The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-12-31

SuSy, containing q draft for money, and
she sorrowfully hid them away, the very
sight of them cutting her to the heart.
Home was not home to her, with Walter
away, the weary heart-sickness pressing
sorely upon her.
One morning when her husband had
been gone nearly six months, an uncle
of Susy's died and left her 800,
Montague Hope heard of the legacy with
a grim smile.
81 suppose madam will have a set of
diamonds" he said, cor fancy ward
robe from Paris"
To his surprise, late in the day, Susy
came into his office. She had never
been favorite with the old man, but
his heart softened rs he looked in her
sad, pale face.
"Mr. Hope" she said, timidly, CT
have come to ask great favor of you"
"Well, my DEAR" he answered
gently, "I should be pleased to grant
it, 1 am sure"
"You have heard Of my legacyl"
1 CT have"
"You know of this miserable separa-
ton; that is all my fault. have plan
to end it. don't want to excuse my
self, for know that was foolish and
eXtravagant, but [ am sure if we had
not lived in fashionable boarding
house 1 never would have cared so
much for expensive clothing. I am a
good housekeeper, for my grandmother
taught me how to cook and sew and
keep q house in order. What l want is
to buy a small house, furnish it neatly,
and have home of our own and then"
the blue eyes were lifted pleadingly
-" won't you let Walter know how
sorry am, and bring him back. L
would not trouble you about the house,
but grandfather is so old that any I'M
usual business troubles him."
"You are sensible woman" Uncle
Montague said, emphatically, "and
will help you with all my heart L sup
pose you are anxious to get into your
house as soon as possible p
"Indeed am ~
"Well, will call tomorrow and tell
you what have done.
Such time as Uncle Montague gave
upholsterers for the next fortnight He
bought gem of two-story house,
with all "modern improvements, and
Susy to go with him to select car
! pttS, lulllllllIc dlltt llOllScllOltt WdlGS.
Then he drove the workmen till every
spot within the four walls was i'll shi
ming order.
"We won't write to Walter till every
thing is ready" he said.
| And one sunny morling he escorted
Susy to the completely furnished house,
where a strong-armed servant was al
ready installed, and made Il little speech.
" L am rich bachelor, my dear, and
Walters my heir, and dear as son to
! me. [ have never given him wealth,
/ because I think he will be happier,
nobler man for leaning to depend upon
| his own exertions. I disapproved of his
marriage because thought you We're a
silly, spoiled child, who would mar his
/ life's usefulness"
"You We're right" said Susy, tear
fully and humbly.
81 was aOrOng. The last two weeks
have proved that. had no business to
encourage him in this wild-goose expedi-
ton, but as my atonement for my inius-
tice to you ask you to accept this house
and all that it contains. You will find
the piano tirst-rate instrument, and the
pictures, though few, are good. Your
own money, if you will trust it to me, L
will invest i'll secure stock that will give
you little income of your own.
"How can l thank youl'' sobbed
Susy.
"By growing rosy and happy, and
giving me a corner of your fireside now
and then. Now, my dear, am going
home to write to Walter"
But before the letter had accomplished
its journey telegram shot past it, carry
ing terror to Walter Hope.
"Come home at once; Susy is danger
ously ill"
Oh, the heart sinking, the bitter re-
pentance. All the weary loneliness of
this horrible fear. Susy, little, tender,
loving Susy, ill, perhaps dying! Walter
Hope had hardened his heart by saying
to himself that Susy never loved
him. But he knew it was false; Susy had
loved him. He had taken her, petted
child, from her tranquil, happy home,
put her where every hour there was
temptation to some fresh extravaganza,
and then, when she, like child, craved
indulgences beyond his means, had
roughly granted them while depriving
her of his protection and presence. And
she had fretted herself i'll.
Oh, how the long journey tortured
him ! If ever he could reach Susy and
hear her say she forgave him, he would
never leave her side again, If her life
was spared, and she still craved the ex-
travagances of her friends, he would try
by love and gentleness to win her to more
reasonable wishes Over and over again,
in the long, tedious journey, he lived the
few short months of his married life,
every harsh word rising to torment him,
and all Susy's winning charms reproach-
ing him. If she died, he would never
know happiness again. Perhaps she
was already dead So the self-com-
muning went on. He had led busy
life in the six months that poor Susy was
fretting her heart away in self-reproach-
full sorrow, and had had but few hours
for meditation, Long, hard-working
days found him utterly weary at night,
and in his rapid movements from place
to place, the frequent changes from hotel
to hotel, he did not miss home comforts
as he must have done in more settled
life Home had indeed never been more
than a name to Walter Hope, who had
boarded under his uncle's care since he
was a mere boy. The privacy of ones
own house, ones own table, were to him
misty possibilities when he should have
won a sufficient fortune to buy house.
But he felt with bitter force what
desolation life would be to him if Susy
died.
A r -