The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-12-28

t 'And you! You've believed tbi
n thing for twenty years?' he said
calmly now, though it was the calm
ness OF smothered volcano. a
s Il have
Ihen hear me, Ralph. while ]
I swear, and his form seemed to fairly
dilate, and grow grand, as he said
'solemnly, that the whole story ia 3
most infamous falsehood! That your
wife Is as true to YOU to-day as she
was the day you LETT her, twenty wears
agoPI eIs-..iit. tssaE -
What do you mean p I cried, fran.
hcally, overwhelmed by his manner
! and his words.
What I do say, Ralph. Oh! there
mas been some damnable mistake F!
Hear my story. After you left us. I
struggled on with the business, though
not succeeding very well. Susy droop-
ed at first, but soon grew cheerful,and
began to plan for. your return
Ills words brought the dear little
creature so plainly before nv ewes.
that l sunk to the ground and covered
my face. 'T' -
AS weeks and months and years
passed on, he went on, slowly. sher
cheeks grew thin and pale, and hun
CRY look came in her eyes. saw she
was pining, and wrote letter after let
Ter TO you, but no word could we hear
There came 10 me in simple enyeI-
ope, directed to both of us, a draft of
hVe thousand dollars, with not a word
10 tell US how or from whom it came.
Of course we knew it was from Won.
but whether gift or legacy, who could
tell? 4aazsl 49, - II 80
We instituted new inquiries. Not
ing that love could suggest was left
undone. AT last we were forced to
conciue that you were dead. By nv
advice the money was invested in a
farm some distance from San Francis
co, and Susy went to live on it, while
started out on sort of vagabond,
wandering life, in hopes, at least, to
nnd your grave-for we never believ-
cd you could be alive these long years
and never let us hear. That life have
lived for fifteen years, returning once
In three or four years to see to Susy's
comfort; and now 1 find you
You End me- l interrupted a
wreck-a miserable wreck, who has
blasted three lives by his criminal
weakness, his childish credulity in be.
lieving evil, and who will soon rid the
earth of his presence and started to
go, for verify despair had seized upon
me.
That l should have believed that
horror for 80 many years. and find it
all stupid mistake; that 1 should
have thrown away my life, the blessed
love of my irue wife, the warm afi'ec.
ton of my brother, for an idle scam
dali 1t was too much to endure.
Robert laid a detaining hand on nv
arm.
But Susy, Ralph! What shall say
to the loving little woman who has
suffered SO much for you?
Let her still belieye me Dead said |
gioomiIy.
Nay, brother; let me rather restore
you to her, Ralph, go home, and let
us be so happy together as 10 partly
make up for these years of mistakes
and error and grief ......z. ,....-
Well, he persuaded me, and soon l
was eager enough myself, Now the
gold had despised wss valuable. as it
could add to Susy's comfort. l gath
cred it np, and we started for home.
Home! had not spoken the word
for fifteen years.
AS we went, Robert tried to pre-
pare me for change in Susy.
She has had lite of sorrow as we'll
as you, Ralph, and you must remem-
ber she isn't the girl of eighteen you
left. She is nearly forty years old
AS drew near, | seemed to grow
young again, and | wanted to rush
without stopping moment.
But Robert refused and he wanted to
get me into civilized clothes, and un-
ner the hands of a barber. He would
not take such wild man of the woods
home to the little, waiting wife.
So we stopped few hours in San
Francisco. L had my long, white hair
and beard trimmed aud my dress ar.
ranged to SUIT Robert, and hastened
Oh toward home.
AS we approached the blessed spot
where my darling lived, Il could scarce
y breathe, and dreaded to frighten
her to death. In sight of the house,
sent Robert ahead to tell her, and l =.
oasely hid in the shrubbery, where l
could look into the window.
There she was! the same dainty fig ,
lrc-tbe same lovely face but Dress
I'd, oh, my God! in widows weeds, i,
md her bonny brown hair thickly :
prinkled with silver. .
saw her rapid, eager conversation, :
saw the color come quickly to her o
ace, then leave it pale as death, 1 .
aw her turn to the door and fly. And ,
sprang to meet her and-and- .
Well, l can't tell about that.
On hearing her story. found that o
robert had left out the tale of his own ;,
'riefs. That he had warmly loved :,
'entle girl, but never let her know it
lad sacrificed his own happiness to
pend his life seeking me, and caring
or my wife that she had married an :,
'ther, and Robert was forced to see
Ter the very unhappy wife ola poor, :;
wretch.
And what said the little woman,
When she knew that | had STAYED ;.
oil I.>,.-s. .