Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-04


her husband one of the neighbors, who lived
some half q mile beyond, tumbied rather than
walked In He was generally more or less in
toxicatec. ann glance was sufficient TO show
the now thoroughly frightened woman that lie
was almost helpless. Before she coald collect
her senses he hadplunged upon the floor, where
idiotic leer, remarked
"Evenin,' Miss. somervilIe. Proper bad
night out. Anti Ralph got home yet?,
hep"
"oh, know now and the fellow brought
himself mp with what was intended to be a look
ped apiece back to rest"
Stopped TO resti Tell me what you mean,v
the wife almost shrieked.
The sharp tones seemed to bring another por-
ton of the fellows brain into play, for he said,
with more intelligence than he had hitherto
SaS snssa sfnL may hsy NOTICED that I've
set up. But your man was deal worse nor me,
and back here q ways he gin out!"
And You left hiIa to die in this dreadful
The fellow was alarmed at the change which
had come over the gentle woman. She seemed
he shrank back with deprecatine air, as he
said: .' Fact was, had ell could do to git my
sell along. IL I'D tried to do anything with aim,
why we'd both got the worst OF it."
.Where did you leave him?"
There was calmness in the tones, and the TEL
low grew more assured as he replied: Fact
good ways, but then know it can't be. We'd
pieoe."
That was all the poor woman could expset to
learn, and with the words her purpose was
formed. Withina minute che had assumed such
outer wrappings as came first to hand, and
passed Though the door, out into the fearful
storm. Tie frail woman had given place to the
fearless heroine. Her husband was out i'm that
gale and cold and storm. He would perish there
WING nelp: Sns might not save him, but she
Oh, that sacred love of woman for man.
Through every trial it hopes, through every
sorrow IL cheers; and though unworthy and
forgetful the oSject, it never waivers, never
ceases, but suffers on, hopes still, prays ever
and even life itself is not too great sacrifice
for the woman who truly loves.
As Susan SomerstIle stepped outside the door
her clothing was caught BY the gale, she was
hurried along for few yards, and plunged
hesdlong into drift. But next moment She
was upon her feet again, and, having learned
somewhat of the force of the blasts she was
Drawing. the poor woman struggled on through
the dull outlines Of fences and woodland: stop-
ping sometimes to brush the encrusted flakes
from her eyes, and to regain her breath; scan
ming every dark object with q dreadful fear at
There he was at last, prone in her path. She
saw the outlined form, bent over it, Gashed
lived. But in all the boastsd strength of his
manhood the foe Of his race had overcome him.
and he must have help or perish. She tried to
raise him; tried to waken him from the fatal
stupor, but all her efforts were vain What was
she to do? He must have help, and that soon,
or 1t would come too late.
1t was about mile to the nearest ueighbor's
but distance must not be considered for q mo-
ment Scraping up with her bare hands the
snow about him, to break the force Of the gale
ana printing upon the clammy lips q kiss which
might be the last on earth, she turned to struy-
gle on.
How that distance was passed she never
could realize. Sometimes as she stumbled and
fell It seemed as though she could not rise again
but finally the dark walls loomed up, the light
hasaed from a window, and with one more
struggle she reached the door. She could not
nnd the latch, but her movements were heard
kind hand opened the door. and as she stag
gered in the warm air beat upOn her, and she
TELL to the floor, while all about her faded into
Ralph is dinghy the old-miIl- gate.y her
lips barely articulated, and then she knew no
more"
Doctor, where is Sue?n
1t was Ralph SOmerville who asked, as the
Old physician carefully dressed his frost bitten
limbs. The work was done before answer was
made, and then the kind hearted old man re-
pied; I" just came from her bedside at Neigh
Dor BrOnsons."
How came she there?"
The doctor looked eearchingly at his patient
ior moment, and then the shade Of sterness
relaxed from his face.
I'll not scold You, young man, he said, sfor
your punish ment mus be great enough without
any help OF mine"
And then he told, in simple but touchiny
terrible storm of two days previous, how she
had found her husband, and gone for assist.
anee: How the neighbors had searched for him,
ana found him just In time to save his life. He
had been brought to his own house and cared
for, but the poor wife was Frustrated with brain
fever at the neighbors residence, and in her de-
and save her husband
There was shame in Ralph's face, but in his
heart, mingling with the penitence he felt, was
such q resolution As he had never experienced
before. lt thrilled his entire being with a
strength Of purpose such as comes not often to
Doctor" he said, "you must carry me to
Bronsons."
Garry you. with your crippled feet-I guess
"And guess yes tell you. 1 am going to
see this wife Of mine, and to tell her something
But first OF au-yOu needn't shake your head
Tor am going-can you write total abstinence
The doctor nodded an affirmative, and the
young man continued
Then draw up one while am getting
dressed. You'll find paper in that desk by the
window; and make 1t as strong as the English
language will admit Of; put in Greek If ours
doesn't cover the whole ground"
The physician complied, though writing tenn
persnce pledges was new branch Of his bust
hess, and although he doubted the expediency
Of taking his patient out into the sharp, frosty
air.
1t was completed and signed, that compact by
which Ralph Somerville pledged his honor as a
man never again to taste OF anything which
SouIu lCdC 10 iDtONlc8uOn, tHOuR0 the kcraWl
made by the frozen hngers looked little like
the firm, manly chirography Of the former
days.
' Now, doctor, for the ride"
With considerable difficulty Ralph was placed
in the sleigh, and five minutes later he was be-
ing assisted to the bedside of his wife.
She was sleeping now, and at sight of the
change two days had wrought in those dear fea-
lures, Ralph wept like q child. Bending over
he pressed kiss upon the pale brow, and then
turned away. As he did SO the sleeper's eyes
opened.
"Have you found him? Is he safe?- she
asked: seeing the number gathered about the
bedside.
eyes, dear Sue; don't you see am hers?''
returned the husband.
One moment only the mind seemed struggling
with an incubus, and then she put forth her
hand with pressure such as only devotion
coul give.
ooh, yes; nay dear Ralph, 1 see you now; but
it was such a dream L had-or was 1t all reai?''
And she gsZed almost in alright at his band
aged and useless limbs. The physician, in ac-
cordance with professional rules, would have
separated the twain, but neither would con-
sent.
"You shall not take him away" Susan said,
I" am not weak or Ill If he Is but safe; and
want him to tell me the whole story"
SOmeryille did tell wh0le seOrv of