Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-04-20

II he returned as unsuccessful as III
went. What did that matter, she
thought, as she glanced at the window
OF her opposite neighbor. who had beer
left widow only one short month ago
"Only let him return to me safely, anC
I will make amends fer all" she hall
thought, half prayed, as memory recall
ed the countless times in which she had
grieved him during the past halfyear.
Nine o'clock came and passed, yet she
did not hear the usual whistle of the in
coming train. Half past nine and yet
no footsteps on the stairs Hear heart
lay like a leaden weight in her bosom
The color faded from her lips and
checks, and her blue eyes grew wild
with silent dread. At ten O'Clock she
could bear the suspense no lOngsr. She
left her room and ran down the stairs,
with half-formed purpose in her mind
of inquiring at the neighboring station
about the laggard train.
Dimly, in the darkness, she saw 8
crowd of people gathered at the outer
door Of the tenement house. TGey were
all talking confusedly. but now and then
some words broke plainly through the
I IDLY of sounds.
His poor wife salt 1re voice. tT,
is well for her that she has no little ones
to look after. She is nothing more than
a child herself, anyway"
IN axe way there !" said some one
outside. 1--WE must carry the body up
stairs. Which room is it! And some
woman ought to go up before US and tell
the wife"
The crowd surged and parted. Be
tween the ranks, six men came steadily
onward following policeman. Helen
knew him well, and when he looked up
the staircase, and saw the slight figure
bending forward and the pale face full
of fixed and settled horror, he turned
again to the crowd, and called out
Zone of you women come np here to
break the news. And take her away, ("
he added, in lower voice sit is no
sight for her."
Cood-natnred Bridget Mccarthy
came forward and ran up the stairs
where Helen stood.
"Iou'll come back into your room
wild me, my darlint," she said, putting
her strong arm around Helen's waist
"Sure it'il destroy you intirely to look
on at the likes of that!"
"Bridget. is he dead ," asked the pale
lips. pitifully.
l
was the train, my dear. Off the track,
they say, and ten strong men killed out
right besides him they are bringing up
from below"
Helen fell senseless at the Irish wo-
mans feet. Half an hour later she
struggled slowly back to life and loneIi
ness again. She opened her eyes to
md herself lying on her own bed, with
the kind old doctor Of tie neigh hborhond
bending over her with rather All anX-
ious face.
ave shall do nicely now" he said
making warning gesture to some one
in the background.
Helen gave great sigh as he took her
hand.
'On. Why did you bring me back doc
tor? [ have driven my husband away
to his death. and l hope could die too
1 blamed HIM because we were so poor
doctor, and I would scarcely kiss him
when he went away this morning to
look for anOthe place. Oh, [ have been
so cruel to him And now, Just when
/ was sorry for it, and when [ had re-
solved 10 trv to be q better wife, C cd
has taken him away from me, and he
will never know how bitterly repent
ed y
How do you know that he is dead,
ny dear 2" asked the doctor.
"Oh, / saw them bringing him up the
stairs. And heard them talking about
me "
"Not about you, my dear, but about
poor little Mrs Gray, who lives in the
room at the back. Her husband was
badly hurt on the train when it ran off
the track this evening. We thought he
was dead at first. But since then he has
revived, and | feel sure that, by God g
merov, he will recover before long"
"But where is my husband, then ?''
cried Helen, staring up.
"God has been very good to you, too,
my DEAR" said the old physician.
"Is he alive ? Where is he? Oh, tell
mel" her every gesture struggling be-
tween hope and fear.
"Here -
The doctor stepped back. From a
dark corner of the room tall figure
rushed forward sand clasped the wonder
ing, weeping wife in a close embrace.
"Is it you? Oh, is it really you ?" she
exclaimed, bursting into tears 'Oh,
Charles, have been so miserable since
you went away! How could treat you
so? You never, never can forgive me
or love me again !"
"As if could help loving you as long
as [ live, Helen !! And you shall be sc
happy after this. | have found gooo
place, I shall have good salary. and
tomorrow, if you are well enough we
will take a trip into the country together
and find some pretty cottage, where you
can amuse yourself all through this
beautiful summer among the birds and
flowers.
81 don't want cottage. [ want moth
ing but you, Charles, and now God has
given you back to me, that will bt
enough to make me happy" said his
wife, giving him the tender kiss W hicL
she had refused hin, that morning.
Nevertheless the cottage was taken
and the summer was as happy q time &.
mortals may ever hope to enjoy this
side of Paradise. Once, on their jour
| ney thither, after shopping excursion
in the city, they chaneed to be overts,
ken by the magnificent carriage of Pau
II ayden, millionaire. hlrs. Hayden
respiendent in toilet fresh from tii'
0telier of Worth, sat therein. She was
brown eyed and pink-cheeked and very
handsome Yet her face looked woEr
and wearied It lacked the look Of tru'
and perfect happiness that Helen:
wore. Helen caught the sofnewha
anxious look that her husband turhet
upon her. as the great lady drove slow
ly by. She smiled. Under cover of he
pretty silken shawl her hand stole int
his Never for one moment had sh'
forgotten the lesson of the long pas
summers day.! Never had she cease'
fron thanking God that it had beel
given although 1t came almost to'
Late"
Are we not having now the contes
about the legal, political and socia
rights of the negro, that we have here
tofore charged to be the wicked, useless
ly wicked work of the carpet bagger IL
his worst days.
But who now are leading in this neV
crusade for the negro, or against Tn
white man as you may choose to cal
it
Who are organizing the black troops
working on their ignorance and prejudi
ces?
Why. men who pretended that thei
desertion of the Democratic party we
solely on account of the settlement OF tn
=! !oI,+ Il