The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-01
TIE sELV-sACRIFICE.


small-the prairies stretching away
from it on al sides in green billows
Near it was q little group of naples,
the tender foliage stirring softly in
/ the evening air. There were few
stars out, and low in the west a
/ crescent moon hung, looking for once
like broken ring, one golden hall
gone.
This thought came to Sarah Nane
as she sat ia the low porch, with
her face resting against 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
the world" she murmured TO her.
self, rising, the book which had
been lying upon her lap falling to
the floor.
She stopped to pick it up, and as
she did so caught the sound of a
step ia the distance. Nearer it
came, strong, even and firm, keeping
time to tune melodiously whistled
For a moment the wife stood, book
in hand, listening attentively; then
a look of disappointment shadow
ing her eyes and mouth, she went
into the house, closing the door af-
ter her. But the step came forward
Just the same, and the tune, as clear
and beautiful as the notes of a
thrush, filled the air with music
1t was a frank, almost boyish
face, though bronzed and bearded,
that came homeward that night
Just such one as 4 mother would
have delighted in looking upon be-
cause the world had left no traces
of evil upon it. The eyes were
blue and fearless, and the forehead,
protected from sun and wind, was
as white as woman's. Only about
the mouth there was a look that
would have touched a mothers
heart to see, not an expression of
sadness wholly, but a grieved look
which sometimes comes to the faces
of little children.
As be stepped into the porch,
still whistling softly, Q slip of folded
paper lying upon the floor attracted
his attention. He picked it up and
read his wife's name written in
well known hand upon the back.
The impulse was strong upon him
to crush it in his hand, but some
thing restrained him; whatever the
feeling was that flashed up in his
ewes for moment he had full con-
troll of it. He stood for a while
with his straw hat in his hands and
then went into the house as quietly
as though no fierce passion had
been graphing hard at his heart.
His wife was sitting at the table,
and with simple, This must be
yours, Sarah" he laid tie folded
paper beside her.
Thank you," she answered with
out raising her eyes; and Harry
Nane passed on, something very like
a sob rising in his throat.
'If she had only looked up in my
eyes and said it was from George !"
he thought; if there were not some
thing from which she has shut me
out | could bear it better.
Wiping his hands and face and
brushing back his hair, he looked
his wife over with a great yearing,
eager look in his eyes, and a great
hunger in his heart. He thought of
the time when she had welcomed
him with kisses-when her arms
had clung fondly about his neck
when she seemed TO love him
Their lives had been narrowed down
TO cold, dull routine-all that was
beautiful and sweet gone from them.
The husband sat down to the
evening meal without word.
everything seemed terri
blv real to him that night. Looking
about the pretty, tasteful room he
saw il as he had seen it before. 1t
stood before him like living pict-
ure. with its home made ornaments,
snowy curtains, and neatly laid
table. And the wife too-how fair
she was in house wifely habits and
her ladvlike ways No matter if
she no longer loved-if some one
else had taken his place in her
heart-of all women, she stood to
him the fairest and best. he was
but a common fellow, after all, with
little taste for poetry or books, while
George :,
His thoughts startled him with
their intensity, and he sprang for
ward so suddenly in his chair that
Sarah look up wonderingly.
what is it?" she asked.
The poor fellow looked into her
face with wistful eyes.
I'm afraid / cannot make you
happy he said in a choked voice.
.I1I-what shall ] do, Sarah?"
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