceful and happy and she said, "
am not old. Heaven can and Goes give me
back my lost youth. ] hsye not lived IN
vain, neither labored in vain, and | shall 70
home IN peace by-and BY"
She thought that she had forgotten the
OLD life was as though It had never been, but
lust as she rose ron IL bank she saw IN
The patti before her som hing that brought
ID all back again. The great sorrow that
tad once swept its waves over her, and left
Der a witheTed weed upon the sands, TOW
came 20 her again. A form that she bad
prayed she might never see more, stood be-
fore her. She looked eagerly up and down
the road, bat It was entirely deserted there
was no help she must brave what was com
ing
And what was it so terrible that She Gov
cred and shrauk sway from! A man that
she had been proud TO know once, face
that had grown very dear TO her alterward,
lie was very httle changed. The Ten years
sirce She bad seen bin had not added
single Wrinkle TO Big manly face the II, nth
was iittle more firm, perhaps, and the eyes
seemed TO be more deeply SET but the whole
face vas much the same. Jane looked at
him once, and then sank on the ground,
meaning feeby and wringing her hands.
He saw Der anguish and ptied her, and
Said gently, Jane sou know me ~
She could ~. answer, but be continued
g have looked for you everywhere since
you left ne, all these long years with heart
ache and hunger, 20 weary SO wretehed,
meeting with disappointment always. !
want my wife, my own little wife Hear
nae, Jane What night Lad you TO leave m,!
Did you not promise til death do us part
All, ! remember how you whispered, For
ever. Godfrey Did you not promise this p
aud his voice fell in lower tones as he saw
ho~ every word nurt Der. DID on rtmem-
Der this when yol left me without wOrd
J know YOU loved me. And your baby,
Jane, was there DO trial IN having It You
knew what nv life was you kl w that my
love for you would have been Sufficient "
keep me from evil way 5. You knew how
! loved you, ara yet you lett me ! Ten
long years have borne this terrible grief
and now zee your dear face once more, |
eapbot let yen 60. | must know all"
She lifted Der head, as though she wonlo
have answered, but her heart ached with
dull pain, and her liIs were stiff and cold
She mcane1 family now and then, ano
etbly clssped and uncspstd her hands.
lie lost his own sense Of sorrow, seeing her
70 weak and piiiful, and, coming nearer,
took her hands in bis and gently kissed
ihtm. The means CEASED, her bead fell
backward, and she tell in a faint lender
y he bsth,d btr forehead with the ecld wa
Ier, calling her by all the endesFing names |
rat LAD been hers IN the past, and covering
.te pale, sJu face with tender KISSES.
Soon be- eyes opel &c, and she said faint
y:
i Godfrey, forgive me-ycu 4oh't know
lTgive me-
:" Anything everything only come ba X /
D me, want yon. Come back to me, nv /
iarl.ngF You need never tell me ; We viii |
orget everything, and be happy once more
ogethei J jane dear janet 1 cannot live /
Sinbe Ut you'll"
She seemed to gather strength fr9m the
1Ting wc'ds, and. rising slowly she moved
sw spaces from hin, leaning against
ee.