The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-23
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=
.Trash stranger Than Hietion."
n San Francisco. on the north eide of Fol-
San street, overlooking Aissicn Bay, stands a
palatial residence.
The Interior Of this house is even more beau
tifnl than its exterior, every apartment being
n is way gem Of magnihoence and refine
ment
& The library especially realizes&he most per
Ssct IDEAL OF an elegant and cultured home.
= And vet, at the moment we look In upon
hiun-one August afternoon, as he occupied
his library tho proprietor Of all this wealth
appeared Of ali men the most miserable.
He yves Mr.. Norton Preble, for many years o
llooding banker fSan Francisco.
Il was In vain that the broad bay-Window at
IA south end of the room had been opened,
xfyinx .inRrees to tbs sunshine and the ma
6ranGe OF rare a0Were-in vain that the walls
were lined with richly carved book cases and
Dailtings--in vain that sofs coaches and inxn-
no1s chairs had. been gathered around him.
s he iay on q sofa, in the depths or the great
bay-BindpW,S the wreck OF onoe powerful
nan. His ngnre was thin and gaunt; his face
vhite as marble, his eyes having an expires
nion Of woful apprehension, Of narrowing anx-
iety. or dreadful expectancy.
1tWas evident at glance that no merely
nAysfcal ailment had made him what he was.
By what Withering secret, by what destroy
in9 afiiction, had he been thus agonised? thus
haanted? he so noble and good ne so wealthy
and distinguished
AS he moved restlessly upon bis luxurious
eushione, the pretty clock on the mantelpiece
struck ave, every stroke seeming to fall Ike o
hammer upon the heart Of the nervous invar
I'D. he aroused himself struggling feehly to
. sitting posture.
tsOk viii this fatal day never, never pass n
he murmured; .nor bring Us reiefT
Noticing with nervous start that he was
alone, he touched bell upon the table before
him. and called:
ssHeler, He,eni where are Your
Bnfore the echoes Of his voice had died out,
step was heard, and his wife entered his
ssI Iefs you only for moment, Norton" she
said. advancing to the bankers side. .sYou
the doctorT
She was q beautiful woman, OF some six and
thirty years, graceful, with broad white brows
and loving eyes, in which the brightness and
sweetness Of o sunshiny nature were stiq per
ceptible, under o griefa and anxiety no less poig-
nant than that evinced by her husband.
"The doctorp he echoed, haltreproach-
1aEy
= Yes, dear, she said, in calm and cheer
.fpi voice, % she drew chair to the side Of the
son, and sat down, stroking the corrugated
forehead Of the invalid with magnetic touch
ssHe win be here Immediately. Your last ner-
yous crisis alarmed me. You may become Sc
Tiously i'll r.
III. Preble bestowed an afectionate look
upon his wife, but sald.despondently:
The doctor He cannot minister to mind
diseased r Oh, If these long hours would only
passi II only knew what the day has yet In
store for us |"
Look up, Morton n enjoined Mrs. Preble.
with reverenNy trustfI glance upward
through the open window at the blue sky, and
as II looking beyond the azure clouds therein
Let us appeal from the injustice and wicked
ness or earth to the goodness and mercy Of
Heaven -
The banker gave low, sobbing sigh.
81 Do;sn0s look up, Helen" he answered,
down, down at the grave that is opening be-
fore mer
NrR Preble continued to stroke his forehead
10fly, while she lifted her pale face to the sun
light streaming into the apartment
sIook up, Aort0n-always look up r she
again enJ0ined upon the invalid. "During all
these fourteen years Of agony, have not once
doubled either the goodness or the Justice of
Heaven. BLESSED are they that mourn, for
hey shall be comforted.' believe that we
shali yet rejoice more keenly than we have
moUned, and that we shall come to glorious
day OF Joy beyond all this long night Of sor-
me hee of the invalid lighted up with an
cs sGiorioas S Ssith T NV w WIFE % You are indeed
blessed comforter Perhaps, after all, you are
HghtP
A knock resounded on q side-door at this
tQncture, and the next moment DR.. Hutton,
the family physician, for whom Mrs. Preble
had sent, entered the room.
BE was an old man, portiy in figure, with
white hair and beard, but with a fresh and
and with an eXuberant boyishness Of manner
that sst well upon him. He had kind heart
and q clear head. He approached the sofa,
nfter greeting the husband and wife, and lift-
Cd the thin restless hand of the Invalid, feeling
his pnlse.
quite high fever" he said, after brief
pause. "Worrying again, eh, Mr.. Preble 7.
% you no good so long as your mind is In It's
present condition. must give you an opiate."
Not now, DOCTOR" interposed the banker.
VI cann0b-must not-sleep to-day! need
t0be broad awake now, for cannot tell at
any moment what the next may bring forth.
lam looking for the elimination Of all my
years Of anguish-ior the crowning agony Of
40 Waule. feInapS even HOW AL, hnHI
was that n
he started up wildly, and then as the sound
that had disturbed him was not repeated, he
sank back again on his cushions, pallid and
painting.
The doctor looked at Mrs. PrebIe with an
anxious, questioning glance.
ut 70 the anniversary y she replied to his un-
spoken inquiry-"the anniversary of our loss"
sAh, yes, /" said the doctor, 81 remember
Yes, it's another Of those terrible day 1,
cried the banker, in a hollow whisper. : Sit
down, doctor, and will tell you the wi ole
ssory can think of nothing else today. and
!aa almost wild with apprehension and ankle
~. Git down.
DIR. Hutton drew up chair and seated HIM
self, his face expressing the double solcltude
or friend and physician.
You knew us fourteen years ago, DOCTOR"
aaid Mr.. Preble. "We lived then where we do
now. In cottage on the site Of this great man
1:on. There were but the three OF us-Helen
and l, and our three-year old Jessie. And it
vac fourteen years ago to-day that oar little
Jessie was stolen from U.s."
II remember It." said the doctor, softly.
sYet might she not have been lost, Mr.. Prebley
She went out to play in the garden, II renem-