The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-01-24
monster had passed, leaving me the
crushed remains of my child


She stopped short, as if suddenly fro
zen in body and soul. Her husba nd
tremblcd in every limb, clutching It
his beard as if it could steady him.
sat speechless witness Of this fearful
grief My sympathy had no words; my
eyes must have told them hoy deeply
1 entered with them into this touching
history.
Thomas recovered himself first.
Going to his wife he tendery placed his
arm around her She started with the
magnetic touch, looked up at him, and
then at me, as if waiting for mo to pass
Judgement.
| could only take her hand between
my own and say:
.Poor, poor mother! Noble woman
Righteous wife!
at this, her eyes bcamed as if sudden
ly relieved Of dark vail; flush of gen
une happiness covered her face, the
whole countcnancc of the woman chang
cd from u sluggish horror to au incom
parable relief
Thomps stretched his hand taward
me; his eyes flushing with joy. his head
erected with manly pride, and for the
first time in years his bread shining teeth
appeared through smile once more;
God reward your kind heart :, I'D
good words, sir, she cried. 1T seems
since hearing you as if We rred be
happy again 7
She embraced her hush nd, looked
lovingly up to him, and softly asked !:
DO you think so, Thomas 2
just SO, just SO, wife He could
scarcely erticulatc the words for the
emotion that conquered him now. Hot
tears fell on his wifcs hands and face
she, too, sobbod aud wept with him.
They were the first tcnrs. None were
shed during that horrible time.
You see what it was SHAT changed me
so, all these years, sir: sl-he question
constantly appeared before me: Have
you not committed an uupardnnabc sin
against your own flesh and blood? |
could 6nd no rest, My peace was gon e
forever, and told Thomas never
again would | dare became u moth
cr'
A deep blush mantlcd her face and
she paused l thought here was the
time to advise and restore harmony to
the distressed family. said rcproach
fully to her: You appear orly to thilk
of yourself, Frau Thomas. DO you not
suppose your husband has also suffered
all those years the same as yourself? 2
She looked at me astonishcd, and rath.,
abashed, replied
OF course he was miserable to sec me
so, but, as he could not help me- he let
me alone
Now, Frau Thomas, we have the
secret, and that is where you have be ecu
unjust, and wrouged your husband. You
daily exhibited regret that his life had
been saved at SO great a sa crlicc to
yourself 1t left him in more uncertain
ty regarding your love for him, apd can
you blame him if he did not think his
life too dearly bought? 1t was noble
in him net to reproach you for saving
his life at the cost OF the one dearer to
you. Is it not so. Thomas?'
Truly, you have read my feelinge
better than could have explained them
Frequently my heart seemed to break
when l realized what you have said, but
] I could not blame her, when she had
done so much for me-
The wonan's face was q study. En-.
barrassmcnt, regret, perplcxity ap
pcared, until for very shame she cast
herself upon her husbands breast, be-
ging his pardon.
1t was his turn to be ombarrassel now
and it was really touching to see the
man act as if he had done something
very foolish.
| left them confident in their future
happiness, and so it proved In time
another child came to bless the sorcly
tried mothers heart, but never again
the question, Husband or chi!i?'
NY First Loaf of Bread.