Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-12-19


! road this morning.. saw him go by as if
his life depended upon. the haste he was
making and thinks to myself I'll just
Keep an eye on him, and see where he is
| going SO | followed Just rs fast as ! could
trot, and was just in time to see him spring
! on board the train. What he's going out Of
town for don't know but thinks to my
self again. Alice can tell me all about it ~
"Trobably he is looking for summer board
for the children" said Mrs. Lynde, coldly.
But she remembered with pang, that her
husband had said nothing to her about it.
"Charles,' she said when he came home
to dinner, "whcre were you going to out of
town to-day?'
"lIow did you know was out Of town 2"
lie asked a little sharply.
"Nliss Priscilla Forbes saw you start"
81 wish Miss Priscilla Forbes would bc
kind enough to mine her own business !"
Alice was silent a n,inutc---thcn she asked:
'Did you fad place for the children o.
mo" was the brief reply
Alice inquired no luriher-shc felt hurt
and rescntlul, and Charles paid no attention
to her silence. If he could have only wit
messed the passionate burst of tears she gave
way TO when she was alone by the couch Of
her sleeping ones
The farmhouse to which she and hcr chill
dren were to be bAnishcd for the summer
was not very inviting spot,--well shaded,
however, with q stream of running water
through the grounds, and plenty of fresh
milk anG vegetables. But Alice Iyndc felt
the lack Of cheerful and cOngCnial society,
and pinCd secretly, even while Frank, and
Carry, and little Lucy, were growing sun
burned, and rosy, and healthy.
! wish Charles could spend a little more
Of his time here = thought She And it was
scarcely 10 be wandered at that she recur.
red sometimes with thrill Of ycarning to
the old days when she was an hci,css under
the spreading linden trees OF Beech Grove
For Charles Lyndes sake she had given up
her beautiful home had dared her uncc's
threat one aIterward carried rclentlessy
into cilcct--oi disinhertancc had submit,
ted to oil The trials and evils which must
necessarily surround 4 poor mans wife
and now Charles left her alone to amuse
herself as best she might.
So while the children grew fat and rosy,
Alice grew thin and pale.
lie will come tonight " she thought, one
Saturday evening, rs she brushed her glossy
golden hair into the shining bands he liked,
and put on his favorite blue muslin dress,
with long Turquoise pin in the blue rib
bons that set of the transparent whiteness
of her throat. ooh, it seems an age since |
saw him last! ~
But instead of her husbands presence,
the up train from New York brought only
a note, hurried and brief:
"DEAR ALICE Il cannot come up to-
night business is too pressing. Lovc to
the children. {. L."
The note FELL from Alice's finsers-a sick
cning sensation came over her heart
And watched for him 80 anXiously. Oh
can it be possible that lie has ceased to love
me me, who gave up everything for his
sake =
On Monday letter from Dr. Catson was
brought to Mrs. Lyndc-a letter incosing q
letter nr her husband.
please give this to Mr.. LynGe," wrote the
doctor; IL was at his Office twice on Satur
day afternoon, trying to find him, but the
doors were closed, and the CLERK told me he
Had gone into the country. Tell him he's
lazy fellow to neglect business so, when his
business is making him rich So fast
Alice Lynde read the words three times
over before she fairly took in their whole
meaning.
'IIe has deceived me- she thought. 1T
was not the ccnEcnient plea of business that
kept him away from me Oh, Charles,
Charles and has it come to this 2
She sat down, still clasping the letter in
her unconscious hand, and gazea yacantly
out upon the sunny landscape that lay be-
fore her.
If it were not for tile chilircii-if it were
not for my little ones, | would so away and
never look upon his face any more lie
loves me no longcr-the affection so blind
ly deemed my own is transferred to some
other obicct-and why should | care what
hnnnmnS pI children
And as blue eyed Garry ran up to her to
ask some trining questions, Mrs. Lynde
drew the child closer to her heart and burst
into tears.
Mamma = exclaimed the astonished little
girl, why do you cry 2 Are YOU sick, man.
ma q
Sick! yes sobbed poor Alice, 4 am sick
of living. am sick at heart Child
And the plentiful shower OF tears helped
to relieve her overcharged heart.
Il will endure it for the sake of these little
ones; l will suffer on and try to be silent,
thought Alice, pressing both hands over her
aching bosom,
The next week Mr.. Lyndc was to come
! and bring his family home. Alice looked
forward to the day with a sick anticipation
"a shrinking expectation. She longed for
the hour of their meeting, and yet she
| uTeaCed IL.
! In this nervous state of excitement she
! came TO the door, leading little Lucy, as the
| carriage wheels grated over the stony coun'
try road, and stopped in front of the old
! fashioned portico.
Bnt Charles was not tlere-only the driver
who touched his hat with an awkward
attempt at politeness, as lie descended from
! the box.
IF YOU please, ma'am, Mr.. Lyndc could
not come-but he'll be there to meet you.
More neglect Alice answered not II word,
but the hands with which she tied the blue
ribbons Of Lucy's hat trembled sorcly, and
: her lip would quivcr, in spite of the reso-
lutte little white teeth that held it down
The little ones laughed and chatted, and
| played in the carriage as it rolled along,
exclaiming loudly at tie various objects on
! the road, but Alice leaned back in the cor
ner, pale and silent, seeing nothing but the
fantastic visions of hef own fevered mind
Once or twice the idea crossed her brain
that the journey was rather longer than she
had expected, but she did not reason at all
on the subject, relapsing at once into heI
painful reflections.
Mamma oh mamma! what q pretty
place p chorused the three children at once
There's a tall, white statue back of those
] g.. fo,ntoin oil cparl. lipor liz