Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-06-09

/ through J1e open 09Of ahN tue one
lOop-hole of q window, and then
knew that Luinley aud his mate
must have passed me 10y and never
seen me in the twilight Raising my
self up, | saw Lumley through the
window, sitting dow tn the elpine
table beside a yellow dip, with two
or three letters lying before him,
and one open in his hand. Then il
flashed into my mind that one of the
boys from q camp beyond had gone
into the station and was due with the
mail that night.
Lumley's Pardner SAT over the far
SIDE Of the tsble, with a gloomy look
in bis eye. Being in the same boat
myself, knew how lonesome it was
never to have news from home, anu
wondered to myself how a fine, man
iy-Iookfng fellow like him should be
without a wife or sweetheart wait
| ing with a woman's pride IN, him,
somewhere. .olsfo :
Lumley was busy reading his let
ters. Thought / had fbetten stay
outside. He was that intent at frst
that he see ed not to have heard the
others words; but after a moment
lifted his face with one of the proud,
bright looks that were LumIey's
own: GAY, comrade!" he cried,
cheerily, ''and don't tell me it isn't
your own fault. Don't dare to envy
me my wife and child"
There was no replys but looking
over, saw such . bitter, sorroWful
look on the face of Lumley's Pard-
ner that, scarcely knowing what |
did, / stood and watched aud pitied
him. / heard Lumley read aloud
words of love and trust, watching
and waiting, and of happiness. in him
and the child. / saw his face as he
read. He might be weak man, but
he loved the woman and the child.
From the last letter there dropped
out a carte de visite. LumIey caught
it up with boyish eagerness.
sold pard," he cried, "you shall
see my two treasures. Here they
are-Lulie and the boyI''
He tossed tie picture across the
table. The other picked it up. i
saw a man die once, stabbed through
tie heart. Just such a look came
into the face of Lumley's Pardner,
as he glanced at the pit tne in his
hand. Lumley, bending over his
letter, never saw it. When he 6n-
ished reading, he held out his hand.
The other did not raise his eyes, but
kept them fxedly on what be held.
ssItoo once Thought to have q wife
and ehild,'' he muttered presently,
less to Lumley than to himself.
The words following that look
were a whole hook of revelation to
me. Happily, Lpmley did not notice
it. His face showed some surprise,
mingled with that placid satisfaction
the Successful manlafways wears.
8 tAhl" he returned, shaking his
head knowingly, els that the way
the Wand lies? ] knew you were al
ways clOse-monthed, but a disap-
poipament-I never suspected that!
She, whoever it was, had precious
bad taste when she looked the other
way!" and be ran his eye admiring7
ly over Che others splendid plopor1
tions, and manly handsome face.
tfShe never refused me-" broke in
Lumiey's Pardner, in 4 log, smother
ed tone, his eye still fastened intent
" onsthe picture. 81 never asked
her; but she knew my mind, and l
thought / knew hers. ] was sure'she
would wait for me until I got back.
It was for her | went away."
"But you wrote toherP" question
ed Eumley, with genuine interest,"
''Not a word; not line. am a
poor scribe. But she knew me well
enough not to need azwritten assnr-
ance0f ny intentionss Every day
would be lived for her. There could
be no doubt about that in her mind. !"
Lumley made a hasty gesture of
dissent. eAnd there, old man, vas
precisely where you failed to con-
meet! 1t don't do, you know, for wo-
men to take too much for granted.
They like to be we'll fortified; and
then You are surest to win if you
take them by storm. Why, my Lu
lie"-
qShe don't lock as if-sl,e ever
walked over altrpe heaft with Ahsr
dainty feet, and that glad little
smile just curving her lips!'' his
white face still bent on the picture.
His deep voice trembled d little over
the last words dI1Jg
sLulie is truth ITSELF" answered
Lumley, quickley. "She never loved
anybody but me. To be sure, she
had admirsrs=-hew could she help
that and be what she isF-but she
loves me truly. You can see that in
her eyes!''
Lumley's Pardner turned desthly
pale. He caught the table by one
hand as if to steady himself, and
fairly hurled the picture across to
Lnmley, Il missed itsmark and Sell
to the floor. As he saw it fall, all
the fierceness died ont of bis eyes,
and a frightened look crept into
them.
"Pick her up, be said, with timid
apprehension, s as though is we're .
human being to whom, in moment
Of passion, he had committed some
act Of violence. 4 didn't mean to do
that-pooF little motheriH the last
words seemed to give him a stronger
footing with himself. 81 was think.
ing how my wife married another
man, and never let me know" M
| tCome, come, old man, don't take
It so to heart, said Lumley, sooth-
ingly, "There'il be a pleasant home,
a dear little lwofnaR, and bfight-eyed
children, IN the future for you yet!''
! ''NeverI"
| Lumley's PaFdner brought down
his fist like a sledge-hammer; then
be leaned forward in his.seat, with q
feverish eagerness in bis manner,
which he tried hard to keep out Of
his voice:
I "Tell me how yoa would have Civ.
en- mp your Lulie?'' n ssa.
Lumley laughed with easy, care