Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21
temperance.
Divorced.
"He'Il 20 to the dogs now ?

NhNu ulo WiiN llNNu WIN ulnI aNUW tutN
she has left him, and all restraint is re-
moved, he'll 20 the rest of the downward
way in no time" ia
ON give him just one year to be buried"
''Pshaw! Half that time will finish him"
! "Well, pity him, too, but | pity her
more. He brought the misery on bothl
I Such was the gossip of half DOZEN viii
layers, who stood in front Of one Of the
principal stores, one summer evening, while
the subject Of their remarks went staggcr-
ing by on the opposite side.
II was evident that he was trying to
walk straight, but such eudeayors always
seem to make a drunken man walk more
crooked. However, it proved he was not
lost TO all sense Of shame, and still retain.
ed an aversion to being ridiculcd and de-
spised.
But Harry Rogers had carried on at
fearful rate for a year or two past He
had just one vice-drink but that was
enough. lie had married worthy farm.
er's daughter, Nellie Ray, only few years
previous, but such had been his conduct
during more thau year past that she bad
been obliged to cut him loose to pursue his
prohigate course alone, and legal separa.
tion had just been effected
Harrys home was on little farm,
mile from town. He owned it, but then it
was heavily mortgaged, aud in another
year foreclosure was certain. II was not
likely his creditors would spare him when
he made no effort to meet bis obligations.
A week passed after that summer even
ing on which all agreed in predicting bis
early ruin-two wecks--a month or two
What mystery is here To the utter be.
wilderment Of the prophesyiug sages, Harry
discontinued visiting the taverns, aud was
rarely seen in the village When he had
come to the store he speedily transacted his
business and then went home-sober.
Wonders never cease when they get a
start. lie was next reported as actually at
work on his farm. Had but one man told
this in the village, he would have been
marked as lacking yeracity-but as several
ladies vouched for the fact, it was worthy
Of credence.
The little farm began to look healthier
as the summer wore on. The fences
Strengthened up, the weeds disappeared
the animals looked fatter and happier, and
the little cottage looked neater.
Time wore on, and the great change was
more remarkable every day. Harry's char
liable creditors called aud told him be
might have his own time to pay off the
mortgage.
The fall came; and the farm yielded an
abundance of crops, aud Harry found him.
self beginning to drift along with the tide
Of prosperity,
And Nettie had begun to live her young
girlhood over again, as it were, under her
fathers roof-but somehow it was not like
the happy, joyous girlhood of memory. 1t
was sober and quiet now, and she fell into
the train of musing; and every now and
then there passed through her mind Ger.
tain thought-She was neither maid nor
wife.
She avoided the vicinity of her late home,
nor had she once seen Harry since the sep
aration-but she had heard Of him occa-
sionally-knew that he was a changed man.
Still this knowledge brought but melan-
choly satisfaction The reform had come
too late! There was wide gulf between
them now.
But one evening 10 the golden October,
Nettie felt herself obliged to pass Harry
farm. 1t lay between her fathers house
and the village But she had before taken
roundabout way in going to and from the
village. On the evening in question, how
ever, she had been detained in the village
until it was nearly dark and she determin.
ed 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 sitting 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 the home to her
first of happiness, then of misery. By
and-by she felt an irresistible yearning to
look at the interior once more. lie was
evidently within, and there was no danger
that he would sec her, So she walked hur-
riedly across the road, opened the gate and
softly stepped into the lawn. Another
minute aud she was at the window, looking
in. What singular behavior. But she
could not help il.
The little room was us neat as when she
herself had watched over it, A cheerful
fire was burning in the CRATE, although the
night was not cold aud lighted lamp
stood on the table. 1t was there that Har.
ry was sitting. How her heart bounded as
she caught sight of him. He held 10 his
hand book from his scanty library.
She recognized it at once but be was
not reading now. Was be asleep or was
he buried in sad reverie? Nettie thought
the latter was the case, and her heart was
touched.
II wish had borne with him,p she said.
But moment later her heart was touched,
when she saw tear roll down his cheek
and drop upon the book The lonely man
was not asleep-he was crying.
She could not help 1t. All the womao
in her heart was aroused. and she was at
the door in moment. No ceremony Il she
burst into the sitting room aud was at his
side.
"Oh, Harry :" i.' al
Her voice quivered with emotion.
"Why, Nettie + he exclaimed. trying TO
hide his tears--men are ashamed Of them
-"is it you 2"
"Yes, Harry, was passing-l looked in
Il saw yoa sitting here so lonely, and
couldn't help coming in. l thought Of the
time when We we're happy here, and"
Then her womanly tears could be re-
pressed no longer. There was no use OF
trying to hide them. Besides, her voice
broke down and she could say no more just
then. tlH af.In I I'lI
lie arose and took both her hands from
her face, and held them in his own. "l
thought you had blotted me out from your
memory"
mo. no, Harry" she sobbed, "I could
not do that. could not help leaving you;
but left you loving you more than ever.
Oh, ! have been unhappy" lr'r. % la
I" Nettie, you have heard that L"
"Yes, | have heard that you have chang
cd-that you do not drink any more--that
again you are manly and industrious as
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