The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-09-05

Was III hio law oSSSjnNe
in his eyes. The scasaal was BY nc
means bushed, but was whispered from
lip to lip, occasionally reaching the ears
of the unhappy man.; u ,..r = ...
One day be annouHSed to his wife
his intention Of going to.a distant city
on business. She bid him adieu, little
aupposing that it was to DO final part
ing. An evening or, txo. later, a letter
was placed in her hands She hastily
broke the seal and read :, r
'Madam-Though it is with heavy
and depressed heart that I pan these
last words of adieu, Mby no means
with feelings Of regret, ty or remorse.
The time was when 1 layad you, trusted
you, and earnestly endeayored, 50 far as
lay in my power, to honor you. Not
even the remembrance Qethat old time
love can bring to my heat siuglere
gret for the course I have taken. L feel
that I have been irrepassblys wronged,
and, in taking this step, I Do in the
firm belief that it is the, ,oply means Of
gaining my own peace Of ynind and hap
piness. q. , f.. y James Rice.
The effect of this revelation to the
lonely wife was q terrible shock. With
a wild moan Of agony she arose and
nervously raced the rvom. 8,
Gone gone! Can it be that be has
left me to return no more ? Merciful
Heaven what have I done to merit
this terrible punishment
It was with an aching bead, 9 heavy
heart, that the forsaken wife rsstlsssly
awaited in her gloomy home the pass
ing away of that long, weary night.
But it passed at last, g.. 80.
The months following were more
checrless still as the conviction was
firmly established in her mind that her
husband was never to return. Once she
met DR.. Pierce, the object of her hus-
bands jealousy and the cause of her
whole misery. His honeyed words of
consolation and pity, that twerc intended
as a soothing balm to her aching heart
were Only received as the bitterest gall
and mockery. She told him firmly it
was her earnest request and desire
that he should never again address her
in any way. =.
To add more to her trial, she found
that she had been lefs almost penniless.
The friendly home that had sheltered
her from so many storms, and where
she had enjoyed so many blessed CONS
forts, was to pass into the hands of its
purchasers, who desired to take posses
sion. So, obliged to bid adieu to it,
she gathered together hen few worldly
possessions, and depaH 1t was with
no vain regret she qu,1ed the village
that had known her 30 many years, tor
since her dcsertion she had met with
constant rebufs aud derision. Whittier
she was going she knew not, but only
trusted to heaven that among new faces
and new scenes she might gain new
friends and uew hope, and the gloom of
the present vanish as she entered the
new field of action and labor that lay
open before her in the future.
*** *** ***
We will now invite the readers at
teution to a different scene and a
different period. Time has rolled on,
and the years that have. taken their
flight, if reckoued by the changes they
have wrought, are many.
In one Of the many small settles" Of
the Pennsylvania coil regions" that
spring into existence, as it were, in
day, and whose history comprise
single year of glory and prosperity,
perhaps even a shorter period of time, a
lono man was walking, limping as if
lame, and whose gray hairs indicated a
premature old age, yet who still pos
sessed a vigorous frame. There was
an expression of pain and ueariness on
bis face, and he looked neither to the
right nor left, seeming only to watch
his cautious footsteps as he logged
slowly along.
Suddenly his foot slipped from under
him, and he fell heavily to the ground.
A young man, apparently about sixteen
years of age, quickly appeared and as
sisted him to his feet.
Are you hurt = he asked, kindly.
TRUST not much, though the fall
was heavy one, and Jared me cousid.
erably,' was the reply.
Where are you going p
Il cannot tell you, for,I Go not know
Anywhere may find shelter
Come to my home. Mother some
times takes boarders and lodgers.'
Then she will not care to see me.
am poor, and cannot pay her.
No matter. Come at least for ,
short time-till you are rested and have
something to eat
The man nodded assent, aud, thank
ing the boy, followed him along th'
course of the rough, muddy street, pas
innumerable shanties and huts--whict
answered the purposes of dwellings
boarding~houses and hotels-till the!
paused before house, rudely construc
ted, which presented more Cheerful
and inviting aspect than any they hat
passed. AS they entered, sad-faced
yet withal pleasant, woman was MOVING
about, busily at work. A strange lool
passed over her face as she saw the stran
ger, but she gave him cordial welcome
while the boy led him to a lounge