Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-12-24

head, and wiped the tears from her tear-d dimmed
lsehes. Her mothers heat yearned
| after her child more than she could express
she longed eagerly to clasp to her arms the
| poor errng one, and assure her Of a. mother 8
! l1ye.
! 1t was hald duty then to give up the wild
dreams Of reconciliation, i'll which she had
| ndnlSed, and once more lapse back into the
dull sickening life without her darling She
hastily quilted the room, taking with her the
| merry pratt!ing children ut her feet and as
| sha tucked them shugly in their little crib,
rho mlrmured prayer to Heaven for not
only their fe-keeping, but that the kind
Shepherd wuu,d have watchful care over
her other lamb, tho wanderer from the little
| flock.
iortably back in his easy chair, and after tho
| first panB Of remorse had passed, composed
himself to enjoy doze after the wearing cares
oi day in tic city.
What change from the cosy pleasant room
OF the Graves dwelling to tho chilly street with
out. The hour WAS after eleven, and very few
pedestrians were abroad. In front of the man
| tion We have just left, however, stood a'single
sliiyeiipg creature mark for the pitiless blind
lng stoin that whired about her. The reader
needs second introduction she WAS the
woman Old Solomon had so surprisingly en-
conntoIed early i'll the evening.
But what brings her here Why does she
press 50 closely to the window pane, and drink
i'll eagerly the scenes within. IL is not
| difficult TO imagine. A iard life with drunken
husband, who, dying at last OF delirum tremens
| left her without shadow of support, two babes
under the ground in the PotieI's field OF u dis
tant city, thoroughly broken heart, and Helen
| Graves, that was, dragged her weary way back TO
tho old home, from whose shelter she had been
driven five years bef"re. IL was the old story.
| One more look at the dear old spot, where
once her merry laugh had sounded aud then
| the cold river would receive her. AZ it has re-
| ccived thousands Of other weak worn women
| the shameful end Of suicide
| Hungry, half clothed, frozen, she stood Le-
fore her own fathers door, daring not to entor,
| IN memory of that fearful curse ringing yet so
| plainly in her ears
Solomon Graves must assuredly have eaten
| something for his supper which greatly disa'
| greed with Ills dyepeptic system, Tor eleep he
cnuld not, and his mind was filled with visions
Of Helen in rags at his feet, teheeching forgive
nehB for her Gin. He turned uneaslly in his rest
| ing place, and at last opened his eyes from the
| bali doze into which he had been falling.
| Awoke to hear pitiiul moan at his side and at
| he turned, started toward the window from
| which the aound proceeded ,he caught sight OF q
| wofully pale face gazing buugrily at him, which
disappeared the moment it caught his eye.
| "Wlfe, wife. he shouted, starting hurredly
to his feet, aud bringing Mira. Graves quickly To
| his side by hls loud cries. ''Some ones tainted
outside the door," he exclaimed. "You know
| what to do; get some brandy, blankets and al
| those things, while so fetch the poor thing III,
| aud the good woman hastened to obey LIS Or
| ders, while le led by some inward prompting
| he know not what, rushed btreheaded out ol
| doors. and stumbled over u lieless bundle ol
rags, lying face down, prone ia the snow, undel
| the window.
| "Why, blCss my soul," he CALCULATED, "its
| the hoity toity miss that ran away from me TIL.
evening. Where did she come from, | wonder
| well. she can't run away now, that's flat, ant
| with this philosophical remark he hastened into
| the house and laid his naninate burden npor
| the comfortable sofa before tie glowing CRATE
| and then ran wildly ont to call his wife.
A scream, half of terror half JOY, brongh
| him back to the room, and lie discovered Lit
wife, casping the ragged outcast to her bosom
| raining tears upon her pale face, llueging all,
| kissing her in supreme ecstacy OF Joy.
For u moment Solomon stood amazed at th'
| unusual sight, and then, like flash, the Who'll,
| truth burst upon him. Half crazed with dead
| ly fear that he might after all, be mistaken, h'
| tore his wife from her love task and looked npoi
| tho features OF his child, his Helen.
| A preyer of thankfulnees escaped his lips, an,
| with a tender love light in his eyes. he bent TO
| wards her to imprint a kiss upon her brow.
| Shuddering at his approach, she turned TO he
| mothers protecting arms, 6 WAS 30 cold sh'
| muimured, " 80 cold and wanted to see you
d, ar faces all, and then so away to de-l trul.
| aid NOT mean to come il--but the cold made m
80 faint; I'm warm now; don't curse, father; III
| 20" and she made IL feeble attempt to rise.
Great hot tears Of shame and remorse rolie'
down the checks OF old Solomon Graves, an
| ioined with those of his wife, forming as it wer
a new baptiemal stream upon their daughter
| forehead, and receiving her once moro to thel
hearts, purified by suffering.
His mute tokens of lang granted forgiveness
were mndsr.t9oa y the psor wanastsr resi- % III
hope crept over tie hatgard face, clearing away
az it seemed tho lines Of care go deeply grave
| there. ,,
Now, dear reader, lot the curtain drop. Thin
YOU not there was merry Christmas, indeed
Oh that glad next day, for the reunited house
hold