Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-10-17

to pass Hayry's farn. It lay betxee,
her fathers house and the villsxe, but d,
had herssofsee taken Q round about rsat
in going 10 and returning frsn the vii
lagc. On the evening in question. how
lever. she had been detained in the village
unconseiousiy. till it was nearly dark: and
she determined 10 hasard the nosrsst foad
home. Ii would be fully dark vhsa 81.
would pass his house. aud the. chances
we're that she would not see him. She
would not have him see her for the world
Wheu she srrivsd opposite the house,
she perceived that thsrs was . light in che
little sitting room. Her frst impulse va.
to hurry BY. but some more powerful in.
6uence prompted her to stop. She did
so. and stood timidly at the farther side
Of the road. gazing longingly at the house
that had been house for her-6rst of hap.
piness. then Of misery. BY and By she
felt an irresistible yearuing to look at the
room once more. He was evidently with.
in. aud there was no danger that he would
sec her. So she walked hurriedly across
the road. opened the gate softly. and step
ped into the lawn. Another moment and
she was at the window looking in. Wha,
singular behavior? But she could no.
help it. The little room was rs neat as
when she herself had watched over il. A
cheerful FIRE was burning in the crate, al
though it was not very cold. and light.
ed lamp stood on the table. 1t was there
that Harry was sitting. How her hear,
bounded as she caught sight of him lie
held in his right hand book from hi.
scanty library. She recognized it at once,
but he was not reading now. He had al.
lowed it to drop, with its pages looking
mutely to the cciliug-and his face was
supported, half concealed. in the left hand
the elbow resting on . table. Was be
asleep. or was he buried in sad reverie
Nettic thought that the latter was the case
and her heart was touched.
81 wish / had borne With him." SIZE
said to herself
But a moment later her heart was more
thar touched. when she was sure she saw
tear roll down his check and drop upon
the book. The lonely man was not asleep
he was crying. She could not help it.
All that was womanly in her heart was
aroused, and she was ut tie door in mo-
mcnt. No ccremony-she burst into the
sitting room and was at his side.
"Oh. Harry?" Her voice quivcred
, with cm0;;::on.
why, Ne,tic !'' he exclaimed, trying
10 hide his tcars-Men arc ashamed OF
them "Is it you ?"
Yes, Harry" hiding her face in her
hands. IL was passing-I looked in
I saw you sitting here so lonely. and could
not help coming in. I thought of the time
when We were happy here. and"
Then her womanly tears could be repres-
scd no longer. There was no use trying
to hide them. Besides. her voice broke
down Us she could say no more just then.
"Nettie !" lie arose and took both bet
hands from her face. and then held them
10 his own. II thought you had blotted
me out Of your memory"
mo, no. Harry !" she sobbcd. 81
could not do that. could not help leav.
ing you; but l left you. loving you more
than ever. Oh. l have been unhappy
since ~
"Ncttic. you have heard that l."
eyes. I have heard that you arc changed
that you are again manly and industri-
Gus as you used to be; but how lonely
You mus. be here !" and the tears gushed
forth anew as her heart felt what her lips
spoke.
Eyes. am lonely. Net,ic,-morc 50
than you msy think but deserve this
punishment for the way have acted.
had no d;scouragcmcnt 1t was only q
passion for drink, that it seemed impossi-
bic for me to overcome. You were all a
wife should be or could be. When YOU
left me I thought I should become more
reckless than ever. Only day or two
after knew you had left me for good,
was in town drunk. and I heard some Of
the village people-thcy did not think
could hear them across the strcet-passine
all sorts Of remarks about me. saying that
| was a doomed man for certain, that nv
destruction was near. Although intcxi-
Gated, it startled me. and for the 6rst time
felt the full force Of our separation, and
realised that ruin stared me in the face.
had bottle Of whiskcy in my poke. At
the time. and when I got out Of town
smashed it. bathed my head in Q little,
clear stream Of water at the roadside, and
silently resolved never to touch whiskcy
again. bad tried it long enough to know
that could not drink aud be temperate.
II was hard TO keep my resolve for the
/ 6rst week or two /; but stood il, and soon
my taste for drink disappeared. care
nothing for il now, and would not touch
il II it rainec in streams. Now, Net,ie.
il you love me as you ever did, and God
knows that | love you the same, let US
star. anew let Us get married again, and
the bitter experience Of the last two years
viii only enhance our happiness. Nettie,
dear. what DO you say ~
She could nos answer. She was crying
as though her hear. would break. and her
head was pil.owed upon his breast. /,
was more eloquent yes than she could
have spoken with tongue.
Harry" che finally sobbed. in a self.
repscsehcd way. Il might have borne
wish you longer"
mo. no. Ncstic il was bcs. hhas
brought US certain haPpisess now. God
bless you for coming into my loacly home
this evening"" His arms were around
her neck. and he kissed her forehead.
The moon was rising. and Il had never
looked 30 happy as il dN while he walked
home With Nestie 10 her fasher's. So
Harry Rogers and Nettie Ray married
again. aud there is no divorce that could
separate sasw now.