Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-11-29
The Broken Home.
Truth Stranger THANH Fiction"

Bay, stands q palatial residences.
The interior Of this house is even
moro beautiful than its exterior, every
apartment being in its way . gem OF
magni6cence and refinement.
The library especially realizes the
most perfect ideal Of an elegant and Gull
tursd home.
Aud yet, at the moment We look in
upon him-ons August afternoon, a. he
occupies his library-ths proprietor OF
all this wealth appeared Of all men the
most miserable.
He was Mr.. Morton Prebls. for many
years q leading banker Of San Fran
cisco.
1t was in vain that the broad bay win
dow at the south end Of tho room bad
been opened, giving ingrsss to the sum
shine and the fragrance Of rare fowsrs-
in vain that the walls were lined with
richly carved bookcases and paintings
10 vain that soft couches and luxurious
chairs had been gathered around him.
He uas wrs.ehed.
He lay on a sofa, IN the depths Of the
great bay window, the wreck Of . once
powerful man. His figure was thin and
gauu, his face white as marble his
eyes having an expression OF woful APP
prehsnsion, Of narrowing Anxiety, OF
dreadful expectancy.
It Was evident at q glance that no
merely physical ailment had made him
what he al
By what whitening secret, BY what
destroying affection, had he been thus
sconizsd? thus haunted thus hunted y?
be so noble and good he 80 wealthy
and distinguished
As be moved reitlsssly upon his lux
urious cushions the pretty clock on the
mantel.piece struck ire, every stroke
seeming to fall like a hammer upon the
heart Of tho nervous invalid. dc
aroused himself, struggling fsebly to a
sitting posture.
"Oh, will this fatal day never, never
psss?" he murmured "nor bring Us
relisf?"
Noticing with a ervou start that he
was alone, he touched a bell upon a Ia
BILE before him, and called
"Helsu, Helen /! whore are you2"
Before the echoes Of his voice had
died out q step was heard, and his wife
entered his presence.
"Ileft you only for q moment, Nor
tom" she said, advancing to the bank.
er's side. You were doing, l think.
wished to send for the doctor !"
She was a beautiful woman, OF some
six aud thirty years, graceful, with
| broad white brows. and loving eyes, in
which the brightness and swestness OF
4 sunshiny nature were still p~srcsptibls
under a grief and anxiety NO less
poignant than that erinced by her hus-
band.
"Ths doctor |" hs echoed, half-rs.
proschfully.
eyes, dear" she said, in a calm and
cheerful voice, as she drew = chair to
tie side Of the sofa, aud sat down,
stroking the corrugated forehead Of the
invalid with a magnetic touch. che
will be here Immediately. Your last
nervous crisis alarmed me. You may
become seriously i'll !"
Mr. Preble bestowed al afectionate
look upon his wife, but said despond-
emily
1.-THE doctori Ho cannot minister to
a Mid diseased! Oh, il those long
hours would only pass! II only knew
what the day has yet In store for as ~
"Look up, Morton |" sujoiued Mrs.
Preble, with a reversutly trustful glance
upward through tho open window at the
blue sky, and as if looking beyond the
azure clouds therein. "Let US appeal
from the injustice aud wiekcdne's Of
earth to the goodness and mercy Of
Heaven !"
The banker gave a low, sobbing Sigh.
81 cannot look up, Helen," he an
swered, with n passionate trsmor in bis
voice" only down, down at the grave
that 10 opening before me !"
Mrs. PEBBLE continued to stroke his
forehead softly, while she lifted her pale
face to the sunlight streaming into the
apartment. -.
"Look up, Morton-always look up ~
she again enjoiued upon the invalid.
" During all these fourteen years Of ag-
ony, I have not once doubted either the
goodness or the justice Of Heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn for they
shall be coufor,sd.' believe that we
shall yet rejoice more kesnly than we
have mourned, and that we shall come
to a glorious day Of joy beyond all this
long night Of sorrow
The face. Of the invalid lighted up
with an answering glow, and he muir
INJURED
"Glorious faith ! Ny wife, ysu are
indeed q blessed comforter Perhaps,
after all, yen are right !"
A knock rosounded on a side door at
this juucture, and the next moment DR..
Hutton, the family physician, for whom
Mrs. Prsble had sent, entered the room.
He was an old man, portly in figure,
with white hair and beard, but with a
fresh and rudy complexion, a pair Of
shrewd blSs eyes, and with an sxuberant
boyishness Of manner that sat well upon
him. He had a kind heart snd . clear
head. He approached the sofa, after
greeting tho husband and wife, and
lifted the thin, restless haad of the in
valid, feeling his pulse.
"Quite a high fever" be said, after a
brief pause. worrying again, eh, Mr..
Prebls? You are wearing yourself out.
Medicine will do you no good so long a.
your mind is in its present condition. /
must give you an opiate-"
"Not now, Doctor" i%ntsrpossd the
banker. "I csnnot-must not-sleep
to-day ! l need to be broad awake now,
for | cannot tell at any moment what
the next may bring forth. l am looking
for tho elimination Of all my years Of
anguish-for the GROWING agony of the
whole. Perhaps even now Alb, what
was that?
He started up wildly, and then, as the
sound hat had disturbed him was not
repeated, he sank back again on bis
cushions, pallid and painting.
The Doctor looked at Mrs. Preble with
an anxious, questioning glance.
at is the anniversary" she replied to
his unspoksn iuquiry-"tho anniversary
of our loss"
"Ah, yea" said the Doctor. 81 re-
member"
uYes. it's another of thoss tsrriblS