Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-10-30


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. "t
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 mind-its
hopeless depression and melancholy =
there was 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 q soldier, pale and
enfeebled, descend from the platform
of one of the rear cars, and with the
assistance of the driver was lifted into
the nearest 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 thick-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 spirit of
anger. Would he now come to see her?
She was dying with impotence to see
ham 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 bad actually been taken
prisoner with him, as Fred Ashton had
surmised, she would soon learn all.
n .cl>
from A, 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 m eeting with one who might know
all which had SO long been hidden from
her.
AT the expiration of the time speci-
fled 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 mprisonment-calle upon
Mrs. Sterling, with face as long and
sOmber as a hired mourner's at fun
eral. 1t served all the purposes of an
advertisement of bad news, and Susan
read 1t SO at a 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-
pensen' groaned the poor wife, sinking
IN a chair, very white and faint. "You
are killing me ly your looks! know
that you know he is dead, and why
don't you say so at once, if you feel the
slightest degree of pity for me?"
Thus driven hOrs du combat / have
no other alternative" said Al, in tone
Of the deepest seeming commiseration.
I know the news I bring will wiring
your poor heart to bursting; but it is
my painful duty to inform you, though
in such a case would like to suppress
the truth; and | pray you will forgive
all the anguish unWittingly cause you.
Heavens knows [ would save you the
pain if could, if it took the last drop
of my hearts blood!" and the returned
prisoner laid his hand impressively
upon that susceptible organ.
10 on! 60 on! l pray you" moaned
the young wife, with white lips. "Did
he suffer much? Did you see him when
ne died? Tell me everything. I can
bear it now-all--everything"
Alas! [ saw him when he died, and
he sent his love to you, and said you
must lot worry yourself with vain re-
grets for him, for he is now better off
than he could be starving in prison.
Tom and I were true friends at last, and
before he died he told me, if I lived to
return, that nothing would give him
greater pleasure than to know that you
would be willing to accept me in his
place, and allow me legal right to
protect and care for you as he would
have done had he been spared to you.
[ have ample means at my disposal to
carry out his every wish in this particu-
lar. But [ will refrain from saying
more on that subject at this time, for [
know it pains you. Another time will
do as well-when you are more calm,