Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-10-14

secret of the mothers trouble LII the
flushed and bloated face of one of her
sons. Mrs. Elliott looked at me with a
little surprise, and said more quietly:
81 agree with you; it is very great
evil, perhaps the greatest in our age;
but it is mans work to cope with it
publicly Women can help by making
home so attractive that husbands,
fathers, and brothers will find nothing
that can tempt them abroad. Thank
God! I have never had much personal
experience in this matter. My husband
takes a glass of wine when he feels like
it, and so did my father. There's no
tea and coffee.
"No," said Mrs. Ashman, with
deep sigh, 81 suppose not, if it would
only end there.
Again Mrs Elliott looked at her
little curiously and changed the subject.
The early shadows of the coming winter
evening soon after warned Mrs. Ashman
that she must be on her way homeward.
At Mrs. Elliott's request I remained to
tea.
Her husband came in at the usual
hour / do not wonder she half idol
lied the handsome dark-eyed man,
with his free and easy western bearing,
refined by eastern culture (for he had
completed his studies at the East). He
certainly petted her to her hearts con-
tent. But tonight he seemed little
preoccupied and excited. After the
meal was over he Immediately excused
himself. .t e
1cf4 h>.r
ing, Vinton ?" asked his wife, plead
ingly. ,r.
"Indeed'I must, Nellie. It's court
week, you know. There are many
lawyers in town, and / have much on
hand.
[ heard her kiss him affectionately at
the door as he departed. and thought it
must be stress of business, indeed,
that would take man from such wife;
but surely that kiss would be protection
against every evil spell.
l sat with her till ten o'clock. We
only spoke at intervals, for we had at
tanned that true companionship that
does not require constant talking.
/. did not offer to stay later than ten,
for by so doing I might betray some
what of the anxiety and boding of i'll
that oppressed me- 1 do not often
have such feelings, but am always in
terror when T do, for trouble has soon
followed. Ny sitting room was oppo-
site her parlor, where knew she would
watch and wait. After lighting the gas,
i did not draw the curtains, but sat
down with my knitting where she could
see me, and SO practically watched and
waited with her. .- D.. ..s..a ...- q
When, from city steeple, eleven was
tolled out, my neighbor grew restless.
When with solemn, measured stroke
midnight was announced, / heard her
side door open and her quick steps on
the gravel. [ met her at the door,
safssDear Mrs. NJ ----, she exclaimed
lbreathlessly, chow good of you to be
,up! / half believe you have been
watching with me. Vinton has not
come yet. What does it mean? He
never stayed SO late before.
She was shivering as with cold, but it
was the chill of fear. I put my arms
around her and said:
Let us hope for the best, my dear.
# you wish I will come and stay with
you. ~" - r.-
"Please do" she. half sobbed, and
then fastened back, as if unwilling to
be absent from her post moment. [
was soon at her side, and with her hand
(Which trembled and futtered like
frightened bird) in mine, we sat silently
through another long hour. -at
+. Like a knell, one sounded from the
steeple. Her hand closed convulsively
upon mine, and with an ashen face she
turned and gasped: .s-lt-
"Oh if anything should happen
If shouldn't see him again |"
Don't fear that" I said hastily
tsPm sure you need not If he had
been injured or sick, you would have
been sent for long before this. " ,,-
."What, then, can keep him % she
asked with a wild, questioning look. asg
ri" Well, I answered evasively, look
ing away from her, "when lawyers get
together they have good deal to say,
and time passes more quickly than they
think. They, may have had little sup
per or something of the kind" ysaH -.
She shook her head decisively.
Nothing of that kind would keep
Nlnton from me, especially now" she
said with emphasis. Il aga"
Another hour passed, and she sprang
up with such a frightened, haunted
look as [ hope never to see in her sweet
blue eyes again. CO. ne..ts" s=a'
l"Come,' she said hoarsely, eve
must find him. I shall go mad if I wait
here in uncertainty. a45sa|
"But where shall we go % asked in
dismay. ,.-l..4
"Anywhere!" she cried desperately.
"Action must take the place of this
awful suspense .-.l-
I saw that she would go, and prepared
to follow. but, before we could assume
some hasty wraps, the door-bell rang.
She flew to open it. Iii
Her husband stumbled in, and would
have fallen had she not caught him. It
was pitiable sight to see him leaning
upon and clinging to her frail and
trembling form, as if she were lamp
post AS the light streamed through
the door, I canght a glimpse of the
glitter of a policeman's star, and then