The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-03-18
A CROSS WORD.

| but was out OF temper that morning
and my head ached from setting up too
late the night before. Tom had gone to
a superior the second time since our
marriage by one Of his bachelor
| friends. and had come home very much
| the worse for it. 1t had provoked me in
tensely. So | had followed him to bed in
silence and awoxe none the better pleased
after my sleep, on the morning alluded
to. To make the matter worse, just as
| he spoke to me about the button. the
knife | was cutting the bread and butter
with. slipped, inficting deep cash in
my hand and the baby awoke and sent
up the sharp little cry from the cradle,
all in one and the same moment.
! - You can wait as we'll as | did last
night" Iiepiied sharply. really angry,
at last.-'Don' hurry me, | do all can,
and more than | am able TO do with one
| pair of hands.
Tom dropped his button and turned
towards me with a startled cry of why.
Lucy -
Don't Lucy me - Iretorted, throw
| ing down the bread. and catching up the
baby. while the blood streamed down from
| my hand over her white frock. " You We
done enough, you I've broke my heart |
wish L had never seen you, | wish | Was
back with my father aud mother.
| broke down with il hysterical burst of
tears, and seeing the blood on my hand,
Tom came and knelt down beside me.
| why. Lucy he said, his voice and
| eyes full of tenderness, You We cut your
hand Why did mt you say so? Here
| give me the child. while | bind it up !;
see how it bleeds"
He held out his hand for the baby, but
| [ snatched her away, and went on sub
bling.
Don't cry, Lucy!'' he continued.
stroking the hair back from my forehead,
please don't. know have done wrong
dear. but l did mt mean it, | fell in with
some OF my old companions and they per-
suaded me against my will. But it S the
last time, Lucy, the very last time.
Why didn't turn to him. then. and
help and encourage him? Because my
mean temper got the better OF my wo-
mans heart
"Oh. yes!" I said sneeringly; lit is
easy enough to make fair promises, you
expect me to trust you now, after last
night p
Tom was spirited and quick tempered
great lovine-hearted men always are.
He sprang to his feet like flash, and be-
fore | had time to think or speak, had
left the room. tossed the child into the
cradle, and rushed to the door, but 1t was
too late, he was gone. [ just caught a
glimpse of him as he was turning the
corner.
went back to the little breakfast room,
how blank and drear it looked, and what
a sharp singing thorn there was at the
bottom of my heart loved Tom, and
he loved me. We had been married on
ly eighteen months, an this was our first
quarrel. L sat down with my baby in my
arms, and fell to thinking All the old
happy days came back and in particular,
when we sat in DunbuTy Wood. 1t was
in autumn. and all the world SCENE ii
blaze OF gold, as The sun sank down, and
as l sat there. with the last rose Of sum
mer in my hair. knitting purse for Tom.
Lucy" he said as | wove in the last
golden stitches, you We knit my love
my very life up IN that purse. Tell me
now, before you finish it, how is it to be?
Am l to leave you, and-and-oh
| wont think of it even-Lucy, 1t would
be too dreadful! J.
No, Tom, | answered ''you are to
have the purse and the hand that knit 1t,
too.
Poor Tom he cried then just like a
little child-he, the bravest man in the
town Of Maidstone.
:" No fault to find only he's little too
wild, too fond of gay company; but YOU
must tame him as your mother did me,
| Lacy;
That was my old fathers advice on our
| wedding day.
Had | done my duty? Had | followed
| the example Of my mother, who never
| let fall an unkind word ? Ny heart smote
| me dreadfully, as [ called the morning to
| mind.
But Tom would be home to dinner.
The thought brought me to my feet [
went and superintendent the preparation
of just such dinner as he liked. The
plum pudding was done to perfection
the baby, In clean frock, and myself, all
smiles, to receive him when the clock
struck one But he didn't come at the
| usual time.
put by the untaSted dinner and pre-
| pared the tea, and lit fire in the par.or.
He should have pleasant welcome
But he Old not come. Eight, Line, ten
| o clock, and put by the untasted sup
| per, to watch and wait
How the little thorn in my heart pier
| ced and ranked Tom had broken his
promise. and my unkindness was the
c,use. Nothing else rung in my ears
through the long hours.
About two o clock | heard a noise be-
| low. and went to the window. There was
| a man at the door. | could just sec him
In the dim Zig hit, as he stood IN a listening
attitude
'Tom, is that you? l 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 |
| did SO, two men stepped up, and one of
them laid his hand on Toms shoulder,
and said, Il arrest you sir.
For what?'' | cried
| For murder
The floor seemed slipping from beneath
my feet, but | caught at the door to steady
| myself and look at Tom At that instant
| the official uncovered his lantern and oh.
heaven there was blood upon my hus-
bands hands.
All the rest is blank When [ came
| to life again, | was in my own room, in
bed, and kind, compassionate fees were
around me- I asked for Tom. lie was
in prison. awaiting his trial. lad been
delirious whole week
| now learned al particulars. There
had been a quarrel at tic ;a-ern 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 h. ad. But if he recovered-well il
! wnuld har.l III. l. r :.