The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-10-06

Five years passed, and no word came
from Cincinnati. Katie was wife now,
and mother to bouncing boy crawling
about the floor, but Ned was true as
steel to his old love. No word of court
ing had ever passed his lips since Susy
left him, and if his tall figure had de-
veloped to manliness, his voice grown
rougher, his frank face older, the boyish
love still nestled down in the depths of
his heart, and he resolved to live ever a
bachelor for Susy's sake.
Katie's new cares had somewhat
clouded her pain at Susy's departure,
and the name that had once been so
sweet household word was now rarely
heard in the farmhouse.
There was something very touching
in the manly courage which Ned
brought to bear upon the sorrow of his
life. Never, save on the one night
when the suddenness of the blow pros
trated him, had he given way to the
passionate grief in his heart, and his
calm pursuit of the weary routine OF
life evinced more moral courage than is
often given to great deeds that make
the world ring.
It was Sunday morning, and every.
body at the farmhouse had gone tc
church except Ned and the baby. The
| Junior member of the household was
| fast asleep on rug before the fireplace
and Ned was reading, when shadow
fell upon the floor, and voice, low and
sweet, spoke his name.
He scarcely dared breathe as he
looked up. So pale and thin as to bt
almost spirit-like. dressed in the heavi
est mourning, the large, earnest eyes
hollow, the lips white and trembling
surely that could not be Susy? He hat
pictured her living in wealth-forget
ting him, perhaps-but never, neve
this rale, grief-stricken woman,
"Ned, don't you know me?"
Still doubling, he rose and came tt
meet her, till, with a glad cry, h
opened his arms and folded her closely
as if never again to let her go.
"Susyl my Susy! Oh, how can
ever be thankful enough? Oh, Susy
and the hot tears fell on the sweet face
as he marked its white. wasted lines.
"Father took to drink after he GO
rich, Ned, and it is three years sine
mother died. We were very wretcheG
Ned; for city folks did not caro- for us
and we were not used to their ways
after mother died, father was scarcel
ever sober, and l had hard time takin
care of him, till about two months ag
he was taken sick. We'd spent nearl
all the money long before; but 1 dl
sewing, and sometimes father earne
something, until he was sick. Then W
were very poor; bnt just before he die
somebody sent him some money the
owed him. He gave it to me, and tol
me to come here with it, and ask you t
forgive him for parting us; so after h
died, came to see if you still care
for me, Ned"
Care for you! Oh, Susy, I will cal
for you all my life if You will sta.
Susy"
But the white lips gave no answe
the head fell back nerveless, and as /
had seen her on that heavy day of par
ing, he held her now. The weary, owe
tasked frame had given way under i
load of sorrow and trouble, and it needle
all Kittie's tender nursing, all Ned
loving care, to win the invalid back
them from her lcng, long illness. T,
| days her life hung on thread, but
: last the colcr came fitting back to Il
pale lips and cheeks, and when the ye
of mourning had passed, there was n
in Allentown O prettier or more wi
some wife than Susy Clarke.