The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-01-26

be saw a young wife anxlously
awaiting her husbands return.
Something in her figure reminded
him Of Primrose. What would she
think if she saw him now, tattered,
ghastly, freezing?
Presently be fell into a species
of delirium. He thought be was
on his way back to the farm
back to Primrose. The frowning
rows of houses on either hand
seemed to stretch away into the
smiling, sunlit fields about his
fathers house. Yonder was The
tree where he had often met
Primrose when the days toll was
over.
The hard pavement looked like
the winding, dusty road be knew
so well-ay, and could he not
smell the alder-blossoms in the
morning air?
He laughed aloud as he strobe
along. He tried TO sing an old
air that be knew, and TcDt, he
thought, for joy.
Poor soul! He did not see how
the chance wayfarers shrunk back
from him, imagining him dan
gerous maniac.
So he walked on straight to-
ward the riverside, where the
water ran black and ugly beneath b
the docks and piers. For q mo-
ment it's sound seemed to recall
his scattered senses. He paused
and looked vaguely around him.
He saw in the distance a woman's
figure Fastening toward him, but
be took no notice Of it. His fan
cy went wild again, and ne made
toward the river.
'Hark = he shouted, 'the mill.
stream l shall soon be homep
In another instant he bad
plunged into the water.
He was conscious of an icy
thrill, the whirling of the lights
along the shore, shrill cry in
woman's voice, and heavy
plunge into the river beside hill.
Then, as a slender arm was fun 6
around him and a voice, strangely
familiar, spoke some smothereo
words of endearment into his dul
ear, be became insensible.
A long: dreamy interval seemed
to elapse and be awoke to con
| sclousuess in the broad light O
day. The room in which he lay
was his own cham Der at the farm
Was this the reality Had al
the past been merely a hideou'
dream He knew that he wa:
very weak, and that he must have
been very near to death.
While be lay confusedly specu
lating upon bis position, the doo'
opened and Primrose entered
She looked sadder and paler thar
when he had parted with her
year before but a bright warn
smile broke over her face as she
saw that be was awake.
My poor WaIter' she said
kneeling beside him, and covering
her face with her hands.
1T is all true, then P whispered
he.
Yes she sobbed. You have
been very sick. We were botl
very near to death, Walter
you know that did not Intent
to close my weakness and failur'
with a crime he said, earnestly
Il thought, Primrose, that l wa
on my way to you and home.
was mad with hunger and hard
ship
! Il know-I know she sobbed
i have learned ell the sorrowtu
story. had not heard from yo
for so long tnat l feared some
thing had befallen you. | cam
to the city to see you. All Gay
had searched for you IN vain. |
was the act Of Providence that
saw you at nightfall on your wa.
to the river. Your tattere
clothes, your poor: pale face an
wild manner told me all. ! hui
ried after you but did not reac
you until you had fallen into tn
water. l knew l could hold 20
up if aid came speedily. 1t di
come, Walter, at the last mt
ment, and you were saved
With misty eyes he locke
down at her.
You were willing to sacrifc
your dear lite for one so worthle:
, as nine,' be said, chokingly. w b