The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-01-02

was at the window. What singuler
behavior But she could not help
IT.
The little room was as neat as
when she had herself watched over
it. "A cheerful fire was burning in
the CRATE, although it was not very
cold; and lighted lamp on the table.
1t was there that Harry was sitting.
How her heart bounded a. she
caugh sight of him He held IN his
right hand o book from his scanty
library.
She recognized it at once, but he
was not reading now. ns had al
lowed it to drop, with its open pages
looking nutely to the ceiling-and
his taco was supported, halt conceal
cd in the left hand. ths elbow resting
on the table. Vas he asleep-or
was he buried in sad revere Not.
tie thought that the latter was the
case, and her heart was touched.
I wish l 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 1t. All that
was womanlv in her heart was arouse
and she was at the door III a moment.
No ceremony-shc burst into the
sitting-room and was at his side.
oh, Harry
Her voice quivered with emotion.
| Why, Nettie" he exclaimed, try.
rg to hide his tears, men are ashamed
OF thcm-'Is~is it your
" 's, Harry holding her face in
hor han, Is. Il was pas.ing--looked
in-I saw YOU sitting hero so lonely,
and could ..,ot help coming in. l
thought OF tho tlms whsn we were
happy hsre, and
Then her own ,~oman'y tears
could be repressed no /. ogsr. There
was no use trying to hld. them'--
Besides, her voice broke do>..n ana
she could say no more just then.
'Nsttie, he arose, and took both
hands from her face and held them |
in his own, I thought you had blot.
ted me out Of your memory
No, no, Harry she sobbed. y
could not help leaving you, but left
you loving you more thar ever. Oh
l have been unhappy
'Nettie, you have heard that l.
Yes, have heard that you have
changed--that you do not drink any
you are again manly, and
as you used TO be, but
how lonely you must be here?' And
tho tears gushed forth anew, as her
heart felt what here lips spoke.
Yes, I'm lonely Nettie, more so
than you may think, but l deserve
this punishment for the way l have
acted. / had no discouragemsnts, 1
had nothing to make me do SO. It
was only passion for drink, that it
seemed impossible for me to over
come. You were all a wife should
and could be. When you lett mo l
thought l should become moro reck
less than ever. Only day or two
after | knew you had left me for
good, | was in town drunk, aud |
heard some village people, they
thought l couldn't hear them across
tho strset-passing all sorts Of re
marks about me, saying that now l
was doomed man, certain. that my
destruction was near. Although in
Joxicate3, it startled me, aud for the
irs: time felt the full force OF our
and realized that ruin
stared me in the face. l had bot
lie of whlskey IN my pocket AZ the
lime, anI when went out OF town I
.mashe,l it, bathed my face in little
stream by the roadside, and resolved
.evs, TO touch whisky again. l had
RED it long enough to know that |
'euld not drink and be tcmperate.-
t was hard to keep my resolve for !,
he first week or two, but stood it,
md would not touch it if it ran ia :
treams. Now, Nettie, if you love
nc the same, let us get married over
'gain, and the bitter experience of
hs last two years will only enhance
'ur happiness. Nettic, dear, what
10 you say ?
She could not answer, sha was cry.
ng as if her heart would break, and
er head was pillowed upon his
reast 1t was more eloquent Yes
han abe could have spoken with the
ongue.
The moon was rising, and it never :
,oked SO happy az it did while walk
4 home with Nottie.
So Harry Rodgers and Nettie Ray :
zero married again, and therc is no I,
ivorco that could separate them !
ow. :