St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-10-08

OF honor availed much to stem the
great black wave of ruin that was ris-
ing steadily.
Once or twice he went to Newport,
and Bertha and he watched each other
with curious interest. Seeing hlm III
the midst of other people, she began
to admire him as she had never done
before. He was altogether Il man, and
she grew proud of him, with shy.
half tender pIide that had Il new sweet
ness and Il new trouble in it. But he
told her none of his anXicticS. She
should keep the ease and prosperity for
which she had married him as long rs
he could give them to her, he thought.
bitterly. 1t was for women who iOrcd
| their husbands to help heai their bur
dcns. The first week in September he
ran down hurricdly. There was Il long
ing in his heart to see her just once
more at her best. in the midst of all the
good things with which he had sur
rounded her What might chance be
fore the next time they met. who knew ?
After that visit. Mr.. Archibald did not
write. The great black wave was
sweeping down on him fast, fast. He
w,gs struggling gallamtly, but the tide
N-.-'~ N'itt
rest took possession of Bertha. She
wondered what had kept him silent.
She had sent her weekly letter, full of
| pretty little sentences, carefully written,
aS one writes who is anxious To please ::
/ but no word had come. The sea- seemed
saddcr than usual. 1t broke upon the
beach with Il long lament. 1t seemed
To Bertha that there WAS trouble III the
air, and she trcmbled for him, her huS-
| band.
/ The next morning she went down al
/ tired for travelling. She WAS going
/ home. There was Il little choking in
| her throat as she said the words. She
| had only now begun t" realize how dear
/ home was to her.
All dav she travelled. and il was after
dark when she entered her own house.
/ She asked for Mr.. Archibald. and WAS
told that he had not been home for
three days. Something must he wrong.
/ she WaS sure. She went into his study
il wa> dusty and dc>olatc. Her last
letter lay unopened upon his desk. She
ate Il little supper. and then she went
up stairs /" rest, charging the servants,
if Nh Archibald came. to say nothing
!
She threw herself down upon her bed,
and hogan t" think. What WAS this
that she felt fnI George Archibald
Was not this love at last. sweet. though
late ! Now. indeed. she knew that h,
WAS more To IrI than all the world he
sides. that She would rather have him
pnur than ANY one else rich rather
share his >nTIowS. Whatever they might
: he. than rejoice with another.
MY husband - she whispered "Ner
: and over To herself and then she ad
= died. half afraid of the tw" sweet words
MY love. my love-
Thinking of him. she fell asleep Il
last. and slept tor Il while very >"undly
Meanwhile the evening wore late. an'
the servants shut up the house an'
went to bed. ii WAS almost mldnigh
when George Archibald let himself il
. with his latch key. and went into hi
= study. He took up Bcrtha'> letter
which lay there still. and then laid
t down again. shaking aS one who look
"n death.
. Poor girl =" he said. 1t was thi
70 home she loved and married. not me
t and now all is lost. and can mevr
Il make it up to her again never.
:. And then he bowed his head on hi
e folded aims. and the great black WAY
II of ruin. reaching him at last. surge
II over him.
It WAS just then that .omcthim
II awnkc Bertha from her deep Sleel
e She wa> Supcrstitious a>. at heaI
I. most women are and il seemed to h,
that >omrthn. stood beside her IN tit
j. darkness. and whispered her To come.
=. \oi~,lr>>ly She descended the stat
Z and entered the study. She >aw tt
81 figure there. with the head bent III til;
t. avtul. passionate stiffness of grief. :
c tiI>t She Ircmhlcd. and thought i
e could not intrudc upon that tcIllh
n stiffness she who had been his hnu>'
mate. but never his other self. Ih,
- the something that had led her dow
d there seemed t" lead her ON. 1t ";
.. an influence outside herself. she Il
/ WAYS felt. \ cuurngr came t" he
" born of her love. his need VIII" knc
10 what She went up t" him. and pr
n. her hand on his pro>tIatr head.
- MIR. Archibald - she said. and the
a moment after. ''Gc"rgr my hu
f. band -
ii He started To his feet and SAW h
There lVlilt' nllll Itl W llll' Wv ~Ni'i
= uovn. with her long. soft hair falling
n. du>kv veil. ahout her shoulders. |
I'll Thought he had never known hcio
at that she was 81 beautiful. and the sig
ns rave him ii keen and sudden pain.
took her hands. and made her >it dow
ne ..Iou here. Bertha p he said. III
4 his voice WAS hoar>c with the effort
M made to keep it steady. Il thong
ne vou were in Newport. How came VI
tc here just now -
-. Il had Il strange. restless night. |;
Ill night" she answered, hnmbly f"l
III seemed to her that he was blaming h
M '.amd could not stay any longer.
Ist felt that something was the matter
ne home"
IL "Ah. it is well you came. perlal
to You must have known the worst Sool
rr and there may he arrangements V
no will wish to make before this house
l's closed.
Is CLOSED . George, are y"m goi
ne away Is il all Il failure. "ur eNpe
,ld mcnt ~ she cried. with Il curious Il
of ter in her eyes. and Il flush that burn
his like fever on her cheek.
ot YES. il is all Il failure" he answer,
lat hardly knowing how sharply he spoil
M, in his bitter pain. II have failed. \
kr do not know, suppose, for YOU are
woman, that New York has been slIi
mg en- for the last three days with pan
lSc 1t has rocked like Il ship in Il gale
nd wind. Scores have gone down to ru
NJ I am ruined. too. do not care
IL my self; but bow shall make it up
for You You married me for this hon
these things around y"n. and now tn
ly, are all swept away. | have nothl
ill with Mhich tn rnmSnli. Won. " bal Sh