The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1880-07-22

IHuTTy me-l 10 I'LL ! can, ana more
than am able TO do with one pail
Of hands"
Tom dropped his button aud turn.
cd toward me with q startled "Why
Lucy
Don't Lucy me- I retorted,
throwing down the bread aud catch.
Jog up the baby, while tue blood
streamed from my hand over her
white gown. you've done enough
-you ye broke my heart ! 1 wish
had never seen you'll wish / was
back again with my father and mo-
ther."
broke down with burst of bys-
terical tears, aud seeing the blood
on my hand, Tom came over aud
knelt down beside me.
"wby Lucy" he said, his voice
and eyes full Of tenderness, "you We
cut your hand. Why didn't you
say so Here. give me the child
while you bind it up-soo how it
bleeds
lie held out his hands for the ba.
by, but snatcbed her away aud
went on sobbing.
Don't cry, Lucy" he continued,
stroking the hair back from my FORE
head-"please don't; | know have
doue wrong, dear, but didn't mean
it. fell in with some Of the old
boysand they pursuaded me against
my will. But it's the last time,
Lucy-its the last time
Why didn't I turn to him then,
aud help aud encourage him 7 Be-
cause my mean, tyrannous temper
got the better Of my woman 8 heart.
"Oh. yes" said, sneeringly, lit
is easy enough to make fine promi-
ses-you told me the same thing be-
fore. How can you expect me to
trust you now T.
Tom was spirited aud quick tom
pered great, loving-hearted men
always are.
He sprang to bis feet like fash,
and before 1 had time to speak or
think, had left the room. tossed
the child into tho cradle aud rau to
the door, but was too late, he had
gone. Ijust caught glimpse o!
him turning the corner.
went back to tho little breakfast
room how blank and drear it look
cd, and what a short, singing
thorn there was in the very core Of
my heart. loved Tom aud ho low
ed mo. We hal been married eigh.
teen months, and this was our FIRST
quarrel. sat down with the baby
IN my arms. Needless of my morning
work, and fell to thinking. III the
old happy days came buck and one
in particular, when we sat in Dunn
berry Wood. 1t was in autumn,
ard all the world seemed in blaze
Of gold. as the sun slid down aud the
squirrels chattered overhead, drop
ping a ripe nut, now aud then, into
my lap, as | sat there with the last
rose Of summer in my hair, knitting
a purse for Tom.
Lucy he said, as l wove in the
last golden stitch, you've knit NY
love--my very life-up in that purse.
Fell me now, before you flush it,
how is it to BET Am | to have you
and-oh | won't think of it even.
Lucy, it would be too dreadful
mo. Tom," answered, you arc
to have the purse, and the hand that
knit it too"
Poor Tom, he cried then just like
child he, the bravest man ia the
village.
mo fanlt in him, only o little too
wild, too fond Of gay company, but
you must tame him, Lucy, as your
mother did me-"
That was my old fathers advice
on my wedding day. My heart
smote me dresdfnlly as | recalled it
to my mind that morning. fad l
done my duty? Had | followed
the example Of my mother, who new
or left fall an uukind word I
But tom would be home to hrs
dinner. The thought brought me
to my feet. I did my work briskly,
aud went about cooking just such
dinner as | knew he liked. The
plum pudding was done to perfec-
ton, the baby in q clean slip, and
myself all smiles to receive him
when the clock struck one. BT he
didn't come.
| put by the untasted dinner, aud
prepared supper, and lit bright
fire in the little psrlor. He should
have a pleasant welcome. But he
didn't come. Eight, nine, ten o'clock
and put by the untasted supper,
aud baby and | went to the nursery
to watch and wait. How the little
thorn in my heart pierced and wran-
kled. Tom had broken his promise.
aud my unkindness was the cause.
Nothing else rang in my eais thro'
the long hours.
About two o'clock I heard noise
below aud went to the window.
There was man On the porch !
could SEQ him in The dim light"
"Tom, is that you,' l asked softly,
putting out my head.
"Yes, open the door, Lucy ;
| q aick, the police are after me-"
Ny heart sank. The police after
him What could he have done 7
I ran down swiftly aud Unlocked the
door. But as I did so, two men,
wearing official badges, stepped up