South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-12-12

sunSing stroke. they swervcd aside,
the carriage overturned with q crash.
the occupants were thrown violently 10
tue ground, & the afiimals freed from re.
stra,nt, dashed away with the car riage
clstierin : At their heels.
In an instant Ellerv sprang TO rem
der assistance, found Mr.. Lads stunned
and his wife wholly unconscious and ap.
parently dead.
Help will be here presently said
Ellery. and in few words explained
the accident that had caused Mrs. La.
dis to be in his company.
Forgetting every doubt and grievance
the young husband held his wifo in his
arms, gazcd Upon her death bite face,
and frantically called her name and beg.
ged her to speak but single word.
Help came at last. and they bore her
home but partially revived and lai q her
IN that unconscious state upon her own
bed. The physician who had been sum.
moned pronounced Der in great danger
from confusion Of the brain. YEARLY
and slowly the hours dragged along to
tue young husband. ever watcher by
her side.
Tortured By her suffering lay the poor
woman with her spirit wandering ever
10 dream-land peopled by her
husbands doubts OF her. his accusa-
tions which she attempted to refute in
mutterin2s OF indignant protest, and the
little hands wandering over the bed in
search OF the ring; often finding it in
imagination, with signs OF contentment
only TO he followed by ito l6ss Agaiii bt
some new trouble or misunderstanding
between herself and her deealy beloved
husband; and all the while her eyes had
nm unearthly brillancy. her face flushed,
her lips ashy, and even moving. At last
the physician forbade the presence of
Mr.. Lads.
y will not answer for her life unlcss
you leave the ROOM he said Your
presence constantly keeps up the excite
ment; your voice increases her delu.
sions.
i will do rs you bid me-. returned
the agonized husband, provided YOU
promise to notify me OF any change the
instant it occurs
The promise given, young Ellery, who
had been in constant sympathy with
artd m'nistration TO Mr.: Lads. led him
To his own room, placed him upon q
couch and attempted 10 lead his mind
away from the cause OF anxiety. Ia
nervous expectancy that would not adj
NIT OF repose, Lads tossed about the
tasse!s and fingered the hem Of his dress
ing gown.
There Is something in this corner
he said and taking his knife, he made
small incision and out rolled the miss.
ing ring of his Wife Then he contin.
ued almost wildly. Il remember now !;
Eugenia seSed up rent In the garment
the very day she lost the fatal ring. 1t
was always large for her and required a
guard. She had neglected TO put one
on AMI the emerald must have slipped
from her finger. And !, miserable
wretch that am, tortured her with
doubts and mistrust. and if she dies /
shall have been her murderer
In vain Ellery attemptedto cheer and
speak words OF hope But springing to-
his feet Lads paced the floor rapidly
and continued:
tell you, butfor my ceaselcss, jeal-
Gus rage. my poor wife would not now
he lying there n victim Of that accident.
IL she dies shall have been her MUIR
derer. and cannot, will not, survive
her.
You must not yield to this madness, ;
said his friend True, you have cruelty
wronged your wife, and are but receiv.
inc justly merted punishment, and
must submit TO the blow and should
the worst come and seal life separa-
lion, it would be better for You both
than tue life you had commenced To in
augurate with that pure, sensitive, and
trusting womaL.'
i know it; God help me !! exclaimed
the contrise, broken hearted mar, ms he
sank into chair, and covering bis face
with his hands, wept, repentant tears
that balm of Gilead for a tortured
soul
Long hours passed before Mr.. Lads
was summoned to the side Of his wife.
She had at last sunk into a quiet and
peaceful slumber, and he was permitted
to watch alone by her bedside for the
sam awakening the physician had pre-
diCted was TO follow.
The blackness Of night had faded int
opened her eyes to meet the loving ones
bending over her. There was silent
meeting Of lips whispered words Of as o.
sutance and thankfulness from the hus-
band, as he believed her hands with
tears and covered them with kisses.
Inreply she only whispered l5wly and
uemblingly, though joyfully:
Bring me my rings, Edward
He dill as she had requested, and
slipped them one by one upon the poor
white hands. even to the last emerald.
and scaled them with kiss. explaining
briefly how the missing one bad been
found. And at last, when Mr.. Ellery
came with the physician for tidings OF
The invalid they found her slumboring
sweetly with her head upon the breast
Of her husband, whose face smiled upon
them unspeakabie JOY and thanks for
the life preserved and their kind ad-
minjstra. ions