The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-03-19
CHAPTER v.

Old Country-away from Manchester, and
away from dear old Wellbury on the Wolda
CHAPTER V.
MISERY AND DEATH
Judge not too harshly oh. my friend,
OF him your felow-man;
But draw the veil of charity
Around him If You can.
P'rhaps he was once noble man
Be ore temptation vexed--
He stepped from out the narrow way
1t may be your turn next!
When James Rochester aud his wife landed
at New York, they proceeded to quiet board
ing-house, aud in the strange and busting city
May ceased for time to think 30 much of
those whom, she knew, were sorrowing for her.
But, after while, when Rochester had to set to
work seriously to find employment, and left her
during the greater part OF each day while he
went forth on his search for work, she had
time for reflection, and little by little the truth
dawned upon her that her love for Rochester
was o mere fancy and delusion that she still
loved the man whom she had wrcnged. And
her heart yearned to be back at the old cottage
and to be once again the object of Mark Lovel's
| tender, almost womanly, care She thought Of
the old home at all times; in the morning she
remembered h,w the old maa would be start
ing off with his team singing one Of his favor
lite hymns, and then she thought that maybe he
couldn't perform his daily task as cheerily now !;
and at night her 70 Collection pictured the fam
lily party-her father, grandfather and the old
grandmother seated in the lcw-roofed kitchen
And then she must needs think Of Mark-dear,
Kind thoughtful Mark-who often made one in
| that circle p rhaps she should never again
see her grandfather III this world; he was an
old man now Aud, perchance, il she should
ever again behold her father, he would be an
Old white haired man, and he would have to 90
through his life without wife or daughter 10
comfort him. And Marky She could hardly
bear the thought He would miss her. sure
enough; but his sorrow wCuld die with time,
and then some other woman would win his
love and be,omo his wife. And, II she shou d
ever again see Mark, he would perhaps be on
the shady side OF life, with boys and girls Of
his own growing up around him.
But a, weeks and days passed away, senti-
ment had to give place to stern reality James
Rochester found every door Of employment
closed against him; and, although he made u
thorough canvass Of every mercantile house in
New York and the surrounding towns, his eff
forts proved unsuccessful. He could give no
business references, and without them no one
would engage him.
Two months had passed since they arrived
in America, and Rochester's small stock Of ca h
was almost exhausted. Another weeks board
would require the last ceut The poor fellow
began bitterly to bewail his foolishness, and his
burden was harder to bear In that he had made
pure and helpless woman the sharor Of his
misery. he really loved Mary; that is to say,
had ever experienced toward any other woman,
and he was deeply sorry for his now apparent
sehshness One morning he started of as
usual, and, while out. was overtaken by q
heavy transform, which soaked completely
through bis clothes. Instead OF returning home
| at once to change his clothes, no wandered on,
wet, cold, and MI cradle, until evening. The
next morning he was tossing res'iessly on his
bed, overcome by violent fever Mary
fetched doctor, who ut once saw that Roch-
ester was Just at the commencement OF seri-
GUS aud long illness. lie told Mary 30, at
which the poor giil burst into tesr-; and, by
degrees, told the doctor how they were situ-
ated, and asked him II he could put her into the
way OF earning something He promised 10 do
his best, and In a few days introduced her to
the notice OF wealthy lady who required u
considerable quantity o. fancy work do.e
Mary was particularly clever with her needle,
and az crocheting, etc, and, 10y diut or inces-
SAINT labor she contrived to keep Ihs wolf from
the door. The poor girl had little rest, what
with her WORK aud nursing her sick husband.
For the time she 70 got everything but the man
lying there so near to death: and wher, after
several weeks OF weary Watching, Rochester
began to mend, she fell on her knees and
thanked Heaven for sparing his life. At the
same time she wondered ut herself for go CO.
ing. At times she harbored dread thoughts,
and it did seem as though the death of her hus-
band would be the only means of freeing her
from life bonds which she sorely regretted hav-
ing ever made But Mary was not quite so bad
as TO wish such q course TO come about She
had taken one false step, but she resolved TO
do her best under the circumstances, and act
well her part as a wife toward the man whose
name she now bore.
And If James Rochester had not been sin
cere up to the present. If he bad hastily mar
| ried a gill for whom he merely entertained
passing fancy, he would have been less than
human to watch the elf-denying noble deyo-
nf wifi n in Ha tho
little hand, which was working 30 industriously
for him, in his own white and bony fingers, aud
pressed it gently to his lips, while Mary would
bend down aud kiss his forehead; and then
turn away to breathe prayer that God would
help her 70 make her married life happy.
In the course Of years she might have grown
to love no other man than Rochester, and Mark
would probably nave gradually died away into
memory OF the past. Bat the chance was
never hers.
the lovely autumn weather would sit in the
open doorway gazing outon the busy river, and
inhaling the fresh air as it blew In from The
sea or adown the hills. But his constitution,
never strong, had been completely shattered by
the fever, and when an unusually severe winter
came on II proved too much for him, and he
was obliged once more TO take TO his bed
Mary nursed him with undying devotion, but
on the last day OF the year no drew near his
end. He knew he was dying, aud, taking both
Msry's hands In his own, he babe her good
by"
Il was selfish, Mary" he said, "in bringing
you away to this country 30 far from your
friends. Perhaps did wrong 10 marry you at
all But thought loved you and believed you
loved me. love you dearly now; you have
been good and noble wife. I have never
done you any good-never cared for you as q
husband should, though would have done had
l been able. God bless you, Mary, and take
cafe OF you. IL you ever see Nellie ask her to
forgive the dead man. And now, IL you for
give me, and love me ever 80 little. kiss me,
and say 'good-by.'" And 90, with his hands
in Mary's, janice Rochester breAthed his last.
CHAPTER VI
HOME AGAIN.
An exile from home pleasures dazzle in vain;
oh, give me my Lowry thatched cottage again
The birds singing gayly that came at my ca l.
Give me these, and the peace of mind dearer than