Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-10-30


no positive proof at all, it might be lust
as reasonable to infer that Tom has
met with the same fate.
the profoundest interest. There was a
possibility of truth in the hope thus
held forth, and she grasped at it as the
drowning man grasps a, straw. For
n few days she seemed to brighten up
under its influence, but as no further
evidence appeared corroborative of
this hopeful supposition, she gradually
relapsed into her former state OF
melancholy. Still, at no time did she
quite relinquish the agreeable hope
which Fred had awakened, though she
constantly became thinner, paler, and
| more spiritless as time progressed. Her
mother occupied house directly across
the street from the depot, and the high
est enjoyment that she now took was
| to sit at q window and watch the in
coming trains, till it became not only
habit but a necessity to her monton-
Gus existence. To Susan Sterling the
station house opposite was becoming as
much an object of insane interest, rs
were the precincts of the Chancery
Court to poor little Miss. Elite. No one
knew better than she-not even the con-
ductors themselves-what time the
trains would be due in Fulham; and
if she beheld returned soldier mingl-
ing with the freshly arrived passengers
on the platform, oh. how eagerly she
longed to address him. thinking that
perhaps he might have come from
some prison, and might have seen or
heard something of Tom. Often she
felt she would like to rush into the street
and accost them, had not prudence and
womanly modesty forbade.
Two weary years passed. and nothing
further was heard which might strength
en- her hopes or confirm her fears. 1t
seemed to her that if he were still
alive that she must have heard of him
through some channel or other ere this;
and she began to despair in earnest.
She lost her appetite. She grew thinner,
hourly, and more shadowy. Still, if we
except the workings of the mnd-its
hopeless depression and melancholy -
there vas no chronic disease, no posi-
tive physical ailment
One day, as she sat watching the
freshly arrived train at the station OPP
| posite, she espied soldier, pale and
enfeebled, descend from the platform
| of one Of the lear cars, and with the
assistance Of the driver was lifted into
the neal est cab. To Susan there SEEM
ed to be something familiar in the face
and figure OF the stranger, but with ali
her thinking and questioning she could
not recall where she had ever seen him.
His hair was long and uncombed, and
his thlck-matted beard hung halfway
down to his waist.
Before night the young wife learned
from neighbor, that AL Houghton
had returned home on parole, having
| spent fifteen months in Libby
Prison. The last time she had parted
with Al, he had left her in a spirit of
anger. Would he now come to see her?
She was dying with impotence to see
h,m from the moment she had heard of
his arrival.
| She desired, yet dreaded to question
him. She wanted to know all that he
knew; and yet she shuddered at the
thought of such knowledge, should it
destroy the very faint hope which she
still cherished, as though reluctant to
abandon its last lingering ray, admit
ting there was no longer any ground for
| it,
1t was whispered that AL was quite
reduced from sickness, but not to that
extent which would require absolute
confinement to the house. And so
she hoped he would soon call upon her;
and if Tom had actually been taken
| prisoner with him, as Fred Ashton had
surmised, she would soon learn all.
The next morning she received a note
| from AL, stating that he would call
upon her on the following day. Oh,
how heavily the hours dragged in her
feverish anxiety for this interview
this meeting with one who might know
all which had so long been hidden from
her.
AT the expiration Of the time speci-
tied IN his note of the proceeding day,
Albert Houghton-pale and somewhat
emaclated. though not looking half as
bad as might be expected after fifteen
months OF mprlsonment-calle upon
Mrs. Sterling, with face as long and
somber as hired mourner's at a fun
eral. 1t served all the purposes of an
advertisement of bad news, and Susan
read it SO at first glance. His solemn
look drove back the question that would
nave first arisen to her tongue after the
somewhat formal greetings were over;
and the poor wife turned deadly pale
in anticipation of the something yet to
come. He hemmed two or three times
and coughed as though irresolute in his
purpose of going on.
| "Tell me all, don't keep me in sus