The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-05-07
miscellaneous.
Reunited,

The front door Of II neat house ofmoderate
pretensions, just outside ofan Indiana town,
was hastily opened as night was coming on
and man was thrust violently into the street
or rather the road.
The man who was elected was young, and
might have been handsome had it not been
for the dissipated appearance of his features
and the untidiness of his dress. AT the mo-
ment he was evidently intoxicated.
The man who elected him was an elderly
gentleman, whose face was red with honest
Indignation, which also showed itself in his
voice and his language
Albert Wakely was lawyer of ability and
promise when he married John Byrd's daugh-
ter Mary, although he had already contracted
a fondness for drink
This passion did not abate after his mar
riage, but grew upon him, and at the birth of
his boy he had become no better than loaf
err, sheltering himself with his wife in the
house with his father-in-law, to whom his
family looked for all the necessaries of life.
John Byrd was not the man to patiently
endure his son-in-law's worthlessness and i'll
treatment of his wife, and at last, when
Wakely came crawling into the house after a
prolonged absence and debauch, he opened
the door and expelled him forcibly.
60 off he exclaimed with his voice full
of anger, Go off, Albert Wakcly and never
darken my doors again! Yon have no lon
ger a home here, and you shall never set your
foot in my house after this"
Wakely murmurcd something about want.
ing to see his wife.
She don't want TO see you Go off, say
Nobody here cares what becomes of you"
The old man went back into the house and
closed and locked the door, while the Young
one stumbled up the road, his hat over his
eyes, and his faculties apparently daZed.
He thus wandered on, never looking up,
nor glancing to the right or left stupid and
purposeless, until he reached the bank of a
stream.
Ignoring the bridge, he would have walked
into the water il he had not been seized and
iorcibly restrained by man who had noticed
his strange movements.
What, Wakely, is this you? What are
you doing? Where are you going?"
II don't know" was the sleepy reply
Where am ~
you would now he in the water if had
not stopped you You have been drinking,
Wakely. Come let me take you home"
AT this word Wakcly suddenly straightcn-
ed himself up, raised his hat and pushed the
hair from his eyes.
Home y he exclaimed, 81 have no home"
In response to the wondering questions of
the other, he related, more lucidly than might
have been expected, the story of his expul-
sion from John Byrd's house.
"Thats nothing" said his friend Come
to town with me, and straighten up, and it
will be all right in the morning"
ut will never be right Mr. Henderson"
replied Wakely. "This is the end of it.
have been driven out, and deserve it, and l
will never set foot in John Byrd's house again.
That is not all. | will never drink another
drop of liquor as long as live, so help me
heavenp
Don't be rash. 1t is good thing to quit,
but you will have to ease off, you know"
"Never! | will not touch another drop
if die for it. mean to leave here and lead
| a new life under new name"
'lfyou really mean that, Wakely, l can
put you in the way to make a man of your
self. am going to Colorado. Go with me
and | will pay your. way and help you to
make your own start in life"
"Ifyou will do that, Mr.. Henderson, you
will earn my lifelong gratitude"
When John Byrd re-entered his house he
found his daughter Mary sobbing as if her
| heart would break.
"What have you done, father?" she asked.
"What have you done"
81 have driven away that worthless vaga-
bollIi, hc iouShiy lcplicu anu nave oIuel C'i
| him never to darken my doors again"
"You might have given him another
chance. He is my husband, and he is the
father of my child"
"He has had chance enough. He shall not
| be your husband much longer. He shall tor
ture you no more | will get divorce for
| you"
81 want no divorce" sobbed Mary.
| "You don't know what you want You
need divorce and you shall have it. I have
taken this matter into my own hands. WOr.
sham is ready and anxious to marry you"
| Six years have passed away since Albert
| Wakely was summarily elected from the
house of his father-in law.
At the mouth of canon in southern Colo
ndO where the tortured torrent has passed
through the cleft in the mountains and he
comes placid stream as it debouches on q
broad and fertile valley, a single "prairie
schooner" has stopped, and its driver n rude
red shirted fellow, is seen in conversation
with an old man, who is evidently eXpostu
lating with him in vain,
Its no use" said the driver at last "Pvt
gone as fur as your money will justify, and
furder, and here mean to quit. lfyou mean
to stop anywhere this is as good place as
you will find. If you want either work OF
help General Chance is likely to give it tc
you"
"Does he own this valley ?" asked the ole
man.