Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-03
WANDERINGS.

A room neatly furnished, show
ing traces Of refinement, and ever
wealth.
A slender, graceful woman, il
deep mourning, sat in an arm chair
clasping a babe TO her breast, an(
sobbing convulsively. Two littlt
boys aged respectively three ant
five years chung to her dress will
tears in their blue eyes, because
mamma was kyiug."
The fifth person in the room was q
large, burly, hard faced man, seated
opposite her, who said in a harsh
tone:
"There, Hden that will do, tears
won't bring John back, or support
vour children. I would do some
thing for you, but charity begins
at home, and | have the interests
of my six children to look after
first. Your husband left you in
poor circumstance, but can't help
it."
The lady raised her head, aud
said: "But did he not leave prop
Gritty enough in your hands to keep
the wolf from our door, You have
said that you hold a claim even on
this house, and that ! and my
fatherless babes must leave it. John
trusted you, Richard, as his only
bpotber, and can you, will you be-
tray the trust"
AS she spoke the expression of
his fNce changed, then with a
cynical laugh he replied:
"Because we were brothers, and
dealt together like men of business,
do You expect me to support you
and your familyl ] tell Won for
the last time there was not dollar
left for you. ! will give you fifty
dollars to defray your travelling ex-
penses, bot further than that you
need not expect cent"
SO saying he rose and left the
room.
Some eight years before, John
Renshaw had brought to his home
in Centreville, Vt, a young and
lovely bride. She was an orphan
with no near kin except a brother
to her mother, who many years ago
had emigrated TO Australia.
She bad been so utterly alone in
the world, that she gave her heart
entirely 10 John, and nearly idoliz-
ed her noble, handsome husband.
John fitted up his home as lux
uriously as his limited income
would allow, for ne was just start
ing in business, and was obliged to
husband his means.
In the course Of time three love-
ly children msde their home az
earthly Eden but alas the serpent
creeps into the fairest garden, and
their homo was no exception.
Richard Renshaw, Johns Older
and only brother, was as different
from John as daylight and darkness
He was avaricious, and un
scrupulous, feared by his family
and disliked by acquaintances
while John on the other hand, wa
upright and honest, to his wife b,
was kind, af'ectionate, and the hes
of earthly protectors ; tohis child
rem kind indulgent parent.
The brothers were partners in
dry goods store on Madison street
As John returned home on,
evening from his place of business
be complained Of hoarseness anC
headache, and grew rapidly worse
Medical aid was summoned. l
proved fatal case of lung fever
and in one short week he was lair
in the cold grave, leaving a wife anC
three helpless babes to the mercy
of a colder world.
After the funeral Richard cam,
to his sister-in-law and claimed
that John was indebted TO him anC
that he held mortgage for twice
its real value, even on the hous,
where they bad spent the few hap
by years Of their welded life.
In proof Of this, be produced Z
forged document, which unused tc
legal terms as she was, satisfied hel
rs to bis veracity.
The story opens on the morning
OF the interview. After be left she
sat stupified with sorrow aut
trouble for few minutes, then tho
question came back TO her with