Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-11-28

upon hlhself. p71V rt,, h, =.
It lu time he got his discharge 1an
his pension, aud began to think IN,
liously and seriously upon the nece'
sity Of seeking some occupation, fG
which, In spite Of ell the change
that had occurred, he would be q
ted. Bella, the younger,-a pal,
quiet, little fellowvhad come rs
new claimant t. onshis fathers tim
and cares.e, He must not be idle
and yet what could q poor one arm
ell soldier do, in the midst of tn
strife and turmoil of busine IS an,
the hurry to be rich which eve
marks American life. A..
He resolved ut last to remove t.
the Western town which became Ou
place of residence, aud to opeu ther'
what believe is called a Land office
If he needed an appointment from
the Government, he got it; but
knew little of details at the time
owing to my feeble health.
My mother feared that l would
not 10 able to endure the tatigues
before me, but the physician's proph
ecy that the journey, the change
and the responsibilities would help
me greatly was found to be true,
With the new home and the new
life, both my husband and myself
felt new strength, BY the time the
one had established b usiness and ar.
ranged it in what he called "run.
ming order," the other had her house
settled and a household system in
operation, we were astonished to
find ourselves SO well, so happy, so
and SO charmed with all
the surroundings of our new life.
] think we had been about a year
in tho West when the occurrence
which I am about to relate aud for
the relation of which this little
sketch has been written, took place.
1t was a dark winter night the
streets were not alone sloppy, but
the slow falling wintcr-rain had fill.
ed them deep with mud, thick and
as mortar. They were al
NEST deserted, and nobody surely
could be expected to venture out in
them from any prompting save me-
;essity.
This 1 represented to Bella as he
rose from the tea-table and prepar-
I'd to return to the office for the eve.
hing.
"There'll not be a soul at the of.
ice the whole evening"" I said. 1--WE
lave had few enough home-even-
ngs together since we were marri-
ID, and think you might remain
With me now!'
Bella demurred; he granted the
lnpropitiousness of the evening,
'ut averred that, in his scheme of
minor moralities, business always
lad precedence of pleasures and
o, laughing and bidding us good
'ye. he went on his way.
1t seemed very long evening. l
Fas alone, for servants are a scarce
commodity in the West, and kept
one. Little Bella lisped his good
light early, and no neighbor brsved
he inclement weather to come to
ne. Pleasant book nor sewing SUI.
iced for me; the dreary hours
sngthened themselves and seemed
lade of countless minutes. I was
estless and anxious, and could give
o cause for either. Never had the
venings, so many of which I had
pent in cheerful quietude under
reciscly similar circumstances,
eemed SO long and lonely. |
At last the clock struck nine, and |
listened for the expected football !
ct moment after moment passed !
way, and he came not. An hour
assed, d,-"He has met friend,"
aid then, "they have gone to sup
the hotel, or the new restaurant"
enforced patience for another hour.
The time wore slowly away, as I
1t or paced the room in an increas-
lg uneasiness and alarm. Twelve
clock tolled forth from the ebony
me-piece On the msntal. could
clay no longer, but was torn by
duties. How could
ave unprotected the house where
y innocent little one slepti How
'frain from gaining some knowl-
lge of the whereabouts Of the dear
elpless husband who had never
# me alone when it was possible
, be with met Every theory &C.:
,unting for his absence was flung
} the winds. InO longer strove to