The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-12-02
The Broken Home.
Truth stranger than Fiction

Bay, stands palatial residence.
The interior of this house is ever
more beautiful than its exterior, every
apartment being in its way a gem o.
magnifcence and refinement.
The library especially realizes the
most perfect ideal Of an elegant and
cultured home.
And yet, the moment we look in
upon him, one August afternoon, as
he occupied his library-the prOprie-
tor of all this wealth appeared of all
men the most miserable.
He was Mr.. Morton Preble, for many
years a leading banker of San Fran.
cisco.
1t was in vain that the broad bay
window at the south end of the room
had been opened, giving ingress to the
sunshine and the fragrance of rare flow
ers-in vain that the walls were lined
with richly carved bookcases and
paintings-in vain the soft eOuches
and luxurious chairs had been gath
cred around him.
He was Wretched.
He lay on a sofa, in the depth Of the
great bay-window, the wreck of once
powerful man. His figure was thin
and gaunt his face white as marble ;
his eyes having an expression Of wOful
apprehension, of narrowing anxiety,
of dreadful expectancy.
1t was evident at a glance that no
merely physical ailment had made
him what he was.
By what whitening secret, by what
destroying afliction, had he been thus
agOnized? thus haunted ? thus hunt,
ed? Z? he so nuhle and good he so
wealthy and distinguished!
AS he moved restlessly upon his
luxurious cushions the pretty clock on
the mantel-pieee struck five, every
stroke seeming to fall like a hammer
upon the heart of the nervous invalid.
He aroused himself, struggling to a
sitting posture.
"Oh, will this fatal day never, never
pass?" he murmured; nor bring re-
lief?"
Noticing with a nervous start that
he was alone, he touched bell upon
table before him, and called;
"HeIen, Helen where are you ?"
Before the echoes of his voice had
died out a step was heard, and his
wife entered his presence.
81 left you only for a moment
Morton" she said, advancing to the
bankers side. "You were doing,
think. I wished to send for the doc.
tori"
6l'e- wac q beautiful woman, efsUm1
six and thirty years, graceful, with
broad white brOws, and loving eyes
in which the brightness and sweet.
ness of sunshiny nature were still
perceptible, under a grief and anxiety
no less poignant than that evinced by
her husband.
"The doctorP' he echoed, half-re
proachfully.
eyes, DEAR" she said, in a calm and
cheerful voice, as she drew a chair tC
the side of the sofa, and sat down
strOking the corrugated forehead o
the invalid with a magnetic touch
"He will be here Immediately. YUul
last nervous crisis alarmed me. You
may become seriously illT
Mr.. Preble bestowed an affectionatt
look upon his wife, but said despon
dently:
"The doctor! He cannot sministe
TO mind diseased ? Oh, if thes
long hours would only passl If
only knew what the day has in stor
for US -
"LoOk up, Morton p enioined Mrs
PreOIe, with a reverently trustfu
glance upward through the open win
dow at the blue sky, and as if looking
beyond the azure clouds therein
"Let US appeal from the injustice an,
wickedne5s of earth to the goodnes
and mercy of Heaven ~
The banker gave low ,sObbing sigh
81 cannot look up, Helen" he an
swered, with a passionate tremor i
his voice-''only down, down at tn
grave that is opening before mel
Mrs. PrebIe continued to stroke hi
4 forehead, softly, while she lifted he
pale face to the sunlight streaming in
to the apartment.
"LOok up, MOrton-always loo
up!" she again enjoined upon the in
valid. "During all these fourtee
years Of agony, I have not once doubt
ed either the goodness or the justice {
Heaven. BLESSED are they that mourn
for they shall be cOmforted.' 1 believ
that we shall yet rejoice more keenl
than we have mOurned, and that W
shall come to a glorious day of joy be
yond all this long night of sorrow %
The face of the invalid lighted u
with an answering glow, and he mul
INJURED
"GIorious faith Ny wife, you al
indeed a blessed comforter Perhap
after all, you are right!"
A knock resounded on a side-doC
at this juncture, and the next momer
DIR. Hutton, the family physician, fc
whomzMrs. Preble had sent, entere
the room.
He was an old man, of portly figure
with white hair and beard, but with
fresh and ruddy complexion, a pair {
shrewd blue eyes, and with an ext
berant boyishness of manner that St
well upon him. He had kind heal
and clear head. He approached til
sofa, after greeting the husband an
wife, and lifted the thin, restless han
of the invalid, feeling his pulse.
"Quite high fever" he said, aft
a brief pause. "Worrying again, ell
4 Mr.. Preble? You are wearing you
self out. Medicine will do you I
good so long as your mind is in i
f present condition. 1 must give you 6
t opiate-"
"Not now, DOCTOR" interposed IL
banker. 81 cannOt-must nOt-slet
to-day! 1 need to be broad avail
now. for 1 cannot tell at any mOmel
! what the next may bring forth. / a
2 Hooking for the elimination of all n
( years Of anguish-fOr the CrOwning a
q ony of the whole. Perhaps even no
: -l-Ah, what was that?"
He started up wildly, and then,