National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-11-26

TRUTH STANGER THAN FICTION


side of Folsom street, overlooking
Mission Bay, stands palatial resi-
dence.
The interior of the house is even
more beautiful than it's exterior, ev.
cry apartment being in its way
gem Of magnifcence and refine
meEt.
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 pro
prietOr of all this wealth appeared
of all men most miserable.
He was Mr.. Morton Preble, for
many years "A leading banker of San
Francisco.
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 tiowerS-in vain that the walls
were lined with richly carved book
cases and paintingS-in vain that
sctt couches and luxurious chairs
had been gathered around HIM.
lie was Wretchcd.
He lay on a sofa, in the depths Of
a 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 express.
ion of wotul apprehension, of har-
rowing anxiety, of dreadful expect.
ancy.
Il was evident at a glance that no
merely physical al lment had made
! him what he was.
BY what whitening secret. by what
destroying at1liction. had he been
/ thus agonized =? thus haunted thus
hunted he so noble and good he
SO wealthy and distinguished
As he moved IcStlesSly upon his
luxurious cushions, the pretty clock
on the mantel piece struck five, eve.
rs stroke seeming to fall like ham.
lner upon the heart Of the nervous
invalid. He aroused himself. strug
ling teebly to a sitting posture.
'Oh, will this fatal day never, new
or paSsF he murmurpd: nor bring us
relict!
Noticing with nervous start that
! he was alone, he touched a bell upon
a table before him, and called:
Helen, Helen! where are YOU ?
/ Before the echoes of his voice had
died out, a step was heard, and his
wife entered his presence.
q left You only for moment, Nor
ton,' she said, advancing to the bank.
cr'S side. you were doing, think.
| wished to send for the doctorn
She was beautiful woman, of
some six and thirty Years, graceful,
with broad white brows. and loving
eyes, in which the brightness and
sweetness of sunShiny nature were
still perceptible, under grief and
9nXiety no less poignant than that
" inced by her husband.
The doctor / he echoed, half.re-
proachtuily.
Yes. dear, she said, in calm and
cheerful voice, as she drew a chair
10 the side of the sofa, and sat down
stroking the corrugated torhead of
the invalid with magnetic touch.
'lIc will be here Immediately. Your
last nervous crisis alarmed me. You
may become seriously ILL
a
ate look upon his wife, but said de.
spondingly
The doctor. He cannot minister
to mind diseased . On, if these
long hours would only pass! If |
only knew what the day has yet in
store for u.s.
Look up, Mortonr enioined Mrs.
Preble, with rcverently truStful
glance upward through the open
window ut the blue sky, and as if
looking beyond the azure clouds
therein. let us appeal from the III.
Justice and wickedncss of earth to
the goodneS and mercy of Heaven :
The banker gave low, sobbiug
sigh.
i cannot look up, lIelen,' he ans
wercd, with a passionate tremor in
his vocc--'only down, down at the
grave that is opening before me!
Mrs. Preblc continued to stroke
his forehead softly, while she lifted
her pale face to the sunlight stream.
ing into the apartment.
Look up, Morton--always look
up she again enjoined upon the in.
valid. During all these fourteen
years of agony, | have not once
doubted either the goodness or the
Justice of Heaven. BLESSED are they
that monrn; for they shall be- com.
iorted.' | believe that we shall yet
rejoice more keenly than we have
mourned, and that we shall come TO
u glorious day of JOY beyond all this
long night of sorrow
The face of the invalid lighted up
with m answering glow,and he muir.
mured:
Glorious faith! My wife, you are
indeed u blessed comforter 1! Per.
haps, after all, you are iight'
A knock rcsounded on side door
at this juncturc, and the next mo-
ment DIR. Hutton, the family physi.
clan, for whom Mrs Preblc had sent,
entered The room.
lie was an old man, portiy in fig
ure, with white hair and beard, bui