Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-03-10

Dut 1OHl RcEtu- pG IOliiS " uIldei' :
The thought brought me to my feet. |
went and superintendent the preparation
of Just such dinner as he liked. The
plum pndding was done to perfection-
the haby,in clean frock, and myself, all
smiles, to receive him when the clock
struck one. But he didn't come at the
Eusual time agTaals3 .aoH3at
/ / put by the untaste1 dinner and pre-
pared tea, and lit bright FIRE in the par
lor He should have pleasant welcome.
But he did not come. Eight, nine, ten.
O'Clock, and Put by the untasted sup
per, to watch and wait, a, s..- 81. 4-.
How the little thornsin my heart pierre
ed and ranked! Tom had broken his
promise, and my unklndness was the
cause. Nothing else rang in my ears
through the long hours. qf..s. .--.s
About two o'clock I heard a noise be-
low and went to the window There was
man at the door. I could just see him
in the dim light, as he stood in listen
ing attitude ......r ID. 80 -
"Tom, is that you p | asked softly,
putting out my head
-, yes, open the door, Lucy,-quick-
The police are after me. ----.
My heart sank. The police after him?
What could he have done ran down
swiftly and unlocked the door. But as l
did SO, two men stepped up, and one of
them laid his hand on Toms shoulder,
and said, 81 arrest you, sir"
"For what?" / cried
"For murder p
The floor seemed sliding from beneath
my feet, but I caught at the door to steady
myself, and look at Tom At that IN,
stant the official uncovered his lantern;
and oh, heaven =! there was blood upon
my husbands hands.
All the rest is blank. When I came
to life again. I was in my own room IN
bed, and kind, compassionate faces were
around me. I asked for Tom He was
in prison, awaiting his trial. [ had been
dilirous whole week
I now learned all particulars There
had been quarrel at the tavern whittier
my cruel words had driven Tom; and
Tom had struck his antagonist The
man was not dead though they thought
he was at first, but he was badly hurt
about the head. But if he recovered
we'll, it would not go so hard with Tom
[ rose and went to the prison, but they
would not admit me, because it was not
day for visiting the prisoners.
Another day crept on-a highland
then morning. I went down TO the
door aud opened it, with the vague feel
ing of expectation which always accom-
panies severe afliction, and looked out.
The frost hung thickly and spark ing over
everything, eveL on the scrap of paper
that lay at my feet. stopped down and
picked it up idly, as we catch at straw
or twig. sometimes, without any motive
or power of vohtion. The superscript;on
caught my eyes ii was my own name
aud my husbands writing. [ tore it op-
en- and read
DEAR LUoY--I have broken out of
Jail, and am going-well no matter where
didn't strike Hastings with an inten
lion to kill him. I was intoxicated, and
it was more his fault than mine; but he
may die and then-at any rate it is bet
ter for you. Now you can go back to
your father. and forget me and be happy
You will find the vouchers for what mon
ey possess in my desk it is enough to
make you and the child comfortable
Forgive and forget me, Lucy God
| bless you and the baby! Tom" Z"
That was the end That was the re
ward that my cross word had purchased
for mel! Truly, truly, the wages of sin
is DEATH We sail need no corporal
punishment, no spark of real fire, to per-
| feet our torment 81
i Consciousness is all suficient-remorse,
that worm that never dies. 1t is useless
| for me to attempt to talk about what I
suffered in the weary, weary day that fol
lowed that morning. Words could not
express it; and no soul save one that has
passedthe same furnace of afflction, could
understand it. But [ lived, for sorrow
and death rarely walk in each other $
steps, and nursed my babe, and did the
word my hands had to do. [ did not go
back to my father. Iremained in Tom s
home, and kept his things all about and
every thing to remind me of him, even
his cap hanging in the passage. Forget
| him Does love ever forget
Hastings did not die. He recovered
and made public statement. He was
more in fault he said, than Tom was.
Then he put notice in all the papers,
telling Tom to come back but he came
not - al H sl..at
The winter passed away with long long
nights of bitter remorse and tender recol-
Elections of the dear husband, whose
strong arms had once been my stay and
support The spring-the summer-an-
other winter. Three years went by
crept by slowly. -7s
Ny child, Toms little baby, grew to be
fair little thing, with fair blue eyes and
golden hair, and tongue that never Wea-
RED Of its cherish prattl.ng.
All the day long she sat on the door
step, where the evening sunbeams slanted
in lisping to her doll, and listening
while [ told her of the father who would
surely come back to us some day. Sure
! ly Gods mercy would vouchsafe some
compensation, some pardon, for such bit
ter repentance as my soul poured forth.
That third spring was peculiar; some
how the far-off sky seemed to drop down
in nearer. bIuer folds; the sun wore
softer radiance tn, trees, the grass, the
/ flowers, diviner, tenderer beauty.
[ rose up every morning, and looked
out of my window, at the kindl ng glories