Towanda daily review. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1879-1921, 1881-03-16
A STRANGE STORY.
(COncIuded.l

nfSt on the river, then nearer us on the
great lake; but we never thought of it's
touching US, until one miserable night,
when father came home, languid and fe-
verish from one of his numerous expedi-
tions, and we read in his face that the
CHASTITY finger Of the scourge had set it's
mark upon him. After the second day of
anxiety about father all strength seemed
to desert my delicate little mother. From
the first she had despaired about him, and
now saw that if fathers life was taken
/ should have to part with them both.
Her life would die with his, for sorrow
forges bonds stronger even that JOY, and
they have suffered SO much together, his
love always supporting her, that he had
become life of her life. She could not
exist alone.
l struggled hand to hand and sick at
heart against what I felt to be an inexora-
bic fate, and on the afternoon ofthe eight
day l found myself alone and almost de-
spairing, save for the thought of the hap
piness of the two / had loved best in the
world.
The sunset came as | sat by the lake
side, flooding my desolate world with
heavenly glory, like sign from them to
me Of their new foHnd joy.
The stars had come out, before I ven
tnred to return to the worse than desert
ed house. l could not hope for help from
any neighbor until sought it myself the
next day, and had to look forward to a
night, how horrible did not forsee, or
could not have endured it. What follows
I could scarcely credit myself, if I did
not bear on my hand tangible proof of
it in we'll defined scar; and, even now,
[ could not bear to write of that nights
experience had not my children's laugh
ter and my loving husbands care long
since banished all unnatural gloom from
my life.
While I had been sitting alone on the
lake shore, toward the evening, l had
heard distant shot; it scarcely reused
me. A sportsman, l thought, had wan
dered from his encampment on the oppo-
site shore, had seen some game in our
wild woods, killed it, and his canoe had
long since carried him away. In the
gathering darkness I grouped my way
back through the familiar little path, and
reached my own door. | alone should
pass the threshold in the future: their
feet were still; the busy feet that had
toiled for me, followed me, and had been
ever near me! was to go on my rug
ged path alone Heartsick and overcome
l stopped at the door, and leaning my
head against it, I sobbed in uncomfortable
despair. Tired out at length, 1 had
grown quiet and was inst about to lift
the latch, when faint moan, as of an
animal III pain, and close to me, startled
me: then deathllike silence reigned.
l knew l had net been mistaken
felt that | must forget myself and help
the poor creature in distress. cit is
very good for strength to know that
some one needs you to be strong" No
longer hesitating, hurried into the lit
tie cabin, struck light, and went in the
direction whence the moan had reached
my ears. thought of the shot l had
heard. 1t was quite possible poor
wounded deer was lying in the bushes.
Yes could now see it's skin-unmistak-
ably fawn-spotted dun color It lay
quite still-perhaps that moan had been
its dying gasp!-and so I came quite
close to it leaned over and, paralyzed |
with horror, saw my mothers face, only
young and very beautiful, as she must |