Smyrna times., 1881-04-13
Almost too Late.
I" | am going now, Helen"

am going now, Helen"
Charles Archer stOod at the door of the
me room high up in the noisy tenement
house in New York which he called
home" 1t was not the welded home hr
had dreamed OF twelve years before, when
he uttered the "valedctory'' at Yale, and
when Helen Gordon FLUSHED and smiled
at the applause that greeted his appear
ance Oh the stage. Nor Was that crouchiny
figure beside the window, in the untidy
PRINT dress. with the pretty sully tAce, and
the uncomhed golden hair, much ike the
graceful belle, oil whose COMPANY he had
""~n so proud, SO happy To monopolize,
upon that golden day.
His wife looked up and caught the ex.
preston OF plying regret upon his dark
and handsome face. Her neart was full
OF angry rebellion against her fate, against
herself. against him-alRlost against God.
Why de- you leek at nae like that ?"
she said, peSvishly. 81 know that the
room has not been swept, and that | have
not male my toilet for the day. My toilet"
she laughed bitterly. When shall |
make my toilet again, ! w"nder? once
act the fashion in New HAveMl Who would
believe it now? And. OH, to think-onk
1" think what my life might have been, if
had been WISE"
Her husbands face darkened all over.
:" understand" he exclaimed You
mean If you had married Paul HAYDEN in
stead of me-"
" How can help such thoughts saw
his wife yesterday morning when | was
out. She was driving to the railway station
on her way te their country house fer the
sumAer. | heard the footman say 20 to
some one there when he went to buy the
ticket for her. And, oh, what a difference
there was between US two! No wonder she
has kept her beauty. No wonder | have
lost mine. Beauty and health and youth
and happiness. are all going away from me
because We are poor"
Bitter days may he coming, love-" said
the husband after pause. have heard
ot good situation this time, you know
Ii get ii, it will be stPpping.stone to
other things Of more consequence. And
when | am rich, yeu know we'll, my dar
ling. that shall refuse you nothing
You have thought SO many times thai
BITTER days were close at hand. And ever,
time you have been disappointed. and W.
have lived on in the same horrible life,
was the discOuraging reply.
know that. my dearest; but this i,
really good now, trust and hope. If you
will only kiss me and wish good luck,
have faith that it will come"
He bent dowR, his dark eyes wistfull,
searching hers for one glance of love
such as he had so often seen there in tn,
happy days Of courtship. But love, as FL
as she Was concerned, he sometimes feared
had flown out OF the window of his HON.
when poverty entered. The heat, the dust
the discordant street cries without, tia
shabby, and dis0rdered room within, tn
general sense of her untidineSs, and tn
calling memory Of the freshly and b.autifu
summer Costume wSrn by the wife Of Pau
Hayden, as she lOungrd in her carriage oil
the previous day-all these things combine
to Danish the aifectioHate glance for whic
the husbands heart so vninly hungereG
and Ia make the wlfe's parting kiss so col
and formal that it fingered like ice on tn
young mans lips as he turnei away.
He said nothing. But the deep sig
that seemed to come from the very depth
of tired and 0verladen heart silently RI
preached her.
She caught q glimpse of his face as
closed the door. II wore q look Of repres
Ell sorrow that would haunt her to hs
dying day What evil spirit had temple
her to try him SOP
Was it his fault that by the sudden fai
ure of bank in the great "panic," III
saving of years Of steady toll had been To-
in moment? Had he not lahored fAitl
fully ever since for her support For b,
ungrateiul sake had he not stopped eve
to msnial toil2
And now she had sent him from h,
without even VOID or look of fondnes
What il some accident should happen
the train by which he was to travel? Win
il he should meyer return?
For moment she WAS dumb, almO
pAralyzsd 10y the shock of that idea. This
she sprang from the chair and rushed
the door. She would call hiM back al
ask him to forgive that careless, cruel pal
ing.
She was too late. He was already in Il
street A moment later she heard d
: shrill whistle OF the train. He was gene.
The day passed on sadly enough. TheuR
after thought came crowdiRg into her mir
to unsettle and reprove her, They DO
their fruit.
In less than an hour after Charles A
ch0rs departure his home wore a We
different aspect. By night this room W
trim and clean as willing hands cou
make IT. Before the clean windows q ps
of snowy muslin curtains were draw
The stove shone like mirror, and from
open front a welcome light flashed OF
8 hoohing the very walls with warmth al
) light. And summer evening though it WI
;. both light and warmth were needed.
z At sunset angry clouds rose in the sou
and the rain came sharply down, with
accompanying wind that knew little Of
swn mind, and Yeered sharply refund CO
tinually from south to east. Amid I
wailing wind and dropping rain Hell
Archer worked steadily on..
At 0 o'clsck the train which Was
bring her husband home was due. II
last task was Rnished, when she dished
his favorits viands and set them, cover
with q basin, upsn the hearth to Ike
warm.
She leaned from the window, lock-
cut through wind and rain, for some 81
So of his home coming. She were the DIR
he liked beat. Her hair was arranged
his favorite fashion of braids and Gu
She kissed him celdly as he left her,
. Row, with her heart upon her lirs,
waited to welcsme him back. even If
nd returned as unsuccessful AZ he went, W.
did that matter, she thnught, asshe glant
I'm cut the windaw. and saw neighhor "
Rad Am~m nx<f.x n, ~~kT -. =.