The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-03-15

first separation since their marriage
and in locking over the year the.
bad passed together, she found iha
she had uot doue all Wilhin her pow
er to make their home happy one
When be returned things would b
dlfrrent;' It must not BE- said g
her that she had been found want
ing.
\ servant entered, bringing th'
~ ruing mail; she took it from th'
-alver aud Iistlessly ran over the let
trrs addressed to her; then, taking
up the morning Herald, she glanced
at he headings
Wha. was it that caused the fan
face TO grow pallld it the morning
sunlight? What terrible calamity
had swept the peaceful look from the
eyes? Only this, found in the col
umns of that piJlless newspaper:
"Awfu, disaster on the Phlladei.
phia, Washington & Baltimore Rail
road. Cars thrown from the track.
Fifteen killed; many mortally woun'
ded."
Then followed list of names,
prominent among which was that o!
Hou. John rhOrudyke.
She was young, aud her burden
was very heavy, because she believ-
ed SHE must bear it without hope Of
atonement
For one moment only did Marion
Thorndy ke remain where her grief
had met Der. but in that moment she
held every nerve in her body under
L control that must last until the
end
Ringing bell, she ordered her
carriage, gave a few hurried direc-
tions to her servants, then FASTENED
To her bedroom. Ten minutes later
she returned, carrying small tray-
cling bag in her hand, and got into
her carriage, directing the coachman
10 drive 10 the Philadelphia depot
Drive rapidly" she said. II must
catch the 1880 train"
just as she stepped on board the
train, q telegram was banded her
She opened it 10 the same mechan-
zeal manner in which she had doue
eyerythiDg since the news of her
trouble had come, and read: "JOhn
is alive. Come to our house.
A. W. c."
"Ob, God, be merciful! Let me
get there in time!' she prayed.
As Ibe train moved out of the de-
POT. she heard persons speaking of
the accident. She even heard. her
husbands name, bur she only drew
ner vejl closer over her face, and
lOoked ut OF the wiaduw.
My dear Marion, there is yet
nope" Mrs. Churchill said Us she
stepped from the carriage How
terribly you look -"
Take me to him, Agnes" Mrs.
Thorndyke Interrupted. 1t is my
place to be with him now"
Was this John Thorndy ke, lying
ON that bed. So white aud still, the
forehead covered with bandages, and
the hair cut entirely off on one side
Of he head?"
"Ob, my darling!" she sobbed,
beside hin, you must not
die. | cannot live without voul"
For one moment the eyes opened,
aud a glad light came into them, but
no word Nas sp ken; and the doctor
coming in, told Mrs Thurndy ke that
the least excitement might produce
q fatal result.
Through three long weeks Marion
her husband She would
have no one else near, and the kind
hearted physician did not forbid it,
believing that otherwise be would
have two patients instead OF one
She had become almost hopeless in
the long. sad watching, but she grew
strong III love and patience, and ask
ed OF God not to leave her desolate.
One evening as she sat beside him,
knowing that life and death were
together, she saw change
come over the wan face Going
nearer, she said, softly:
"John, my husband, what can |
d. for you?
"Mue at llstr' he said. at was
worth while to be under the jaws Of
death to find nv Marion"
Hush! you must not talk, dear"
and. she stopped his words with
kisses.
Slowly but surely John Thorndyke
,rept back to life-not the old life,
Jut new and better one, in which
existed a perfect love thst was never
10 know change or decay.
SO they came into JOY unutterable
with the story ended and the story
ust begun.