Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-22
Gales and Sketehes.
HOW HARRY CAME HOME.
CONCLUDED FROM YESTERDAY |


"Oh, sir. she entreated, ..don't trifle
with my feelings. Do you know anything
concerning my husband? If you do, for
mercys sake speak out "
Madam, have heard-that is-there
is bad news" he began, his voice husky
and broken.
/ Her face grew as white as death, but her
eyes were clear and calm, and her hand
! strong as she grasped his arm.
Sir if you pity me, tell me the worst
at once; can bear it,
Well, Madam, your husband and his
party were waylaid and murdered by the
Indians.
All, Did none escape?'
Not oner =
She turned sharply, leaving him with
out a word, and he saw her enter the
house, and close the door after her-and
that was the end. He would never come
back any more, no matter how patiently
she might wait and watch. He would
never know that he had son, never look
upon the little chubby face with its bold
! blue eyes and sunny eurls, so like his own.
From henceforth her heart and home were
desolatc.
And this was the aniversaryof her we'd
ding day. Six years ago and she was
happy Dflde. rive years she had been q
broken hearted widow Her boy slept in
his little bed, and she sat there, thinking,
thinking and gazing ont at the low, lead
en- sky, and the wind tossed trees. The
night was closing in rapidly-a night of
storm and darkness. The rain came down
in great smoking sheets, and the wild,
wailin% winds rushed round the gables
and went shrieking over the hills like hui
n
with the desolation that seemed almost
insupportable. Life was so hard, yet for
the boys sake she must endure and live
en-.
She looked down at her sable garments
with hot, binding tears. Six years ago
and She was robed in gems and blossoms
His face, his very voice, seemed to come
back to her, and she fan ied that his spirit
must be near her. No matter how high
above herb ow happy, she knew that he
loved her still, and his gloritied spirit may
have left its home of bliss to keep with her
that sad auniversary-th fancy consoled
her beyond expression. She glanced over
at the sleeping boy with the dim hope that
his father loved and watched over him.
Then sudden impulse shot across her
mind; she would not keep the anniversary
of her wedding day in the garments Of her
widow-hood; she would put on the robe.
he loved. If he knew aught Of her poor,
sad life, he should see how sacredly she re-
mcmhered and observed his simplest wish
eS.
>tcaling up to her chamber, she took out
the mauve silk and the dainty laces, grown
yellow and time-worn, and the pretty Jet
and gold ornaments, and arrayed herself
as in days gone by; and the old bloom
came back to her cheeks, and the bright
ness to her eyes; and she seemed TO drop
! her years. and her widowhood, and to
! spring out alresh into the rare beauty Of
her maidenhood. Thus arrayed she went
down softly, and seated herself before the
blazing fire, her face fearful and eXpec-
| tant. Ii his soul were near, and she clung
TO the hope that it wasas she clung to life,
he should see how tenderly she remem-
bercd him.
The anniversary night wore on wild and
dark with the storm. and still the poor wife
half dazed by her terrible sorrow, sat by
her lonely hearthstone robed in her festive
garments. At last there came step with
out sharp impatient step on the gravel.
but she did not hear it. A weary, travel
worn man, bronzed by exposure and pale
with long endured grief, came up to the
front entrance and paused beneath the low
window. Through the parted curtains
shone the ruddy freight, revealing the
warm attractive room; the old familiar
room, with his hat upon the wall, and his
books and meerschaum on the mantel, un-
moved as he had left them, revealed the
kitten purring on its rug, the little curtain
ed bed in the distance, and the dear, sweet
face. wet with tears and the dress he loved
so in the happy days that seemed too far
back to the poor wanderer to be real Was
it Il dream? Was that the wife from WHOM
he had been so long parted, whose face
had been present with him through all
all his lonely homs of peril and imprison-
ment. Was she waiting and watching,
aud keeping his home bright for his re-
turn?
He left the window, stole softly to the
side door. He raised the latch; it opened
and he stood upon the threshold
Intent upon her own musing, her own
sweet memories and sad reflections, Maud
heard no sound. Her heart was far back
with the husband she had loved so well.
The old dress had revived old associations,
and his very presence seemed round and
about her. She looked up with elasped
! hands and streaming eyes.
"Oh, Harry. oh. my husband" She
murmured '.if you knew how l love you,
how | mourn Your loss, surely your sou'
might speak to mne' ana 'ei' iie 'i"' w"
are near me. , m
..NIaud, my wife, my darlingT
She started to her feet with wonder
inc, startled face There he stood. worn
and weary. changed from the man he had
been. but his wife recognized him in an
instant Fora moments solemn awe filled
her eyes, and her great love hesitated and
trembed in the presence OF u spirit from
the other world, but the next instant she
held him in her arms with n wild cry.
"Oh, Harry, my husband you are not
dead. YOU have come back to me pn
/ His passionate kisses on her face. his
strong arm and throbbing heart, answered
her as no words could have done. He had
come back to her from Imprisonment amid
the wild, western mountains, from perils
and dangers. death itself.
For long time after she had heard mis-
story and had fully assured herself that he
was flesh and blood, and not spirit. rs