The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-06-13

and easy western bearing, refined by east
ern culture (for he had completed his stud
les at the east He certainly petted he
to her hearts content. But tonight hi
seemed little pre-occupied and excited
After the meal was over he immediatel!
excused himself.
"Must you 60 out again this evening
Vinton ~ asked his wife, pleadingly.
Indeed l must, Nellie. It's court weel
you know. There are SO many lawyers il
town, and l have much on hand.
heard her kiss him affectionately at the
door as he departed, and thought it mus
be a stress of business indeed, that would
take a man away from such wife, bu
surely that kiss would be protection agaips
every evil spell.
sat with her till ten clock. We spoke
only at intervals, for we had attained thai
true companionship which does not require
constant talking. l saw dreamy, far
away look come into the young wife's eyes
She was building castles in the future
when her prospect of maternity would be
realized in the supreme joy of mother
love, and her home be complete.
did not offer to stay later than ten, fol
by so doing l might betray somewhat Of
the anxiety and boding of ill that oppressed
me- l do not often have such feelings, but
am always in terror when do, for trouble
has soon followed. My sitting room was
opposite her parlor, where l knew she
would watch and wait. After lighting the
gas l did not draw the curtains, but sat
down with my knitting where she could
see me, and SO practically watched and
waited with her.
When from a city steeple eleven was
tolled out, my neighbor grew restless.
When, with solemn, measured stroke, mid
night was announced, heard her side door
open and her quick steps on the gravel,
met her at the door.
"Dear Mrs. NJ" she exclaimed,
breathlessly, show good of you to stay
up! l half believe you have been watch
ing with me. Vinton has not come home
yet. What does it mean? He never stay
ed out SO late before"
"Let us hope for the best, my dear. If
you wish will come and stay with YOU"
"Please do she half sobbed, and then
fastened back, as if unwilling to be alb
sent from her post moment. l was soon
at her side, and with her hand (Which
trembled like frightened bird) in mine,
we sat silently through another long hour.
Like knell one sounded from the stee-
Pile. Her hand closed convulsively upon
mine, and with an ashen face she turned
and gasped:
"Oh, if anything should happen-if l
shouldn't see him again ~
"Don't fear that" 1 said hastily, I'm
sure you need not. If he had been injured
or sick, you would have been sent for be-
fore this
"What then, can keep him" she asked
with a wild questioning look.
"Well," l answered evasively, looking
away from her, "when lawyers get togeth-
er they have great deal to say, and time
passes more rapidly than they think. They
may have had little supper or something
of the kind"
She shook her head decisively.
"Nothing of that kind would keep Vim
ton from me, especially now" she said
with emphasis.
Another hour passed, and she sprang up
fc;r
hope never to see in her sweet blue eyes
again.
Come" she said hoarsely, eve must
find him. I shall 60 mad if wait here in
uncertainty"
"But where shall we go?' l asked in
dismay.
"Anywhere she cried desperately. Ac-
tion must take the place of this awful
suspense"
l saw that she would 60, and prepared
to follow, but before we could assume some
hasty wraps the door bell rang. She flew
to open it.
Her husband stumbled in, and would
have fallen had she not caught him. 1t
was a pitiable sight to see him leaning and
clinging to her frail and trembling form as
if she were lamp post. AS the light
streamed through the door l caught a
glimpse of police-mans star, and heard
his gruff voice:
"Glad you're up, madam. He needs
looking after sure enough. If it had not
been for me, he might have met a foul
death, for l found him in the gutter this
raw cold night"
Sure enough, he was reeking with the
filth of the street, and besmeAriug the deli
cate fabric of his wife's dress as he clung
to her; but that wife would soon be in
agony over deeper, more loathsome stains.
cts ID lie !" hiccoughed her hus
band, in tones SO different from his usual
clear, manly voice. 81 was in feather
bed"
"God what is the matter with him ?"
gasped the wife.
Well, ma am, you are innocent" said
the policeman in not unklndly tone
"Tm sorry for you; but do you really
mean to say that you don't know he's
drunk I'll stay a bit and help you with
him if you WISH"
At the word "drunk " she tottered a
moment, as if she would fall, then, by
great effort recovering herself said
hoarsely:
"No, no: go away; l will take caee of
him. Stay; let me thank you for bring
ing him home, but in the name of mercy
don't tell any one what you have SEEM"
The man made no promise as he depart
ed, and shut the door.
"Mrs. M, l am even sorry you are
here l would like to hide this from the
world. Would that l could hide it from
heaven. But l know l can trust YOU
What shall do with him.
This horrid unexpected scene at the door
had found us both too bewildered to act,
for moment longer we looked helplessly
at each other.
Then her husband muttered, What's
the use standing here?" and he staggered
into the parlor.