The Hickman courier., 1878-08-09

/ i nave done.
You may be, before you are through.
Lloyd Whitlow is not man to be triAed
with, as have told you dozens of times
but you would have your own way"
That evening, the wife who had prom
ed herself so much happiness in confess
ing all to her husband, was walking the
floor, back and forth; her lips were
quivering, her hands werkinging ner-
vously, and her face was as white and as
woe -begone as three hours OF suspense
and agony could make it. Lloyd had
not returned. The clock struck twelve.
With the first chime she threw herself
prostrate upon the AoOr.
'Oh, my love, my darlingp she cried;
$50 generous, 50 ready to shield me, how
can live without you? And you are
gone-gone away, believing me guilty
Oh, how utterly wasted will my life be
without you!"
She lay there until morning, weeping
convulsively at intervals, and choking
| with the food of sorrow and remorse.
And then another thought took posses
sion of her. Suppose some harm had
come to himl She could endure his re-
proaches, his desertion, even, but never
the sight of him wounded or dead for her
sake. She would bear her suspense no
longer, she said; she could know the
wo-st by going to his Office and question
! ing the clerks, and go she would.
Before she reached the street a servant
handed her letter.
Left here for you this morning,
ma'am."
Nellie retraced her steps hurriedly,
and with trembling fingers opened her
husbands note. 1t was written the
evening before.
al am going down the river for few
days, to stay until 1 conclude how TO
arrange affairs between us. l shall take
steps to give you back your freedom.
Until then, try to act discreetly."
That was all not even q reproach,
believing of her what he did; only cold,
constrained words. And the bitter part
for her was, that she knew her husbands
forbearance grew cut of his great love
for her.
a week passed she never wanted to
remember how.
Have you heard frem Mr.. Whitlow?"
she asked again of his clerk, as she had
done every day since he left.
eyes, just received a letter. He isat
Leavenworth."
Nellie turned away with a "Thank
you," and lighter heart than she had
known for many day. She decided in
stantly to go with him, believing she
could make all right if she could only
see him. Four o'clock found her en- route
for the village on the Ohio, on board the
steamer Gray Eagle. There was an ex
cursion party on board for the same
place, from whence they were going TO
Wyandotte Cave. Many of her acguan-
tainces were in the party, and among
them Weston. On arriving at Leaven-
worth she found that her husband had
gone on down the river, but would return
in day or two. Her friends urged her
to join their party. She was willing to
do anything to pass away the time that
must elsspe before her husband came, so
went with them to explore the renowned
cave.
They had not been gone an hour when
Lloyd Whitlow returned to Leaven-
worth. Learning that one of the party
lust gone had been anxious to see him,
started after them on horseback, little
thinking that his wife was of the party,
yet ia ntly hoping that he would hear
from her. He overlook them just as
they ad arrived st Blue river. He was
astonished at seeing his wife there, and
only recognized her by distant bow.
He supposed that Weston's presence
was the cause of hers.
The fording>place was little high
now from recent rains; the water was
muddy, too, so enc could not see the
bottom, which right there was level
rock extending across the stream, and
was several yards wide, but which had
an Offset of number of feet; yet in the
muddy. high water it was safe enough il
one kept ones eye on the road at the
other side and drove straight for it.
Lloyd was going over last, so Nellie
waited purposely to go in the last buggy
load. They were net half over before
the horse, frightened at the splashing OF
the water behind it, reared, plunged,
upset the buggy in the deep water, and
left the driver and Nellie in fair way
to be drowned. The driver helped him
self; Lloyd was at Nellie's side in an in
slant.
To Nellie, the chill of the water
seemed like the visible presence of death.
She did not scream; she believed she
should drown, and the only pang to her
was the thought that she would die
unreconciled to her husband. But the
thought had scarcely become one ere the
strong arms and nerves of Lloyd WhitloW
had saved her. His heart went out tC
her when he caught sight of the blood
less face turned SO beseechingly toward
him. They stood alone on the ledge O
| locks III bIc VI InC ndIOAs ANe7AlAS
spoke first.
"Lloyd,' she said, "you will forgive
me. 1 am not SO guilty as you suppose
[ love you, SO came down here 10 fine
you. And oh, Lloyd" as she saw hi
face softening toward her, you do love
me, too you cannot say mol"
He laid his hand over the little finger
} quivering so piteously, remembered him
self, and drew away. His voice w
hard as he said:
, " might have listened to you ant
believed an explanation possible, if haC
, not found you with him to-day"
"Then why did you not let me die ?
! she moaned. " Why did you save m,
} life to torture me?"
And she commenced sobbing.
! +" Woman, this is acting. Have don
! With itp was the husbands only an
swer.
Her excited sobs came faster. A CLEAN
of pity came into his eyes he hurrie'
-;+b bar m tho shore wranned her II