The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-04-28
THE SELF-SACRlFICE.


1t was 4 western home--plain and
small--the prairies stretching away
from it on all sides in green pillows.
Near it was Il little group of NAPLES,
their tender foliage stirring softly in
the evening air. There were q few
stars out, and low in the west Il cres-
cent moon hung, looking for the
half gone.
This thought came to Sarah Vane
as she sat III the low porch, with her
face resting in her hand. Something
in her own heart must have prompted
it, for she sighed quickly, while soft
blush stole over her cheeks.
"Everything is divided just SO in
this world" she murmureu to herself,
rising, the book which had been lying
upon her lap falling to the floor.
She stopped to pick it up, and rs she
did so she caught the sound OF Il step
III the distance. Nearer it came,
strong, even and firm, keeping time to
tune melouiouS}y WhiStlcu. For u
moment the wife stood, book iii hand,
listening attentiveiy; then, Il look Of
disappointment sll;idowing her eyes
and mouth, she went into the house,
closing the door after her. But the
step came forward just the same, and
the tune, clear and beautiful Us the
notes of Il thrush. filled the air with
music.
It was q frank, almost boyisIt face,
though bronZed and bearded. that
came homcwarl that III ght; just such
q one Us Il mother would have delight
ed in looking upon, bcc;l'lSt the world
had left no trace OF evil upon it. The
eyes were blue and fearless, and the
forehead, protected from the sun and
wind, was as white as Il woman $.
Only about the mouth there was IL
look that .wuul! touch q mothers
heart to see; not an expression Of sad
ness, wholly, but u yrirvitl look which
sometimes comes to Ill" faces, OI lit lc
children.
AS lie stepped into the porch. still
whistlins softly. IL slip Of folded paper
lying upon the ilt,nv attracted his at
tention. lie picked it up ;t't>l read
his wfe's name written in IL we'll
known lan,! upon the back. The i'm
pulse was strong uI,u;, him to crush
ed him; whatever the feeling was
that flashed mp in Ili;; eyes for the mo-
ment, he had, or seemed to have, per-
feet control Of it, He stood forawhilc
with his straw lat in his hands, and
then went into the llnll;e as quietly as
though no fierce passion had been
graphing hard at his heart. His wife
was sitting by the table, and with a
simple, This must be yours, Sarah,'
he laid the folded paper beside her.
':Thank you,' she said, without
raising her eyes; and Harry Vane
passed on, something very like (. sob
rising in hi; throat.
''If she had only looked up in my
eyes and said that it was from
GEORGE! he thought; " if there were
not Something from which she has
shut me out, could bear it much
BETTER
Wiping his face and hands and
brushing his hair, he looked his wife
over, a great, yearning, eager look in
his eyes--a greater hunger in his
heart. lie thought Of the time when
she had welcomed him with Kisses
when her arms had chung fondly about
his neck--When she had whispered
loving words in his ear--Wheu she
seemed to love him! But now she
had no caresses for him, no wifely
words with which to greet him.
Their lives were narrowed down to a
cold, dull routine--all that was beauti-
full and sweet gone from them.
The husband sat down to the even
ing meal without Il word. Somehow,
everything seemed terribly real to
him that night. Looking about the
pretty, tasteful room he saw it as he
had never seen it before. It stood
before him like living picture, with
its homemade ornaments, snowy
curtains, and neatly-laid table. And
the wife, too--how fair she was to
him--how far above other women,
with her neat, housewifely habits and
her ladylike ways! No matter if she
no longer loved him--if some one else
had taken his place in-her heart, of
all women, she stood to him fairest
and best. lie was but common fell
low, after all, with little taste for
poetry or books, while George
His thoughts startled him with
their intensity, and he sprang forward
so suddenly in his chair that Sarah
looked up wOnderingly.
"What is it!'' she asked.
The poor fellow looked into her face
with wistful eyes.
"I'm afraid I cannot make YOU
happy, he said, in choked voice.
"l--1-what shall l do, Sarah?''
"You can do nothing,'' she an
swered, in q low tone. Il am as
happy as deserve to be-
He arose from the table and held
out his hand to her. She did not
place hers in 1t. She was too honest
to play a double game, and she could
not show a love she did not feel. He
read it all in her white face and
startled eyes, and turned away with
out another word. The next moment
he was out of doors, walking rapidly
toward a little Enclosure which lay a
few yards from the house. It seemed
all the place in the world for him
then, and with great sob he threw
himself down upon the grass and laid
his head upon his baby's grave.
Never child longed for the kisses and
caresses of it's mother as Harry Vane
lOnged for the touch of the baby
hands and lips ut that moment.
Broken-heartcda and alone, a wanderer,
as 1t were, and oh, SO terribly home
less! He pressed the very gates of
heaven to bring back his child.
Above him the stars looked down
coldly; the wind soughed through
the naples and rushed along the
prairie grass, as if to tell him how
barren life lay before him.
When he had lain q long time he
tried to think and plan for the future.
Ii he could only so away that Sarah
might be free! She could marry the
man who was better suited to her
then. He had never thought much of
divorces, nor tried to solve the social
problem which the world has been so
busy working out for years, but lying
under the stars with his head on his
babys grave and the free western
wind touching his forehead and hair.