The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-31

| ngnL the DaLtle oI HIo.
"Oh, truest and noblest," her heart
cried, in its passionate pain, ''how cruelty
have wrongsd you'll Bravest and best
heart, that ever beat in mans breast, am
l only to knew your worth when it is toe
late2"
1t seemed 80. Roger Maxwell had dis
appeared out of the worli--the world she
knew as utterly as though he had never
been in 1t. The slow months dragged
drearily by, but he never came. The
piteous advertisement in the newspapers
remained unanswered whsn the spring
buds burst, and she was alone in her worse
than widowhood in the cottage in Vermont
still.
With the glory of the brilliant summer
new hope dawned for her. A tiny mes
senger, with Roger Maxwelps great brown
eyes, smiled up in her face, and baby
head nestled against her lonely heart.
Ah she knew now how she loved baby's
father when the brown eyes, of which
these were the counterpart, were lost to
her forever. So with the great world shut
out, and with only baby Roger and her
two servants, life went on in the solitary
cottage.
Four years had gone by, and little
Roger could toddle and lisp, and in Edith
Maxwell's heart hope slowly died out.
She had lost him through her own fault;
he to whom she had been bound by the
mysterious tie of marriage would never look
upon her cruel face again.
She sat one stormy November night
thinking very sadly of the true heart and
strong love she had cast away. Her boy
lay asleep before the ruddy fire; the rain
and wind beat wildly against the windows.
She sat looking out with weary, vacant
eyes, SO lonely, SO very lonely, her soul
longing with unutterable yearning for the
wanderer to come back. There was a
knock at the door-a faltering, humble
knock. Through the deepening gloom of
the rainy twilight she saw man leaning
YEARLY against the door-post "a man
shabby and ILL., clad, with dropping head
and detected mir. Her housekeeper opened
the door, and she could hear her harsh,
high pitched voice.
'"rhis isn't an inn--we don't shelter
tramps. Go long with you! The village
is only half mile from here"
The house door slammed in his face.
The man turned despairingly away, walked
few steps, reeled, and fell to the ground
like log. Edith Maxwell started to her
feet, was out of the room and the house in
moment, out in the pouring rain beside
the fallen man, her two startled servants
following.
Lift him up and carry him to the
Kitchen" she ordered, imperiously.
MARY, I will never forgive you for doing
such cruel thing! james, make haste !"
Her man seavant raised the PROSTATE
form, and with some difficulty bore him to
the kitchen and laid him on wooden
bench. The light fell ON his upturned
face, haggard and death-like, and at the
sight Edith Maxwell gave cry that those
who heard never forgot, and falling on her
knees, rained passionate kisses on the
white face.
cat last, at last!" she sobbed convul-
sively. ooh, Heaven, thank thee !'
The servants gazed aghast. He looked
up, and all her self-control returned.
'Take him to my room, James, and
your life for a doctor! He is my hus-
band !"
Yes, at last. After all those weary years
of waiting her husband restored to her like
this! Restored, yet nearly lost. For
many nights after that the watchers lamp
burned in Ediths chamber and she sat by
her sick husbands side, sick almost unto
death. Night and day found her there,
pale and sleepless as q ministering spirit,
listening to his wild, disconnected talk
her own name often upon his lips How
she cared for him, how she prayed for him
only Heaven and herself knew. Her
prayers prevailed. The heavy brown eyes
opened one still midnight hour and rested
ON her face. They were no longer delir-
ious, but knew her with kindling light Of
doubt and JOY.
'Tiith," he said, family, ''my wife!"
She was on her knees beside him,
his weak head lying in her earessing
arms.
''My darling-my darling, thank Heaven!
My dear, nay true husband, forgive your
erring wife I"
His face beamed with beautiful smile;
he drew her lovely head down and kissed
it.
TT is true, then, what heard, and
which has brought me home; you have
sought me? But If I am poor-poorel