The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-12-11
less and cold. The mistaken heart 1 pressed

less and cold. The mistaken heart pressed
against my breast was still.
laid the body softly down. Through
the falling snow that was fast covering the
wasted likeness OF my dead love, as if "a
blot its degradation ritifully out the poleinn
clangor of great bell in some neivhborine
church tower came, muffled aud thick like
the measured tolling of passing kneii,
beating the announcement of the newborn
holiday with long drawn strokes.
How long sat there l do not know, but
when | came to myself was chilled to the
marrow, and the rigid figure beside which
knelt was quite hidden under little mound
Of snow. The dead face was SO completely
vailed that even its outline was lost. and
when brushed the cleaning crystals ten.
derly off was frozen hard and cold. There
was mark upon IL, an ugly, cruel mark,
and as my eyes rested on it swore great
oath in my heart of hearts.
knew now who the ruliian was whose
nand had left it there | knew now whose
the voice was that had sounded 90 strangely
'amiliar to me.
1t seemed such pity to leave her all alone
and unsheltered under the hard sky that,
when approached the house with my new
purpose strong within me, | turned back
again to cover the poor bruised face with my
coat.
Then I beat heavy summons at the
barred door.
There was lull in the riot within, and
steps approached. l heard the rattle of a
falling chain and the Clang Of the bolts be-
ing drawn back. Before the key could be
turned in the lock, set my shoulders to the
door and burst it open.
My quick eye picked him out in the frac-
ton of an instant. Before another had
slipped by was upon him and had hin
down.
He scarcely saw my face, for, in the leap
made to get at him, overturned the table
with the single lamp upon it. In the scuff1s
which followed felt the blows Of the by.
ISLANDERS rain down upon me; felt their
utaNN hCtlS HlNiO tuuh OuCt NIhsu uKdlubt
my skull. But with him under me, and
his scoundrel throat in my grasp, and thu
recollection Of the frozen face outside spur
ring me on, they were no more to me than
so many falling rose leaves.
At last, however, came stroke that set a
thousand fires dancing before my eyes, and
then all sense went out in murmur like
that of the sea, through which l dreamily
fancied could hear the sound of heavy
knocking at the door.
Weeks afterward, when I rcgained my
senses, it was to find myself in Bellevue
Hospital.
had been brought there, said the nurse,
on Christmas morning, by the police. who
had rescued me, when, after strangling one
of my assaiants, the others were about To
brain me. In my delrium had told my
whole story, and the man put in my hands
little packet, which had been taken from
my dead wife's breast. This packet was adj
dressed to me.
The contents of this package was little
plain hoop of gold-a wedding ring; and
wrapped about it scroll of paper with these
faded lines.
"Whcever may find this on mo when,
happily, am dead, beg by all they honor
in their wives aud sisters, tn carry this 10
whom it is ldressed, and say that since I
first dishonored the bond it represen 8, I
have never worn it anywhere but next my
heart, and that beg and pray him to take
back the pledge with such pity and forgive
ness as know him capable of for the un-
worthy los; soul who dares not sign herself
his -"
"Such, old boy" said Mountmorris, af-
ter pause Of several minutes, "such is my
story. Do you wonder that curse the
snow All thank you. Well, since you
will have It, | don't mind little Of the
same. Make it stronc and hot this time,
Dick. I've got a long walk before me-"
"And the ring" | ventrred to suggest
while Mountmorris buried his face in the
vapor Of a rum punch strong enough to choke
force pump aud sufficiently hot tn scald the
throat OF a born devil, ''have you got il
yet?"
"well, to tell the truth, old boy, have
not"
"Lnst it. suppose" ventured.
"0nly in a modified sense" and the story
| tsller fixed on me two deep set, hazel eyes,
as watery now from the evaporatons Of al
cohol as they had been few minutes ago
with emotion. ut is painful admission
! for me tn make, but couple of weeks after
| | was discharged from the hospital l was
dead broke and had to spout It for money
enough to pay for john Collins. You
| couldn't loan me q quarter, could you