Litchfield enquirer., 1879-12-04

ze in her, or anything. And we set there, that way, for about five minutes, notsayin' word,
 but just lookin' down on the floor and think in. And theh Dick says, quiet like George
 you can't last long at this rate. rveknowed all tine time since you came home that first
 night, thateiR-spits of all your promises you was drinki Fall the time, and l did wrong not to let you know knowed it, but didn't think it would ever be so bad ss this But George, even if you have got so in the habit of drink
 in that you can't stop, can't you do this ?-
 get your liquor and bring it home and drink it here, and notssryst deceive me, or have those awful men bring you home so off from the street.
 '1 tell you, stranger, that let daylight through me. 1 saw then that Dick knew me through and through, that she knew what lyin devil I'd been, and had knowed it all the time Pretty soon she put her arms around my neck, and said, George, you know I'd die in a minute to save you l promised, when l married you, that I'd stand by you,- and be a true wiferto you, as long as 1 lived, and I'll do it. for in your heart of hearts you're the best man in the world, and 1 can't bear to have you away from me when you're wild with liquor
 Oh, George George! you must not get away from me- I know it all. You are noble man.
 but the fiends have got hold of you, and made you what you never shall be for you and together will beat them, with Gods help and blessing You must tell me everything after this, and I'll do the same to you. If you must drink, drink here at home with me, and never try to deceive me; but love me- and trust me. and l will you and then we'll win, for God will bless our honesty and love- That's what she said stranger. You needn't promise me that you wont drink, she says, only, if you do drink come and tell me all about It, and just how you broke down, and we'll try again 10 make that weak place strong. If you can help It, don't ever drink without askin' my advice about it. Don't make excuses why you should drink, without tellin' me about them, and together we can do what we can never do apart 17'"
 "Well stranger, that got mel You see there want nobody, nor nothin', in heaven or on earth, that could "a done for me what Dick did. And she just said another one O them little prayers O hers, and then kissed her and prayed the first real prayer l ever prayed in my life, just prayin' God to bless her, and then went out to my work. And afore God, stranger, from that day to this Pve never put a drop O liquor between my lips, and never will? AS soon as l see that Dick knowed it all, and made my mind to her when l couldn't go alone-then was all right.
 "And so quit, and all hell couldn't make me begin again, and Dick knows it. She never says anything to me about it, never asks me about it, or suspects me; but we just un- derstand each other in quiet way, and that's enough I've learned to distrust myself and to trust Dick. Oh, Dicks woman she is
 :Weve had lot o'>tFouble since then, but we've been mighty happy, and Dicks always tryin' to comfort me and help me, and keeps up wonderful herself.
 'Lately she's been beggin' me to leave the road. She's lonesome, Pm away SO much, and I've been thinkin' for good while I'd quit, and now Pve made up my mind to, any how. The last trip but one that made, one of the boys that was brakin' on the freight just ahead O ours, fell off between the cars some how, and was all cut up. Well, Dick found out about it, and it nearly set her wild, for she said I'd be brought home that way some time and then she'd be left all alone And | she begged me so hard that told her I'd | quit.
 'So after got into Chicago this mornin', | took the passenger back to Michigan City, to | meet the pay-car there, and get my discharge. l l can get something to do, 1 know, .and Dick | says if can't she's got sewIn'-machin' and | two wash-tubs and she'll take in sewin' and | washin rather'n have me on the road. But | don't think see her dom that, just yet, not | while Pm alive.
 It'll be two o'clock tonight when I get | home, but Dick knows I'm comm I tele- | graphed her this evenin', and she'll be up, and have the cozlest little fire and the incest cup O coffee, and little supper made up, that ever was in all the world. And she'll hear me come a-crumpin' along on the sidewalk, and | she II open the door and the lightll shine out | --oh, say, stranger, you couldn't stop over | one train and come up and see Dick, could | you? Oh well, that's so, business is business and if you can't, why it's all right; only I'd | like to have you know Dick that's all. For | she's the best woman the Lord ever made,s and 1 in spite of all our troubles, she's one O the l happiest women that lives, and 1 reckon that | man don't breathe that's any happier or proud er'n be. don't, stranger, for a fact. |
 "Well, here we are, all safe as dollar. I | thought Jack 'u'd take her through all right. l Faint every feller that could "a done it | though you want to know Good night. I've | talked good deal to you, but then Pve had | something good to talk about, that's one thing | sure. Goodnight God bless you!
 "Oh say stranger, Jack has pulled her down little further'n common tonight. The | brakes didn't hold, guess, and if it was day | light, could show you the house where we | live, right from here. It's up on the hill, l right up to the head O this street. I'll tell | you, though the train II stand here ten min- utes, while they change engines, and, if you was to keep watch, may be you'd see the light | shine out when Dick opens the door! Good | night. Goodnight, strapger!"
 He stepped briskly out along the walk, l swinging his lantern as he went. stood and | watched the'swaying spark far up the street, following it, as on another morning, and in another land, band of hopeful hearts follow ed the light that led them to the place where Love Divine had made it's home It grew fainter and fainter in the distance, but ever swung to and fro till, like the star of old, it came to the place where Love was and there like that, it stood.
 Suddenly broad gleam of golden light flashed out into the darkness. It glimmered for moment and was gone. The door had closed upon George and Dick, shutting them into the sacred radiance of their home, and into my heart forever.