The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-04-22
TFrom the Hearth. and Home.
IN THE ICE.
BY. T. RIDGE.
CONCLUDED.
VIII.
BY j. r. TRow
UNCLE J1M's EVENING CALL.

UNCLE JIMs EVENING CALL.
AGAIN that Sunday evening, old man
Dracutt and his wife sat together by their
lonely kitchen fire, but with no Clinton
now to come i'll and break the awful Sill
ence and monotony of their lives me
lamps had not been lighted only the
moonlight crept upon the floor, and the
still whiteness of the winters night filled
the room with its paIlid reflection.
The old man sat in bis chair erect, but
looking more crooked together In the
neck and Jaws than ever, while his wife
appeared bent by an added load OF trouble
There was utter silence, except that now
and then soft, low sob was heard; the
old lady was thinking of that night two
weeks ago, and weeping. Then, ever and
anon, from without came deep, mutt1ed,
reverberating roar, or groan, as II nature
herself sympathized with their woe. II
it had been summer, you would have said
it Numbered. But it was the pond COM
plainlng-the thickribbed ice shuddering
and moaning under the cold, stormy night.
Every sudden, prolonged peal reached the
ears of the lonely old couple in the be-
reaved house, reminding them of their
loss
They had not spoken to each other yet
nor had there been much need that they
should spcak-so well had they learned
in all those years to understand each other
without words But they had shown in
many ways that they felt more kindly to-
ward each other since this great affection
came upon them. And now, old lady
Dracutt, sitting there, weeping, IN the
gloom, longed to speak once more to her
husband and to hear his voice.
She was ready to say, Forgive me JON
athan," but was afraid to utter the words.
How strangely they would sound, break
ing the unnatural silence that had kept
them dumb to each other for twelve years !
Again and again she tried to speak, but
could not bring her tongue to shape the
syllables it seemed paraly zed; she be-
gan to feel strange, benumbing fear that
she would never have power to break that
silence-that it had been taken from her
as punishment for her long sin of will
fulness and hardheartedness toward him.
While she was thus struggling ineffect
ually with herself suddenly another voice
broke the spell which she could MOTTO
her terror and Joy her husbands voice.
II have been thinking Jane" said he,
and stopped.
20 Jonathan you have spokenP she
cried out, with wild Sob "God bless
you, God bless you, Jonathan !"
"Jane, thought l had better speak,
said the old man in trembling voice. Il
have been wantin' to for many days. l
think | have been wrong, Jane" p
Don't say it, don't say it, Jonathan,
said the old lady, sinking to the floor, and
throwing her clasped hands across his
knees, 81 should have asked your forgive
ness. have tried to. [ was trying tC
now, when you spoke. Jonathan, iona
than p
God Forgive US think we have both
been wrong, but have been most In thu
wrong" said the old man Then a Ions
silence followed broken by sighs aud sob
and the moaning peals of the pond
1--WE been thinkin," the old man re
sumed she was at last seated by his sid
once more, and her hand was in his-"tha
| can't somehow bear to have Clinton
memory passed over in this way. thin
we ought to have funeral services for hir
even without"
1 GSi Sdiu SHE, = L nave 1CAe oO1 WIZ
will be some satisfaction. ! said as niue
to Cousin James" srg hasa
He told me you did. He told me, to-
what YOU said about my blaming n1yse
SO much on account Of the boy And
touched me, it touched me; didn't d
sarve that you should feel and speak
p 2 kindly ~ A1
III -''Bgt Jonathan replied Jane, wipir
& her eyes, you said nothing to him tn
night that it wasn't your duty to say
teit that thought hated to have HIM hurt
q don't know, l don't know. Ii | ha
been different, he might have been ol
1erent. No wonder he was cross som
% times. It's the hardest thing for me
."- reconcile myself to---the fact that my Ia
W9ra to him was unkind. He wo1ldI
Save gone-on on the pond so next NOR
.,a n without speakin' to us, if it hadl
been Tor that. thought it was, my du
80 reprlmand him, and maybe it was. 3
my 1fst duty was to set him an examI
CT cheetuiness and good temper WI
could we expect Of him as long as we, t
were at,enmity Aud the old man e1
Ell with groan, 4
WhQe they were talking, there came
- rap d. the door, The old man said aWi
Ia while the old lady made haste to Ii!
-. % lamp ..s a...-5s. S.
~ Sls'S nobody but me don't light up