The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-01
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could not show love she did no
feel. He read it all in her " hit
face and startled eyes, and tusne,
away without another word. Tn
next moment he was out Of door
walking rapidly toward small en-
closure which lay few yards iron
the house. 1t seemed all the plac
in the world for him then, and witt
a great sob he threw himself dowl
upon the grass and laid his hea,
upon his baby's grave. Never chilC
longed for the kisses and caresse
of.its mother as Harry Vane longet
for the touch of the baby's hand.
and lips at that moment. Broken
hearted, alone, a wanderer, as i
it were, and oh, so terribly homeless
he pressed the very gates of HEAVIER
to bring back his child. Aboy,
him the stars looked down coldly
the wind soughed through the ma
pies and rushed along the prairie
grass as if to tell him how barren
life lay before him.
When he had lain there a long
time he tried to think and plan
for the future If he could only
think of some plan that Sarah
might be free. She could marry the
man who was better suited to hel
then. He had never thought much
about divorces, nor tried to solve
the social problem which the world
has been so busy working out fol
years, but lying under the stars
with his head on his baby's grave
and the free western wind tanning
his forehead and hair, he go'
straight at the heart of his own trou-
bles.
III she doesn't love me have nc
right to her. Ny suffering is moth
ing her purity and truth is every
thing" he thought. "She shall
never look upon my face again !"
He pressed his cheeks and lips
passionately to the dew wet sod,
smoothed it tenderly with his hands
and then went from it forever The
light was shining brightly from
the cottage windows, but he turned
from it resolutely and walked with
long rapid strides forward into the
darkness.
1t was ten miles to the nearest
lake town, but he was accustomed
to walking and the distance was
nothing to him. He only prayed
that he might find boat ready for
sailing at the landing; for now that
he had resolved to go, he could not
brook delay. He knew every inch
of the way; hehad travelled it many
a time when his hard worked horses
seemed to need rest more than he
needed it himself. 1t was his way
to shield and care for every dumb
animal tenderly. When he worked
in the fields, the birds flew about
his head. hoped at his very feet,
instinctively knowing there was
nothing to fear from his gentle
hand.
The road ran straight along by
his own farm; broad green acres
well fenced and carefully titled.
How hard he had worked-but, oh,
hopefully-looking forward to the
time when the land would bring
him solid wealth for his labor-when
everything beautiful that his wife
craved or longed for he could yield
her with generous ihands. But
that was past now; his back was
turned to his home and straight be-
fore him the green world lay, its
arms ever ready to take in for good
or evil those iwho were ahoat and
astrav. As he walked on he took
his hat from his head and let the
cool wind play over his forehead.
1t was hot and feverish with pain.
Once in while a night bird scream
ed above him, flying on through
space. Occasionally dog howled
in the distance, and the Growing of
barn yard fowls smote on his ear
with a lonesome sound.
As he neared the town he noticed
a black, low-lying cloud in the
south, and thought how frightened
his wife would be if a storm should
come while she was alone. While
be was looking at it a carriage pass
I'd him, coming in from one of the
prairie roads and rolling rapidly
For moment he stood
quite still, his heart throbbing pain
fully. He did not know. what it
meant; but, sensitive and keenly
alive to every impression that night,
nothing escaped him. He ran for
ward without knowing why he did
50, the runbling of the carriage lead
ing him. 1t went his own way, too,
straight for the landing, and turning
4 corner he saw a steam boat lying
At the waters edge. He was in luck,
after all, he though; this was the
boat Hero, and almost ready to
start. The bell was ringing Justify,
but the plank was still out and a
few passengers were making their
way across it. He hurried on board
and got back into the shadows where
be could see without being seen.
The perspiration was standing in
cold drops upon his forehead and
face, and he trembled SO that he
could hardly stand.
He had always been a plain,
;tright forward fellow, little given to
noting the particular phases of his
own mind and now, with no evil
dent senses to assure him that 1t
was, he could not understand why
he believed so firmly that his wife
and George Way were on board the
Hero with him. He had not seen
hem, he had not heard them, and
yet that subtle, indescribable some
thing-call it a new sense or what
you will-had felt and recognized
heir presence.
The steamer glided out into the
stream and went sailing smoothly
forward, its great lights making
shining path on the waters. The
cloud which had been lying in the
south was rising and now cover
ed half the sky. an occasional gleam
Of lightning darting from it. The