South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-02-20
Romney Hampshire County West va February 90 1880

But as did so two men. wearing off,
cial badges. stepped upon the porch.
and one OF them laid his hand on
Toms shoulder and said:
Il arrest you, sir
For what?' cried.
For murdcrp
The floor seemed sliding from be-
meath my feet, but I caught at the door
to steady myself and looked a. Tom
At that instant the official uncovered
his lantern. and, oh, my God there
was blood on my husbands hands.
All the rest is blank. When came
to myself again. l was in my own room,
! AMI kind, compassionate faces we're a
round me. i asked for Tom. lie was
! IN prison, awaiting his trial. There
had been quarrel at the tavern, With.
er my cruel words hal driven Tom
and Tom bad struck his antagonist
The man wasn't dead, though they
thought he was at first-but he. was
badly hurt about the bead. But IL he
recovered; well, t-wluld not 20 Sc
hard with Tom. n
sro'e and went to the prison: but
they would not admit me, No one was
to see my husband till after the trial.
Another day creps by; night; and
when morning came, 1 went down to
the door and opened it. with vague
feeling Of expectation which always ac-
companies severe Affections, and looked
out. The sun was rising; GODS sun;
rising eraudly and brightly over the
black stone Jail. The frost hung thick
q sparkling over everything even on the
scrap of folded paper that lay at INV
feet. l stopped and picked it up idly
as we catch straw or % twig, some
times, without any motive or power Of
volition. The superscription caught
my eye; 1t was my own name, and my
husbands handwriting. l tore it open
and read:
DEAR LUcY-I have broken out OF
Jail, and am going well no matter
where. | didn't strike Hastings with
an intention TO kill him. l was intoxi-
Gated and 1t was more his fault than mine
but he may die, AMI then; ut any
rate il is better for you Lucy, for me to
90. | never was worthy Of your love.
Now you can go back to your father.
and forget me and he happy. You will
find the bonds for that money | have in
bank in the desk: it is enough to make
you and the child comfortable. Forgive
and forget me, Lucy. God bless YOU
you and The baby. Ton.
This was the end That was the re-
ward that my cross word had purchased
for me? Truly, truly, the wages of sin
are death. We shall not need one pang
Of corporcal punishment, one sparl, OF
Gra n 70 a. ~
lost. Conscience is al sufficient-rc-
morse. that worm that never dies. II is
not Tor me to attempt to talk abou: what
| suffered in the days that followed that
morning. Words could not express it
save to one that hiss passed through tie
same furnace of affection, could begin
to understand it. Bnt lived, for sor-
row and Heath rarely walk in each 9TH
er's steps. and nursed my babe. and did
the work my hands had to do. ! did
not go back 10 my father. l remained
! at Tom s home, and kept bis things all
about me-, even his cap hanging on the
wall Forget him? Does love ever
| forget?
Hastings did not die. lie recovered,
and made a public statement. lie was
more IN fault than Tom was. Then he
put notice in all the papers, telling
Tom 10 come back but he did not
| come.
The winter passed away with long,
long nights OF bitter remorse, and tend
er recolections Of the dear husband.
whose strong arms had once been nv
stay and support The spring came
the snmmeT--another winter. Three
| a. Nstr mt
My child. Toms little baby. grew to
be i fairy little thing, with blue eyes
and golden hair, ard tongue that me-
yer wearied OF its childish prattling. All
day long she sat OH the doorstep, where
tue evening sunbeams slanted in. lisp
Ing TO her doll and listening, while
told hei Of the father who would come
back TO us some day. For surely. he
would come. Surely Gods mercy would
vouchsafe some compensation, some
pardon for such repentance as my soul
had poured forth.
mat thIrd spring was peculiar, some
how, the fnr-off sky seemed To drop
down in nearer, bluer folds the suu
wore softer radiance; the trees, the
! grass, the flowers, divincr, ienderer
beauty. / rose every morning and look
ed out of my little window at The kind
ling glories OF morn, with feeling OF
strange, tremulous expectation. | seem
cd to feel the shadow Of some great c.
vent that winged its fight above me
one prayer Of my heart seemed about
TO DO answered. "a = Q
Oae eycning-ob, that EVENING" A
May sky soft and blue. hung over a
green, hlossoming earth. The turtle
cooed IN the distant wood, and the robin
twitterct TO her young brood amid the
milky bloom Of the orchard. Gods
love shown in the golden brightness OF
Tue westward going sun. My child lit
Tic Ellie, sat on the door step talking to
/ her doll and watching the birds. All
ut once she clapped her dimpled hands
and bounded 10 her feet.
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