Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-12-25

bye, he fully intended going to the sa.
loon, exeusing himself, and returning
Immediately home. But his companion:
would listen to nothing of the kind
And one ventured the remark thats' Mr.
Morely feared a reverse of his good Ior-
tune of the night before. Stanley had
been in high luck then, and the speaker
had suffered much,in consequence. 9th
ers sang out, ayes, yes; you must give
him chance of revenge" He could
not resist. Throwing himselfinto a seat
he began to play.
An hour passed, another and another,
and still fortune favored him. He could
not withdraw. Ins,nuating remarks
met his ear, that made him remain and
play on.
At twelve O'Clock he grew uneasy,
dreadfully so. A sweet voice was sound
ing in his ear, calling him home. Wild
er, more beseeching it grew. The little
arms seemed about him then, drawing
him away. He started up. He mpst,he
would go home. The luck had chang
ed. He knew it not. Mechanically he
had thrown down Afhe cards. His
thoughts were of the sweet child at
home. Again cool, ,well-directed shaft
reached him. The voice has grown
weaker that seemed calling him. Pshaw!
he was nervous; SO much loss of sleep
had made him so. No sound reached
his ears then, but those of his compsu-
ions. The baby's pleading tone had
ceased. He began again, and played on
until all were willing to stop.
Leisurely he traversed the streets
homeward. There was no need of haste
then. The weary eyes had long since
ceased their watching, and were closed
in sleep, he hoped. Yes, Lilly's eyes
were closed; she was sleeping. They
would not seek his, with reproaching
,ook, on his return.
He neared the house. From the op-
posite of the street he saw, through the
partially drawn curtains, strange forms
moving about his room.
HIS heart gave quck bound of ter
ror. Something was wrong. Was Lii
ly ill?
With hasty strides he crossed the
street. With trembling fingers he plac-
ed the key in the lock. AS he entered
the hall, low, piteous means disturbed
the stiffness of the night. Another in
slant, and he was standing beside the
bed where Nellie was kneeling, her arms
still clasping the little lifeless form of
her child. His child, his Lilly, whose
loving caress seemed still warm about
him, her pleading voice still sounding
in his ear, lay still, pale and cold be-
fore him. Her pure spirit had fled 10 a
Father whose love never faileth. Her
frail little life had yielded, "a speedy vic
tim to that terror of all mothers, the
Group.
For weeks after this terrible shock,
Stantly Morely plunged more wildly in
to scenes of dissipation and vice--drink-
ing more frequently of the wine cup.
Friends gathered round, earnestly en-
deavoring to reclaim him, but in vain.
The poor stricken wife still clung to
him. Every night she watched and
waited his coming-her heart ever fill
ed with dread of some new sorrow.
1t was a wild,terrible night in Novem-
ber--such night that no human would
venture from shelter except forced by
the direst necessity. Never was music,
with its sofG and sweetest strains, so
soothing as those wild, tempestuous
sounds from without,as they filled Nell
lie Morely's ears. That night he would
be safe with her--that night her eyes
might cease their watching, ,her anxious
heart grow still.
Stanley threw himself on q lounge,
and soon was lost in slumber. He had
not been drinking rs much as usual that
lay, and his sleep was sweet and quiet.
Nellie watched him as he lay. His ex-
preston was different from tine usual
one. She shaded the cheerfully burn
ing fire, and turned low the gas,that he
might sleep on. And then she knelt
and prayed-prayed as she had not for
4 long, long time. And spirit of peace
grew in her; she hoped again ;she pray
ed once more with faith.
How long she knelt she knew not.
She was aroused by a slight movement
Of her husband. Looking up, she saw
his arms extended, and heard him mur-
muir:
:'Lilly, come to papa"
Again he grew quiet, She knew he
was dreaming of his child. There was
a sweet, gentle smile playing about his
lips, and frequent words of endearment
escaped him. He dreamed on; the
smiles faded away. A weight of sor-
row gathered on hi J still handsome face.
His lips trembled, and from beneath the
luivering eye-lids tears stole gently
down, bringing the tidings of heart
touched and softened by some magic
power.
ooh, God grant that it mag be thus in
his waking hours" Nellie murmured.
A little longer and he sprang up from
his slumber, gazed wildly into the mir
ror opposite, and cried out:
"'Tis no dream. Lilly, my darling,
you are with me, your dear arms still
,lasping me. No more-never again
will 1 grieve your gentle hearth
He sank back again upon the lounge,
passed his hand again and again over his
brow and then called softly:
"Nellie?''
In an instant she was beside him.
"Have 1 been sleeping?"
eyes dear"
"And dreaming?" l.
"Sweetly, Stanly; dreaming of our
child"
"Would to God that dream had been