Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-13
There was something lin his wife's
Lears very inflammable TO the passion of

abnSe. lie had been drinking now, and
was more insulting than eYen before.
Hard words followci; ant for the first
time in his miserable married life, he
struck her.
She crouched frightened, beside the
cradle where her boy lay sleeping.
There are some natures which the sign
of fear in others determines TO aggres-
sion. 1t seemed MS ifwith that one blow
n whole rabble of evil instincts rushed
out 10 follow after. | do not think he
was conscious OF what he did. The
whittier she grew the louder his voice
became.
Even in his passion Nancy noted how
handsome he was; and, through her
abject fear, Crept "A few trembling thrills
of love for him still. Her anger utterly
died for fear. II he would only stop she
would say no more about going home
this would be no lonelier than other
days. She would sing to her baby, and
sew, and preserve silence toward him.
Fate said. in person of her husband,
" Not sou She looked bewildered at
first; she did not comprehend his mean
ing. He made IL plain to hGr. "Since
you are SO anxious to 90 you shall and
you need not trouble yourself TO come
back. | really insist upon it. am
anxious for your enjoyment" And the
villain laughed mockin0iy. lie took up
the infant and held him forth 10 her.
81 must dress myself first" she said
soberly.
Indeed you shall 90 as you are .
Here's a shawl Startr
Are you not going to take us?" she
faltcred.
At which his loud laugh rang out.
Not /. 'Taint fruit season; besides,
| don't like plums."
g won't stir one step in this way
I'll cal. the neighbors, she declared.
4" Do, fyou dare"
She was too afraid TO perform her
threat. Then seeing she did not start,
he took her by the wrists. and she found
herself and baby out in the cod.
She crept under the wood shed, and
sat down on a pile Of boards and cried
Misery had shown her bold front b.
tore; now it overwhelmed her. Her boy
stirred in her arms, and she wrapt the
shawl carefully about INN. She sa
shivering. II some team would only
come by and take her, just IS she was,
TO her fathers housel She would spoi,
the merry-making, of course, but they
would not care for that. But no one
came. Everyone is happy but me-"
she thought, with suppressed bitterness.
What have done to deserve it7"
Her husband came out presently and
locked the door. Taen he looked up the
r0sd and down. She shrank into a cor
ner behind the boards; he did not see
her md passed 20 the barn whistliug.
Sh7 heard him swear NJ the horse as he
roddlrd It. Then he mounted anc went
of through the snow.
She ctept out Of the shadow. How
70 get into the house was the question.
He would not be back before noon she
knew. She tried the doors; they were
all fastened. The windows raised with
difficulty from the inside 1t WAS hope
less task to open them from the outside.
Besides she could not put her baby on
the snow to make the attempt. His lit
tie hands were cold; he woke and
cried, and sue was too chilled to SCOT he
him.
last she thought Of the dining
room window. Beside 1t was door
opening on the piazza; fragment of
glass had fallen from one of the lower
pancs, and il she could thrust her hand
through she might unbolt the door.
No! it was too small fissure Away
she went 20 the shed again. and she
found n broken barrel hoop, with which
she sped back as fast as her benumbed
limbs would carry her. This happened
TO hit the bolt; she gave q vigorous
push and heard it slide. She rekindled
the fire and sat down to think. After
this experience she must leave him; II
was evident that he wished It. But how
Notifying to go back 30! Turned away
by her husband with SCOTS and jeers!
She dressed her baby carefully; the
was time enough. lie should look his
best ut the Christmas feast, IL he was the
heir to an unhappy home. Then she
aonned her own best garments and
made up bundle TO carry with her. As
she busted herself thus her heart felt
lighter. 1t seemed to her a. If she had
shaken of an incubus which had hither-
to weighted her with iron.
Come, baby, we must startl" she
sang to the child. who cooed in return
and made dive at her bonnet with his
fat fingers.
She walked along the snowy road
with light footsteps until the first two
miles were passed. Then she began 10