Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-12-27

greatest OF the reservoirs was gOne-tne
avalanche of waters tore over the bank
in all directions, almost sweeping them
from their feet where they stood. Itlast-
ed but minute, but that minute was
enough for it to do its work of destruc-
ton as eftectually as years could have
been.
Its been touch and go with us boys"
said Kentuck, as they reached the level
ground and paused, partly to take breath
and partly to look upon the scene Of des-
truction. We'd a gone to kingdom
como with our gum boots on, If it weren't
for the grit and forethought of this gal.-
/ Poor creetur she stood it bully till she
seed you was all right-then She kind of
lost her grip, and drapped all hots to
wunst. A little good nussin', though,
will soon bring her round. George, old
boy this thing sets informal rough on us,
don't it T.? It's ondd in minute what's
taken us years to do. But if it brings
that gal an you together agin SOS you'll
stick, dammo if don't say Amen to
my part of it, Jest as long rs | live"
But what KentuclI thought about the
"little nussin'" did not prove to be the
case. The seeds of disease had been in
her system, the excitement she had un-
dergone only FASTENED their development,
and for many days her life hung trcmb
ling in the balance, while her distracted
mind, ever wandering back in the realms
of memory, lived in the past, and laid
bare the most secret recesses of her heart.
1t was days, nay, weeks, ere Mary
Willard again opened her ewes with the
light Of reason shining from within them.
She could hardly persuade herself she
was not dreaming, for although her
apartment had strangely familiar look,
ii was not one She could have been led to
expect. 1t was not her room ut Mrs.
Sanders, but her room at her husbands
house, and it looked rs though she had
never, oven for an hour, left it. There
was the great mirror in its usual place,
her lavolitc pictures where they had
hNNtl ihIlG ~ nv NNll ildbuHt ulll tllt
snowy covc,let on the bed was the one
she had made the first happy Summer of
her welded life She closed her eyes
again, and wondered it what she had
seen was reality, or only Imagination
Gradually it all came to her mind the
separation, the proceedings in the court,
and last OF all, the walk up the rosor-
voirs, and what had followed. She could
not reconcile these things with her pres
ont surroundings, and hoped that it was
but the memory of Il painful dream, re-
membered only for the lancied suffering
it had brought her. Her thoughts be-
came confused in trying to solve the prob
lem they had given, and it was only
when She cssayod to rise upon her elbow
and look around her, that she came to
the knowledge Of her own weakness. As
She fell back to her pillow, there was n
quick step to the side Of tho bed, and she
saw the haggard, careworu face Of her
husband looking down eagerly upon her.
" What has happened, George ?" she
asked, family.
" Don't speak, darling; you have been
very sick, but are better now. Now lie
very still while | call the doctor, for such
arc his directions"
lie passed from the room and presently
returned with the village physician
His view of the patients condition was u
most hopeful one, and with strict in
junction to remain quiet and not permit
! herself to become excited about anything,
he took his departure, leaving them
alone. For few moments they were 81
lent, when she made a motion which
brought his face close to her own:
thought | heard music, George"
You did, Mary. They are dancing
at the Hall, in honor Of Christmas Eve"
Christmas Eve! 1t all came cloar to
her now. The past was no dream, the
remembrance Of which she could put
aside at pleasure. And this was the
Christmas Eve party she had been inyit-
cd to attend, to which invitation she had
given half-assent. lie gathered from
her look that painful thoughts were pass
ing through her mind, and bonding close
to her whispered
Mary, we have both been foolish and
it has made us very wretched. But we
will not talk of it now. Try and compose
! yourself to rest, and when you have the
strength to talk to me, will tell you how
| have prayed, God only knows how ear
nesty, for the moment when | could
hear the sweet words of forgiveness fall
from your lips How | have dreaded
lest you should be taken from me, with
those words unspoken. To ask you to
trust to mo once more, and may God
deal with me as do with thee"
She smiled in reply to his earnest
words and manner Of speaking, and the
wan hand be had taken within his own
gave faint pressure. Then she fell into
a deep aud quiet shimbor, which contiu-
ued until the lengthening shadows were
falling from the westward, and the day
was far advanced.
She lay quiet for time, thinking upon
her course Of action. 1t did not take
her long to decide upon that, and with
her determination came visions Of the flu
ture which enchained her thoughts. A
light step by the bedside awoke her from
her reverie, and she saw one OF her neigh
Dor ladies standing by her.
"My husband ?" she asked.
"Ho'Il come ut once. He went to lie
down, but left orders to be called when
ever you awoke." And in a moment