The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-11-30
THE BROKEN HOME.
" TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION"


The interior of this house is even more
beautiful than its exterior, every apart
ment being in its way u gem of magniti /,
cence and refinement.
The library especially realizes the most
perfect ideal of an elegant and cultured
home.
And yet, at the moment we look in
upon him--one August afternoon, as he
occupied his library--the proprietor 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-win-
dow at the south end of the room had
been opened, giving ingress to the sunshine
and the fragrance ofrare howers--in vain
that the walls were lined with richly
carved bookcases and paintings-in vain
that soft touches and luxurious chairs
had been gathered around him.
He was wretched.
He lay on sofa, in the depths OF the
great bay window, the wreck OF a once
powerful man. His figure was thin and
gaunt his face white as marble his eyes
having an expression Of woful apprehen-
sion, of narrowing anxiety, of dreadful ex.
pectancy.
1t was evident at glance that no
merely physical ailment had made him
what he was.
BY what whitening secret, by what de-
Stroying affection, had he been thus ago
nized thus haunted ? he so noble and
good he so wealthy and distinguished
As he moyed restless upon his luxur-
ious cushions the pretty clock on the
mantel-piece struck five, every stroke
seeming to fall like hammer upon the
heart Of the nervous invalid. He aroused
himself, struggling feebly to sitting pos
ture.
ooh, will this fatal day never, never
pass ?" he murmured; "nor bring us
relief?"
Noticing with a. nervous start that he
was alone, he touched bell upon table
before him, and called:
Helen, Helen where are you p
Before the echoes of his voice had died
out step was heard, and his wife enter.
ed his presence.
81 left you only for a moment, Nor.
ton," she said, advancing to the banker,
side. "You were doing, I think.
wished to send for the Doctor
She was a beautiful woman, Of som,
six and thirty years, graceful, with broaC
white brows, and loving eyes, in which
the brightness and sweetness Of sun
shiny nature were still perceptible, I'M
der a grief and anxiety no less poignan
than that evinced by her husband.
The doctor :" he echoed half reproach
fully.
" Yes dear" she said, in calm am
cheerful voice, as she drew a chair to tn
side of the sofa, and sat down, strokin
the corrugated forehead of the invali
with a magnetic touch. " He will b
here Immediately. Your last nervou
crisis alarmed me. You may become st
riously i'll ~
Mr.. Preble bestowed an affectionat
look upon his wife but said despondentl,
The doctor He cannot minstc
to mind diseased Oh if these Ion
hours would only pass if | only kne
what the day has yet in store for us -
Look up, Norton enjoined Mr.
Preble, with reverently trustful glanC
upward through the open window at II
blue sky, and as if looking beyond til
azure clouds therein. Let us appe
from the injustice and wickedness
earth to the goodness and mercy
Heaven -
The banker gave low, >obbing sigl
- cannot look up, Helen" he answe
ed, with passionate tremor in his volt
-" only down, down at the grave that
opening before me ~
Mrs. Preblc continued to stroke h
forehead softly while she lifted her pa
face to the sunlight streaming into Il
apartment.
a." Look up, Morton-.always look up
she again enjoined upon the invali
During all these fourteen years
agony, have not once doubted either Il
goodness or the injustice Of IIeave
Blessed are they that mourn f
they shall be comfored. | believe tn
we shall yet rejoice more keenly than '
have mourned, and that we shall come
glorious day of JOY beyond all this'lor
night Of sorrow -
The face Of the invalid lighted |
with an answering glow, and he murmu
ed:
Glorious faith My wife. you, a
indeed q blessed comforter Perhaps. 4
ter all, you are right
A knock resounded on a side-door
this juncture, and the next moment u
Hutton, the family physician, for who
Mrs: Preble had sent, entered the rool
He was an old man, portly in fgln
with white hair and beard, but with
fresh and ruddy complexion, pair
shrewd blue eyes, and with an exubera
bOyishness Of manner that sat well up,
him. He approached the sofa, after greet
the husband aud wife. and lifted the til
restless hand of the invalid feeling
pulse.
Quite high fever" he said after
brief pause. Worrying again, Ell, \
Preble? You are wearing yourself O
Medicine will do you no good as long
your mind is in its present conditi'
| must give you an opiate-'
Not now, doctor. interpoScd t
banker. II cannOt-must not-slecp
day need to be broad awake now j.,
cannot tell at any moment what I
next may bring forth. | am looking
the elimination of all my years of
guish-for the browning agony Of {
whole. Perhaps even now-Ah, wi
was that ?"
He started up wildly, and then, as
sound that had disturbed him was not