The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-05-24

time. had his heart wandered back to
the dear old home, and the beloved ones
with whom he had passed his early
years
And alb how many, many times came
between him and The almost hated coun-
terance of his wife, the gentle, loving
form Of that one to whom be had been
false How often he started and look
ed up suddenly, as If her voice came
floating on the air.
Not week had gone by, ere the faith
er of his dead wife spoke to him IN these
cutting words
"You were nothing to me while my
daughter lived-you are less than moth
ing now. 1t was my wealth, not my
child YOU loved. Sho has passed away
What affection would have given her,
dislike will never bestow on you.
Henccforth we are strangers"
When next the sun went down on
that stately mansion, which the wealth
seeker had coveted, be was wanderer
again-poor, hamilitated, broken IN
spirit.
One moro eager struggle with alluring
fortune, in which the wording caGo
near stepping his soul in crime-and
then fruitless ambition died in his
bosom.
"My brother said WE'LL" he murmur'
ed, as a ray of light fell suddenly on the
darkness of his spirit; 4" 'contentment is
better than wealth. Dear brother |!
Dear old home! Sweet Ellen All,
why did | leave you? Too late too
late A cup, full of wine of life, was at
my lips; but turned my head away,
asking for a moro exciting draught.
How wildly comes before me now that
parting scene! / am looking at my
brother. l feel the tight grasp of his
hand. His voice is in my cars. Dear
brothcrl And his parting words, hear
them now, even more earnestly than
when they wcre first spoken. Should
fortune cheat you with the apples OF the
Dead Sea, return to your homo again.
Its doors will ever be open, and its
hearth fires bright for you, as Of DID,
All, do the fires still burn? How many
years have passed since went forth !!
And Ellen? Bat | dare not think of her.
1t is too late-too late! Even if she be
living and unchanged in her affections
can never lay this false heart at her feet.
Her look Of love would smite me as if
with whip Of scorpions"
As the years went by, each, as it look
cd in at tho cottage window, saw the
homo circle widening, or new beauty
browning the angel brows of happy ckil-
dren.
No thorn in his siGe had Roberts gen.
tie wife proved. As time passed on,
closer and closer was she drawn to his
bosom; yet never q point had pierced
HIM.
Their homo was type of paradise.
1t is near the close of u summer day.
Tho evening meal is spread, and they
are about gathering around tho table,
when stranger enters.
His words are brief, his manner is
singular; his air slightly mysterious.
Furtivo, yet eager glances are ex-
changed.
"Are all these your children 7" he
asks, surprise and admiration mingling
in his tones.
Gall ours. And the little flock is yet
unbroken."
The stranger is disturbed by emotions
that it is impossible to conceal.
"Contentment is better than wealth ~
he murmured. "Oh, that | had earlier
comprehendcd this J"
The words were not meant for others;
but tho utterance had been too distinct.
They have reached the ears Of Robert,
who instantly recognizes in the stranger
his long-wandering, long,mourned broth
err.
civilian %
The stranger is on his feet. a mo-
ment or two the brothers stand gazing
at each other-then tenderly embrace.
"WillIam !"
How tho stranger starts! He had not
seen, in the quiet maiden, moving among
and ministering to the children so unob-
strusively, the one be had parted from
years before-the one TO whom he had
been so false. But her voice had start
led his ears with tho familiar tones of
yesterday.
"Ellen ~
Here is an instant obllSion OF all the
intervening years. He has lca?ed back
over the gloomy gulf, and stands now as
he stood ere ambition and lust for gold
lured him away from the side Of his first
and only love.
1t is we'll both for him and the faith.
full maiden that he can so forget the past
as to take her in his arms and clasp her
almost wildly to his heart But for this,
conscious shame would have betrayed
his deeply repeated perfdy.
And here we leave them, reader.
"Contentment is better than wealth"
SO the wording proved, after bitter
experience, which may you be spared !,
1t is far better to realize a truth percep-
lively, and thence make II a rule of ac-
ton, than to prove its verify in life of
sharp agony. But how few arc able TO
rise into such a realization
Yesterday was indeed an eventiul day