Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-04-29

r1sssrvz, as SIT " the window, the quick
roll of furiously-drivcn carriage. It
paused at the gate. Some one lealed
out, and rushed along the path and up
the stairs. The door was dashed wildly
open and Charley's uncle stood among
us. He held a written paper in his hand,
and his eyes started from his head with
passion.
He is goneT he shouted" Gone
with that wicked woman. He has dared
to write and tell me SO. 1 nave disin-
herited him, and / curse him with every
curse that can light on man. May he
beg bis bread from door todoor! May
oh, God!"
The wild voice broke, and he fell with
blood starting from his lips, full length
upon the floor. When we raised him
he was dead. In the letter clutched by
his uncle's stiffened fingers we read the
words:
"When you read this l shall be far away. l
fly tonight with TIE only woman who ever loved
me. For me she has left home and honor, as
have for her. Tell Ruth-poor Ruth whom
have used SO ill--that never deceived her. l
loved her truly, but her cold love froze ont my
affection pure, as knew it was while this err
entirely. She will soon be happy with another
/ know-happer than l shall ever be--and will
forget, ere long, that there ever breathed one
SO unworthy of her thoughts as 1.
CHARLES CAMPBELL"
There were screams and tears and ter
ror in the house; but there, upon the
floor, set Ruth, pale and motionless, her
brides veil dabbled in the dead mans
hay al oh
wished never to open them.
People said she bore it bravely, when
they saw her, in little while, quietly
and busy as before. When the will was
opened, and it was found that Charley
Campbell had been disinherited, and all
the property was left to Ruth, they
spoke of it as an act of justice, and
thought that all was over; but /, and l
only, knew of the canker worm eating at
the young heart night and day.
Six months passed by, and we heard
nothing of the false lower. We never
spoke of him to Ruth, or among our
selves, and all the love l ever felt for him
turned to scorn.
At last one day letter reached me.
1t was postmarked c., and was from
a comparative stranger, who had writ
ten to me as Charley's only relative.
Oh! what tale was recorded in those
lines L can only give the substance.
The two had fed to Europe at first;
thence, when dread of pursuit was over,
they had returned to this country.
Then for the first time they had heard
of the loss of Charley's fortune, and
poverty seemed staring them fully in the
face. Their debts accumulated, and the
change in circumstances brought change
of affection. They quarreled madly,
each reproaching the other, and the white
hand of the woman was often raised
against the man she once professed to
love. Sin-branded, beggared, poor
Charley Campbell paid the penalty Of his
crime, and worse was yet to come.
They were in carriage one day, driv-
ing toward dwelling place, for debt had
turned them from the old one. They
were quarreling in suppressed voices,
and looking hot hate into each others
eyes, when a sight arose before them
that struck them dumb with horror.
the woman's injured husband, with
pistol i'll his hand, aiming straight at
them. Whether he meant to fire at her
was never known; but the ball entered
her heart, aud she fell forward with
scream. The explosion of the pistol
frightened the horse; he became I'M
and dashed forward down
hill, crushing the driver beneath the
wheels, and stamping on and mangling
him. eve think him dying now" the
writer continued. ellis hight arm has
been amputated, and he is FRUSTRATED by
pain and loss of blood. He has need of
the friends whom he has so much Offend
ed; will you forgive him and come to
him?"
Theletter fell from my trembling hand.
Ruth had stolen to my side unseen, and
had read it also. Down at my feet she
knelt, and buried her face in my lap as
might a grieving child. Neither of us
shed a tear, but we sat thus for an hour
in utter silence. At last she spoke.
81 have favor to ask, Mary. Promise
me that you will grant IT"
"Anything, darling | replied.
"Let me go with you, she murmured.
"Let us nurse him if he is suffering.
and be with him to the last if he should
die. He was almost my husband once
my dear Oh, take me with You !"
"Do you remember how he has
wronged you, Ruth?" I asked.
"Mary," she answered, rising to her
feet, "do not misunderstood me.
would not let him know of my presence;
| do not seek TO bring myself to his re-
membrance. l viii go with you as
maid or nurse; a coarse dress, a servants
cap, and the curtained light of a sick
room will keep me from his know Wedge.
If he RECEIVERS he shall never know that
/ have henI near him L only seek to