The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-11-24
THE BROKEN HOME.
ssTruth Stranger than Fiction

ment being in its way q gem of magnih
cence and refinement.
The library especially realizes the most
perfect ideal IF an elegant aud cultured
home.
And yet at the moment we look in upon
him-nne August afternoon, as he occu-
pied his library the prop NJ Of all this
weaiin appeared Of ali men the most mis-.
cradle
He was Mr. Morton Preble, for many
ears leading banker of San Francisco.
It was in vain thai the broad bay win
dow at the south end of the room had been
opened, giving ingress TO the sunshine and
the fragrance of rare flowers in vain that
the walls were lined with richly carved
book cases and paiutings-In vain that
soft couches and luxurious chairs had been
gathered around him.
He was wretched.
He lay on a sofa, in the depths of the
great bay window, the wreck OF 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
expectancy.
1t was evident at a glance that no mere
ly physical ailment had made him what he
was.
By what whitening secret, by what de-
stroying aff1icuon had he been thus agOni-
zed thus haunted thus hunted2 he SO
noble and good he so wealthy and dlstin'
guished
"A he moved reBtlessly upon his luIuri'
'Ous cushions the pretty clock on the man
lie piece struck i've, every stroke seeming
TO fall like hammer upon the heart OF
the nervous invalid. he aroused himself,
struggling feebly to = sitting posture.
''Oh, will this fatal day never, never
pass 2" he murmured, 'aor bring us relief
Noticing with a nervous start that he
was alone, he touched bell upon a table
before him, and called.
"Helen Helen where are are you l.
Before the echoes of his voice had died
out step was heard, and his wife entered
his presence.
81 left you only for moment. Morton,
said she, advancing to the bankers side
''You were doing, think. wished tC
send for the doctorl"
She was a beautiful woman, of some si1
and thirty years, graceful, with broad
white brows and loving eyes, in which the
brightness and sunshiny nature were still
percepdble, under g grief and anxiety nc
less poignant thsn that evincea by hel
husband.
"The doctor ~ he echoed, half reproach
fully.
''Ycs, dear" she said, in calm ant
cheerful voice, as she drew chair TO the
side of the sofa, and sat down, slroking
the corrogated forehead of the Invalid with
8 magnetic touch "He will be here i'm
mediately. Your last nervous crisis alar
med me. Yon may become seriously ILL
Ar. Preble bestowed an affectiOnatI
look upon his wife, but said despOndently
THE doctor! !" He cannot minister TO
mind diseased Oh, if these long hour
would only pass If only knew wha
| the day has yet in store for US u
Look up, Morton I" enjoined Mrs
Prebie, with q reverently trustful glSnc
| upward through the open window at tn
blue sky, and as if looking beyond tn
azure clouds therein. "Let US appeal from
the injustice and wickedness of earth I
the goodness and mercy of Heaven J"
The banker gave low, sobbIng sigh.
| 81 cannot look up, Helen" he answer
| ed, with q passionate tIemor in his voice
only down, down a. the srAye that Is open
ing before mel"
| Mrs. Preble continued to stroke hi
forehead softly, while she lifted her pal
face TO the sunlight streaming into th
apartment.
Look up, Morton-alWays look up
she then enjOined upon the Invalid. 'tDl
ring all these fourteen years of agony,
have not once doubted either the goOdneI
or the justice of Heaven. blessed a
they that mourn, for they shall be con
forced believe that we shall yet 7
joice more keenly than we have mournet
and that we shall come to a glorious ds
of Joy beyond all this long night Of so
rowl"
The face of the invalid lighted up wi
an answering glow, and he murmured:
GLORIOUS faith Wy wife, you are j
deed a blessed comforter Perhaps, aft
all, you are right"
A knock resOundei on a side door
this juncture, and the next moment Z
Hutton, the family physician, for who
Mrs PIeble had sent, entered the room.
He was an old man, portly in fgul
with white hair and beard, but with
fresh and ruddy complexion, q pair
shrewd blue eyes, and with an exubers
bOyishness of manner that sat well up
him. He had kind heart and 3 Gle
clear head. He approached the sofa,
ter greeting the husband and wife, q
lifted the thin restless hand of the inval
feeling his pulse.
e "Quite q high fever" he said, Sfte
L brief pause. "WorTying Anain, eh, \
Preble9 You are wearing yourself o
Medicine will do you no good SO long
your mind is in its present condition.
must give you An opiate-"
"NOt now, DOCTOR" interposed the b
ker. 81 cannot-must not-sleep to ds
= need to be broad awake now, for C
not tell at any moment what the next q
bring forth. Lam looking for the Gull
nation of all my years of anguish-for
croWning agony of the whole. Perh
even now All, what was thatl"
"A He started up wildly, and then, as
sound that had disturbed him was not
peaied, he sank back again on his CT
m ions, pallid and painting
The doctor looked at Mrs. Preble !
o, an anxious, questioning glance
SIT Is the anniversary" she reptile
his unspoken inquiry-'the annlVer
of our loss"
p; "Ah, yes" said the doctor. Irem
+; ber.
10, "Yes, it's another Of those terrible dl
cried the banker, in q hollow Whispe
D "Sit down, doctor, and will tell Yes
whole story. can think Of nothing
ly TO day, and am almost wild with ap
hension and anxiety. Sit down"
to DR.. Hutton drew up chair and Sc
himself, his face expressing the doubl'
lly hcitude of friend and physician.
''You knew US fourteen years ago,
25c tor" said Mr.. Preble. eve lived
where We do now, in cottage on the
of this great mansion There were
Ks. three of us-Helen and and our |
Iirt year old Jesse, And II WAs fourteen ]
ago to day that our little Jesse was 8
from Us.
II remember il said the doctor %
he Yet might she not have been lost,
he Predict She went out to play In The
den, if emember rightly, and vas I
III seen by you again. She miGht have 8
ed away"
$50 We thought for q whole year,
ter" interrupted The banker. ''We !
dreamed that she had been stolen.
n searched everywhere for her, and Of
immense rewards for her recovery.
ls pIoyed detectives, hut al 10 no pur
When orr little Jessie ran down the
. into that flower garden" and no pc
70 the front of the house, 'sss II tie
had opened and swallowed her up
never saw her again"