The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-24
The Broken Home.
'TR Uru BTRANGRR 7uAN fIorioN

"TR UTII S1RANGRIe THAN FICTION.
In San Francisco, on the north sidI
Of Folsom street, overlooking Mlsslor
Bay, stHnda palatlal residence.
Tho Interior OF this house IL ever
more beautiful than lis exterior, every
apartment being In its way gem o.
mRgnitCence and refinement.
The library especially realizes The
most perfect Ideal Of an elegant aud
cultured home.
And yet, at the moment we look In
upon hlm-one August afternoon, M
no occupied his librHry-the proprietor
Of all this wealth appeared OF all men
The most miserable.
lie was Mr.. Morton Preble, for many
years u leading banker OF San Fran.
cisco.
It was In vain that the broad buv.
window at the south end Of tho room
had been opened, giving ingress 10 the
sunshine and the fragrance Of rare
tlowers-in vain that the walls were
lined with richly carved book oasos
and paintinRs-ln vain that soft cOuches
and luxurious chairs had been gather.
cd around him.
lie was wretched.
He lay on sofa, 10 tho depths OF the
great bay>wlndow, the wreck OF once
power ful man. His figure was thin
and gaunt; his face white ~ marble;
his eyes having an expression OF worul
apprehension, OF narrowing anxiety,
OF dreadful expectancy.
1t was evident al glance that no
merely physical ailment had made hi m
what he was.
BY what whitening sVcreE, by what
destroying ailliCtiOn, had hs been Thus
aRonlzed thus haunted2 thus hunted
he so noble and good he go wealthy
und distinguished
} AS he moved restlessly upon bis
luxurious cushions the pretty clock on
the manlel-p piece struck five, every
stroke seeming to fall like hammer
upon tho heart OF the nervous INVALID,
Hearoused himself, struggling ieebIy
TO sitting posture.
'Oh, will this fatal day never, never
pass ? he murmured; NOR bring US re-
llef?' ..
Noticing with nervous start that he
was alone, he touched bell upon a ta-
BILE before him, aud called:
Helen, Helenl where are you p
Before the echoes Of his voice had
died out q step was heard, and his wife
entered his presence.
Il left you only for moment, Nor.
TOM she said, advancing 10 the bank
er's side. You were doing, I think, 1
wished to send for the DOCTOR
Sha tN,nu haauIHf, xNHnn1a.. -
ak and thirty years, graceful, with
broad white brOws, and loving eyes, In
which the brightness and sweetness Of
a sunshiny nature were still porcepti.
BILE, under grief aud anxiety no
less poignant than that evlnced by her
husband. ..g
The doolot!' he echoed, half rcproach.
fully.
Yes. DEAR she said In calm aud
cheerful voice, HI abe drew d chair 10
tho sld0 OF the sofa, and sRt down,
strOklng the corrugated forehead OF the
Invalid with a magnetic tonoh. 'He
will be here immediately. Your last
nervous crisis alarmed ME. You may
become seriously illp
Mr.. Preble bestowed an affectlonnte
look upon his wife, but said despond-
lngiy:
"rhe doctor He cannot minister 10
a mind dlseasedp Oh, II these long
hours would only pass II 1 only
knew what the day has yet In store for
uAp
Look up, Mortonr enjolned Mrs,
Preble, with reverently truatfui
glance upward through the open win.
dow at the blue sky, and NJ II looki ng
beyond the azure Olonds therein. Let
W. appeal from tho injustice and wick
edness OF earth In thu goodness and
mercy OF HeaVen!'
The banker gave - low, Auhhing Sigh.
IeailM0t look w, lIrl"n. h" answer
ed, with II passionate tremOr In his
voice-'0nly down, down NJ tue grave
that 10 opening before me- ts
Mrs. Preble continued TO stroke his
forehead softly, while she lifted her
pale face To the sunlight streaming into
the apartment.
Look up, MOrlon-alWRyA look upI
she again enjolned upon the invalid
Daring all these fourteen years Of ago,
ny, ] have notonce doubted either the
goodness or the Justice Of Heaven,
Blessed are they that mourn; for they
shall be comforted.' l believe that we
shall yet rejoice more kRenly than We
have mourned, and that we shall come
TO glorious day Of Joy beyond all this
long nightaf sorroH'
The face OF the invalid lighted ur
with an answering glow and he muir.
INJURED:
GLORIOUS faithI My wife, you are In.
deed blessed ComfoTteIl Perhaps, az.
Ter all, you are right DO
Aknock resounded on a RIdc door al
this juncture, and the ext moment DR.
Hutton, the family physician, for whom
Mrs. PEBBLE had sent, entered the room
BIO was an old mau, portly inltigure
With white hair and beard, but'w q
fresh and rudely complexion, pair Of
Shrewd blue eyes, and with an exuher,
ant boylshneSs OF manner that sat we'll
upon him. He had q kind heart and q
clear head. He approached the sofa,
after greeting the husband and wife
and lifted the thin restless hand OF the
Invalid, feeling his pulse. ~,
Quite q high fever he said, after a
brief pause. worrying again, oh, Mr..
Preblef Yon are wearing yourself out
Medicine will do you no good 30 long
as your mind 10 In It's present condi.
ton. must give you an opiats-'
Not now, doctor, lnterposed the
banker. i cAnn0t--must not-sleeE
today ! need to be broad awake now
for l cannottell at any moment what
the next may bring forth. / am look
Ing for the elimination OF all my year,
OF anguish-for the browning agony o
the whole. Perhaps even now All,
what was thatf'' IL .a.rag
He started up wildly, and then, as thI
sound that had disturbed him was moi
repeated, he sank back again on hil
cushions, pallid and painting.
The doctor looked at Mrs. PEBBLE Will
an anxions, questioning glance.
N is the Anniversary she replied Il
his unspoken inquiry-'the annIYersa'
ny OF our loss.'
'Ah, yea said the doctor. remem
ber.' u
Yes, It's anothe. Of those terrible
days., cried the banker, In hollow
whisper. sit down, doctor, and / viii
tell yon the whole story. can think
OF nothing else to-day, and am almos
Wild with apprehension and anxiety
DIR. Hutton drew up chair and seat
cd himself hls face expressing tn
double solioitude OF q friend and phySI
clan, ..
'You knew us fourteen years ago
dOotor.' said Mr.. Preble. we livet
then where we do now, In cottage or