Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-09-18

knowledge brought her but melan-
choly satisfaction. The reform had
come too late-,oo late There was
wide gulf between them now
But one evening in the golden Oc-
tober, Nettie felt herself obliged to
pass Hary's farm. 1t lay between her
fathers home and the village. But
she had heretofore taken round
about way in going to and from the
village. On the evening in question,
however, she had been detained in the
village until it was nearly 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 light in the sit
ting 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 once been home to
her-frst Of happiness, then of misery.
By-and-by she felt an irresistible
yearning to look at the interior once
more. He was evidently within, and
there was no danger that he would
see her So she walked hurriedly
across the road, opened the gate and
softly stepped into the lawn. Anoth-
er minute and she was at the window,
looking in. What singular behavior
But she could not help it.
The little room was as neat as when
she herself had watched over it. A
cheerful fire was burning in the CRATE,
although the night was not cold; and
lighted lamp stood on the table. 1t
was there that Harry was 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. Was he asleep
or was he buried in a sad reverie ?
Nettie thought the latter was the case,
and her heart was touched.
81 wish | had borne with him" she
said.-But a moment later her heart
was touched, when she saw a 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 the wo-
man in her heart was aroused, and she
was at the door in a moment. No
ceremony-she burst into the sitting
room and was at his side.
"Oh, Harry"
Her voice quivered with emotion.
"Why, NettleP he exclaimed, try
ing to hide his tears-men are asham-
ed of them-''is it you?"
eyes, Harry, l was passiug-I look
ed in-I saw you sitting here so lone
ly, and couldn't help coming in. /
thought of the time we were happy
here and-.'
Then her 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.
He arose and took both her hands
from her face and held them in his
own. 81 thought you had blotted me
out from your memory
"No, no, Harry" she sobbed, 81
could not do that. l could not help
leaving you; but | left you loving you
more than ever. O, | have been un-
happy" y
"Nettie, you have heard that L"
"Yes, l have heard that you have
changed-that you do not drink any
more-that again you are manly and
industrious as you used to be, but how
lonely you must be here!' and the
tears gushed forth anew as her heart
felt what her lips spoke.
eyes, I'm lonely, Nettie-more so
than you may think but | have de-
served this punishment for the way l
acted. l had no discouragements-
1 had nothing to make me do so. 1t
was only a passion for drink that
seemed impossible for me to overcome.
You were all wife could be. When
you left me thought should become
worse than ever. Only day or two
after you left me was in town drunk,
and | heard some village poople-they
thought couldn't hear them across
the street-passlng all sorts ofremarks
about me, saving | was doomed