Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-20
THE BROKEN HONE.

cence and refinement.
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 proprietor of al
this wealth appeared of all men the most
miserable
lie was Mr.. Morton Treble, Cor many
years leading banker of San Francisco.
Ii was in vain that the broad bay-win-
dow at the south end of the room had
been opened, giving ingress TO the sun
shine and the fragrance of rare flowers
in vain that the walls were lined with
richly carved bookcases and painting
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 a 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 70
merely physical ailment had made him
what he was.
By what whitening secret, by what de
stroying affiictiOn, had he been thus ago
nized he so noble and good, he 50
wealthy and distinguished
As he moved restlessly upon his luxu-
rious cushions the pretty clock on the
mantle-pie struck five, every stroke
seeming to fall like hammer upon the
heart of the nervous invalid. He aroused
himself, struggling feebly to a sitting
posture.
"Oh, viii this fatal day never, never
pass p he murmured; "nor bring us re-
liefln
Noticing with a nervous start he was
alone, he touched bell upon a table be-
fore him, and called:
Helen, Helen! where are you'll -
Before the echoes of his voice had died
out step was heard, and his wife en-
tered his presence. 3D..
81 left you only for a moment, Nor
ton, she said, advancing TO the bankers
side. " You were doing, think
wished to send for the doctor ~
She was a beautiful woman, of some
six and thirty years, graceful, with broad
white brows, and loving eyes, in which
the brightness and sweetness of a sun
shiny nature were still perceptible, under
grief and anxiety no less poignant than
that evinced by her husband.
''The doctor!' he echoed, half-reproach,
fully.
eyes, dear, she said, in a calm and
cheerful voice, as she drew a chair to the
side of the sofa, and sat down, stroking
the corrugated forehead of the invalid
with magnetic touch. Gle will be here
Immediately. Your last nervous crisis
alarmedme. You may become seriously
i'll"
Mr. Preble bestowed an affectionatt
look upon his wife, but said despond
emily:
''The doctorl He cannot minister to 8
mind diseased Z Oh, if these long hours
would only pass If only knew what
the day has yet in store for us -
'Look up, Morton ~ enjoined Mrs.
Preble, with a reyerently trustful glance
upward through the open window at the
blue sky, and as if looking beyond tn,
azure clouds therein. Let usappeal from
the injustice and wickedness of earth t
the goodness and mercy of Heaven =
The banker gave a low, sobbing sigh.
4 cannot look up, Helen" h
answered, with a passionate tremor in hi
voice-''only down, down at the gray
that is opening before me -
Mrs Prcble continued to stroke hi
forehead, while she lifted her pale face t
The sunlight streaming into the apartment
Look mp, Morton-always look up :!
she again enjOined upon The invalid
during all these fourteen years of agony
| have not once doubted either the good
ness or the Justice of Heaven. 'Blesse
are they that mourn, for they shall b
comforted. | believe that we shall VI
reioicemorc keenly than we have mouIneC
and that we shall come to a glorious da
Of Joy beyond all this long night of sol
rowl'
The face of the invalid lighted up wit
an answering glow, and he murmured:
GLORIOUS faith. My wife, you are il
deed a blessed comforter Perhaps, aft,
all, you are right
A knock resGuDded on a side-door at tn
iuncture. and the next moment DR.. Hu
ton, the family physician, for whom Mr.
prchlc had sent, entered the room.
He was an old man, portly in figur
with white hair and beard, but with a fires
and ruddy complexion, a pair Of shrew
blue eyes, and with an eXuberant boyisl
ness of manner that sat well upon hin
lie had a kind heart and clear head. Il
approached the sofa, after greeting Il
husband and wife, and lifted the THU
restless hand of the invalid, feeling j
pulse.
quite high fever, he said, after
brief pause worrying again, eli, NJ
Prcblcl You are wearing yourself on
Medicine viii do you no good so long
your mind is in its present condition.
must give you an opiate-'
Not now, Doctor interposed the ban
er. Il carnot-must not-sleep to-da,
need TO be broad awake now, for / cam
tell at any moment what the next mi
bring forth ! am looking for the culmi
alton of all my years of anguish-for {
crowning agony Of the whole. Perha
\ even now All, what was that Z
lie started up wildly, and then, as {
sound that had disturbed him was not ]
peated. he sank back again on his Gus
IONS. pallid and painting.
The doctor looked at Mrs. Preble WI
an anxious, questioning glance.
1t is the anniversary, she replied
has uuspoken inquiry anniversary
our loss.
"Ah, yes said the doctor. II remel
Der
Yes. it's another Of those terrible day
cried the banker, in hollow whisp,
sit down. doctor. and will tell you
whole story l can think Of nothing e
today. and ann almost wild with apprehe
sion and anxiety. Sit down
Dr. Hutton drew up chair and seat
himself his face expressing the doul
solici;ude Of a friend and physician
You knew us fourteen years ago, Dc
Tor. said Mr. Preble 'oNe lived tn
where we do now, in a cottage on the s
of this great mansion. There were !
three of us-Helen and /, and our thr
year old Jessie And it was fouri,
years ago to-day that our little Jessie v
stolen from Us.
Il remember II, said the doctor soft
= .Yci might she not have been lost,
Ppb!rl She went out to play in
garden, if ! remember rightly, and !
never seen by you again. She mi
have strayed away
so we thought for a whole year, 4
tor. interrupted the banker. eve ne
dreamed that she had been stolen.
searched everywhere for her, and off(
immense rewards for her recovery.
employed detectives, but all TO no I
pose. When our little Jessie ran dc
the Steps into that flower garden, y anC
pointed 10 the front of the house, "a
The earth had opened and swallowed
up. We never saw her again. -..
'.She must have found the gate o.
aud wandered out suggested DR.. Hut
She might have strolled down 10
waters and been drowned