The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-12-03
TIE BROKEN HOME.
"Truth stranger than Fiotion.'

stands n palatial residence.
The interior Of this house is oven moro
beautiful than is exterior, every apartment
being in its way a gem Of magninccnco and
refinement.
The library especially realizes the most
perfect ideal Of an elegant and cultured
home.
And yet, at tho moment we look in upon
him - one August afternoon, MS he occupied
his library the proprietor OF all this wealth
appeared of all mon the most miserable.
1Io was Nh. Morton .prohlc, for many
years n leading banker OF San Francisco.
II was i'm vain that the broad bny-windOw
at the south end Of the room had been OPP
ened. giving ingrcss to the sunshine and
fragrance Of rare flowers in vain that the
walls were lined with richly carved book
cases, and p~aintings-in vain that soft
esaches and luxurious chairs had been
gathered around him.
lie was wretchcd.
He lay on asoia, ia the depths Of tho great
b~ay-window, the wreck Of once powerful
man. His figure was thin and gauut; his
face white as marble, his eyes having an
expression Of wof1i apprehension; of har.
rowing anxiety, of dreadful expectancy.
II was evident otu glnuco that no merely
physical ailmont made him what he was.
BY what whitening secret, by what dos
troying atliction. had he been thus agon-
lied thus haunted 9 thus hunted ? he 80
noble and good Ao $50 wealthy and distiu-
guishodl
As be moved re.ti.a.Iy upon his luxur-
ious cushions the pretty clock on the man
tel piece struck five, every stroke seeming
60 fall like 10 NuUm.r upon the heart of The
nervous invalid IIc aroused hiuaull.
struggling iCch.y 90 U sitting posture.
go, will This iotHl day never, never puss2'
he murmurod nor bring Us relief ?"
Noticing with % nervous start, that he
was alone, be touched bell upon % Table
before him, and called:
"Hclcn, Urlcni where arc You p
Before the echoes OF his voice had died
out, a step was heard, audhis wife entered
his presence.
Il l,ft You only for q moment. Morton, Do
she said advancing % the bankers side
"You were doing 1 think. / wished To-
send lur the doctor.
She was % beautiful woman, Of some six
and thirty years, graceful, with broad
white brOws, Aua lowing eyes, in which the
brightness and ,vuDtucss OF u suushiny ma
ture wcro still proc,pUhlc, under a grief
and anxiety uu less poignant than that
oyinced 10y CrlusU0ud
"Thc doctor 2' lac echoed, half re-
proachluiy
'Ycs, dear, she slid, iu "a calm and
cheerful voice, al she drew % chair io the
side of the sn0a audi sat down, s]tro'ius tho
corrugated forehead of tho Invalid with n
magnetic touch. clio will be hero immpd.
iatcly. Your last nervous crisis altrlod
me. .lou may became seriously ILL.,
Mr.. prChlc bestowed an uiluctiuuutc
look upon his wifi, but said dcspoudingly.
''rhe doctor : Ho cannot minister to "a
mind diseased = Oh, if these long hours
would only pass I! III only knew what the
day huR vet IN store FOR Us T.
'Look mp, Morton" cnioiucd Mrs. Pre-
bic, with n r]cycrcntly trusttul glance up
ward through the open window at the blue
sky, and ns il looking beyond tho azure
clouds therein. "Lot Us appeal from the
injustice and ~wiCkcdness OF earth To- the
goodness and mercy of Heaven =
The banker gave II low, subbing sigh.
81 cannot look up, Helen" he answered,
with n passionate tromor in ms voice
"only down, down at the grave that is OPP
cning before me p
Look up, Morton, always look mp g.
sho again cnjoinCd upon tho invalid.
"Dunug All these fourteen years orngonyi
! have not once doubted other the good
ness or the Justice of Heaven. 'Uls.srd
5 ARE they that mourn; for they shnli loo COM
lortcd." ] believe that We shall yet re-
P ipico moro kcsuly than w have mouned,
and that we shall como to a glorious LAY Of
beyond Ul this long night Of sorrow e.
Tho face OF tho invalid lighted mp with
/ an answering glow, and he murmurcd:
GLORIOUS faith My wife you are in
decd a blessed comforter ! Perhaps got,
are right after all -
, A knock rcsouudGd on q side door ai this
, juncturo, and tho noXt moment DIR. Hutton,
the family physician, for whom Mrs. Pro.
, BILE had sent, entered the room.
lie was an old man, porlly in figure, with
I white hair and beard, but with a fresh and
rudy complexion, u pair OF shrowd blue
eyes, ana with an rEnOerahI Uoyishh.sa OF
y manner ilmt snl Wen upon him lie hld q
KIND heart and o'l'l head. llc approached
the sofa, after greeting the husband and
wife, and lifted the thin, rcsue.s hand nI
the Invalid leelng his Pulse
'"tlnlte hlgh rover ne Fnd' aitor q
briot pause "Worrying again. on, Mt
! Preblef Hou are wearing yourself out.
: Medicine will do you no good 80 long af
I your mind is i'm its present condition. ]
must give you an Opinto'-
E mot now, doctor, i~ntcrpOscd the bank.
or. ~ cannot must not sleep to-day
= ] need TO be broad awake now, for cauuoI
l tell Mt any moment what the next may
! bring iorth' am looking Tor Inc cnIminn
u ION oi nl my years "' anguish l"r ll'
GROWING agony OF lhe "hoiS' Iefh"p'
. oven no." AH' "llt' was Iu3'!
= llo ht@lt'g up HlJil, anu tu,n, d" ll'
: sound that disturbed MN was not repeated
e he sank back again upon his cushions, pal
u Id and painting,
The doctor looked ul MIS- Preble VIII
v IA mn%lout lnl1ltlnE glance
: at rs the anniversary she replied L
L. NJ HH.aUR.LNaAL .L|LN.LHH ANA- "a. nHHLH HA a.