The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-08-23

ly dark, and she determined to hazard the
nearest road home. 1t would be fully dark
when she would pass his house, and the
chances were that he would not see her.
She wouldn't have him see her for the world.
When she arrived opposite the house,
she perceived a light in the sitting-room.
Her first impulse was to hurry by; but
some powerful influence prompted her to
stop. She did so, and stood timidly at the
further side of the road, gazing longingly
at the house that had been home for her
first of happiness, then of misery. By
and-by, she felt an irresistible yearning to
look at the interior of the room once more.
He was evidently within, and there was no
danger that he would see her. So she
she walked hurriedly across the road, OPEN
ed the gate, and softly stepped into the
the window, looking in. What. singular
behavior But she could not help it.
The little room was as neat as when she
had herself watched over it. A cheerful
fire was burning in the CRATE, although it
was not very cold and a lighted lamp stood
sitting. How her heart bounded as she
caught sight of him He held in his right
hand book from his scanty library.
She recognized it at once but he was
not reading now. He had allowed it to
drop, with its open pages looking mutely
to the ceiling-and his face was supported,
half concealed in the left hand, the elbow
~ 1,ll IA
was he buried in sad reverie? Nettie
thought that the latter was the case, and
her heart was touched.
81 wish l had borne with him, " she said.
But moment later her heart was touched
when she saw tear roll down his cheek,
and drop upon the book. The lonely man
was not asleep-he was crying.
She could not help it. All that was wo-
manly in her heart was aroused, and she
was at the door in a moment. No ceremo-
ny-she burst into the sitting room and
was at his side!
''Oh, Harry ~
Her voice quivercd with emotion.
''Why, Nettie ~ he exclaimed, trying to
hide his tears-men are ashamed of them
-''Is-is it you?''
eyes, Harry" holding her face in her
hands, 81 was passing-I looked in-I saw
you sitting here so lonely, and could not
help coming in. l thought of the time
when we were happy here, and"
Then her own womanly tears could be
repressed no longer. There was no use
trying to hide them. Besides, her voice
broke down and she could say no more
just then.
''Nettie," he arose, and took both hands
Il thought you had blotted me out of your
memory"
''No, no, Harry" she sobbed. 81 could
not do that. 1 could not help leaving you;
but left you loving you more than ever.
Oh have been unhappy"
''Nettie, you have heard that /"
eyes, I have heard that you have
changed-that you do not drink any more
that you are again manly and industri-
Gus as you used to be; but how lonely you
must be here ?' and the tears gushed forth
anew, as ber heart felt what her lips spoke
'FYos, Pm lonely, Nettie-more so than
you may think but deserve this punish
ment for the way have acted. had no
| discouragements, l had nothing to make
me do so. 1t was only passion for drink,
that it seemed impossible for me to over
| come. You were all wife should be or
could be. When you left me, thought 1
should become more reckless than ever
m dow I L. Il
left me for good, was in town drunk, and
heard some village people-they thought
/ couldn't hear them across the street
passing all sorts of remarks about me, say
ing that now l was doomed man certain;
that my destruction was near. Although
intoxicated, it startled me, and for the first
time felt the full force of our separation,
and realized that ruin stared me in the face.
l had bottle of whiskey in my pocket at
the time, and when went out of town, l
smashed it, bathed my face in little clear
stream of water at the roadside, and re-
solved never to touch whiskey again. 1
had tried it long enough to know that
could not drink and be temperate. 1t was
hard to keep my resolve for the first week
or two, but / stood it, and soon my taste
for drink disappeared. care nothing for
it now, and would not touch it if it ran in
streams. Now, Netttie, if you love me as
well as ever-and. God knows that love
you the same--let us get married over
again, and the bitter experience of the last
two years will only enhance our happiness
Nettie, dear, what do you say P'
She could not answer; she was crying as
if her heart would break, and her head was
piIlowed upon his breast. 1t was more
eloquent ''Yes!'' than she could have spoken
with the tongue.
The moon was rising, and it had never
looked so happy as it did while he walked
home with Nettie to her fathers.
So Harry Rogers and Nsttie Ray were
oOaiY an1 tIara 10 m 1ivnroa hat