The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-07-02

Pseu 4sI w stuP oue ulu 80,
and stood timidly at the other side Of
the road, gazing longingly at the
house that had been a home for her
first of happiness, then Of misery.
BY and by, She felt an irresistible
yearning to look at the room once
more. He was evidently within,
and there was no danger that he
would see her. So she walked hur-
ridly across the road, opened the gate
sofly, and stepped into. the lawn.
Another moment; and she was.at the
window, looking in, What. singular
behavior but she could not helpit.
The little room was as neat as
when she herself.had watched over
it,. A cheerful FIRE burned in the
CRATE althoughsit was not very cold,
and alfghted lamp stood on the table.
twas there that Harry was. sitting.
Flow her heart bounded as she caught
sight Of. himl He held in his right
hand a book, from his scanty libary.
She recognized it at once; but he
was not reading it now. He had
allowed it TO drop, with its pages
looking mutely to the ceiling-and
his face. was supported, half conceal
ed, in the left hand, the elbow resting
on the table. Was he asleep, or was
he buried in a sad reyerie? Nettie
thought the latter was the case, and
her heart was touched.
81 wish l had borne with him.
she said to herself.
But moment later her heart was
more than tuched, when she was
sure she saw tear roll. down. his
check, and dropped upon the b0oz.
The lonely man was not asleep, he
was crying.
She could not help it. All that
was womanly in her heart was arous-
ed and she was at the door in an in.
stant. No ceremoney-she burst
into the sitting room and was at his
side.
ooh, Harry"
Her voice quivered with emotion.
"Why, Nettiel" he exclaimed, try
ing to hide his tears-men are asha-
med of them" sis it your
"Yes, Harry" hiding her face in
her hands, | was passing-I looked
in-I saw you sitting here SO lonely,
and could not help coming in. /
thought of the time when we were
happy here, and '
Then her womanly tears could be
no longer. There was no
use trying to hide them. Besides
her voice broke down and she could
say no more just then.
"NettieW He arose and took both
her hands from her face and held
them in his own. II thought you
had blotted me out Of your memory
"No, no, Harry!" she sobbed, II
could not do that. / could not help
leaving you; but I left you, loving
you more than ever. Oh, l have
been unhappy sincel"
"Yes, have heard that you are
changed-that you do not drink any
more-that you are again manly and
industrious as you used to be; but
how lonely you must be here2" and
the tears gushed forth anew, as her
heart felt what her lips spoke.
"Yes, l am lonely, Nettie-riore
SO than you may think; but | deserve
this punishment for the way / have
acted. i had no discouragements, /
had nothing to make ME do so. 1t
was only passion for drink, that it
seemed impossible for me to over
come. You were all a wife should
be or could be. When you left me /
thought l should become more reck-
less than ever. Only a day or two
after / knew you had left me for
good, | was in town, drunk, and /
heard some Of the village people
they did not think Icould hear them
across the street passing ali sorts Of
remarks about me, saying chat I was
d doomed man for certain, that my
destruction was near. Although in
toxicated, it startled me, and for the
first. time l felt the full force Of our
separation, and realized that ruin
stirred me in the face. Ibad'a bot
tie of whiskey in my pocket at the
time, and when Igot out of town j
smashed II bnthed my f,lee In n liz.