Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1873-11-20

"She is dear, good wife, thought he;
awhat scoundrel I was to make her
feel so budly." He knew that he had
been rough to her the night before. He
wished he could remember what he
said. OF course, he never got dead
drunk, but he wished he ever could let
whisky alone.
His breakfast was Just to his liking,
and his wife as cheerful as if he was the
best man in the world. He wanted to
say something pleasant to break the
awkward silence, but he did not know
how to begin. He had an uncomfort-
able feeling that he ought to beg her
pardon, but, being man, of course he
did not condescend to that. At length
he began by saying, "You was right
peert about your breakfast this morn
ing, Nancy" ;,
HOh, I allowed most likely you'd
want to get off soon," she answered.
eyes, Jones wants us there ag'ln'
sun-up. It's only fifty-log raft; reckon
we can get it down to Leavenworth
ag'in' the nigt train starts, and I'll get
right on, and be back to Atchison afore
day. Don't catch me foolin' away an
other day round that old fort"
ooh, John I'm so proud she
paused abruptly, for his eyes dropped
with look of conscious shame. What
mood was he in? Would it do to speak
then? He had showed back from the
table, and there was serious, far-away
look in his eyes, but nothing sullen or
forbidding. She went around, and
dropping on her knees beside him,
slipped her arms about his neck, say
ing:
"Oh, John, I wish you'd promise me
you'd never drink no more whisky"
"That's most too hard on fellow;
but I'll promise not to-not drink too
much ag'in."
"But I'm afeared that wouldn't do
"You talk like you thought I hadn't
sense enough to stop when I've got
enough, if I try" he exclaimed.
go, John, don't talk SO; you know
you promised me that nigh onto q year
ago; but you think you'll Just take one
dram, and then just one more, and afore
you know it, it's too much. If you'd
only promise now that you'd nevertaste
nary drop ag'in."
Still he kept his eyes steadily turned
away from hers.
"Don't you mind, now," she went
on, chow your mother said one time,
Il reckon, Nancy, you count John q
mighty rough chap, but he's all right
at the core;' and don't you mind how
she used to pray for ysu in them old
times? Don't you mind the evening
we heard her praying down by the old
spring? If she's watching you among
the stars, how proud she'd be to hear
you promise. And, John," she con-
t1nued, dropping her voice to o whisper,
"I pray, too, sometimes. I haven't
never told you, but I've been feeling
right serious here of late. I've taken
to readin' my Bible, and I've just made
up my mind to live better'n used to ;
and pray for you, too, and 1t seems like
God hears me-" And she laid her head
on his shoulder to hide her tears.
His arms slipped around her, but he
still kept his eyes turned stubbornly
away from hers. At last, laying his
face against hers, he spoke earnestly
eyes, Nancy, promise"
Presently, starting up, he exclaimed ::
eff I haven't stayed till plum day
light !"
go john come and kiss baby afore
you go, he looks so sweet. Sammy,
Sammy ! wake up, honey, and kiss
-
"Bless his sleepy eyes Pappy's
little man I'll bring him some candy
when I come home ag'in."
All day Nancy went about with such
light, CHEEKY heart as she had not
carried in her bosom for many day
singing snatches of old hymns, and
thinking happy, hopeful thoughts of
him who, all those long hours, was
working his rudder against the strong
current of the Missouri.
That evening the stars shone brightly
down upon her, when she knelt down
by the little window, and asked Gods
blessings on her husband and his good
resolutions.
But she was awakened q few hours
afterwards by rush and confusion, n
shower of glass and hail across her
bed; and, catching her baby in her
arms, she sprang up, frightened and be-
wildered.
1t was terrible storm; one long to
be remembered by all who felt It's ter
rors. The deafening roar of the wind
and hail almost drowned the loud thlln-
der -claps. A binding flash of lightning
showed the trees almost bent to the
ground, and the house rocked to and
fro like cradle. She suddenly felt
new, strange feeling, as if she was fly
ing, floating, through the air. She
thought that she was dizzy, and caught
hold of the bed. A terrible crash-she
never knew how it all happened Her
baby's cries aroused her. The wind and
rain chilled her through. She started
to spring up, but something held her
down. A shock of pain darted over
her, and putting out her hand, she felt
a great beam lying heavily across her
limbs. 1t seemed as though it was
crushing her. Something struck her,
then another, and another. How they
stung! Oh was her child unsheltered
from that pitiless storm? His screams
grew louder. Oh she must reach
him She could see nothing through
the thick darkness, but she knew that
he was not far of. What if he, too,
was fastened, crippled? She stretched
her arms; every movement made her
pain more excruciating. She strained
every nerve; she could almost reach
him. What if he was free and could