The Osceola times., 1882-01-28
THE SELF SACRIFICE.

THE SELF SACRIFICE.
II was q Western home, plain nd
small, the prairies stretching away from
il on al sides in green bllows. Near
it was a little group Of naples, then
tender foliage stirring softly in the even.
ing air. There were a few stars out,and
low in the west q crescent moon hung
looking for the nOnce Ike Il broken
ring, one golden half gone.
This thorekt came 70 Sarah Nane as
she sat in the porch, with her face rest
ing against her hand.
Everything ia divided just so in this
world" she murmurel 20 herself rising,
the book which had been lying upon her
lap falling TO the door.
She stopped tc pick it up, and rs she
| did so caught the sound of step in the
| distance. Nearer it came, strong, even
and firm, keeping time 10 a tune melodi
ousy whisiiCi For moment the wife
stood. book in hand, listening attentive
ly; then, lock ofdisa appointment shad-
OV ing her eyes and mouth, she went
into the houGe, closing the door after
her. But the step cametorward Just the
same, and the tune, MS clear and beauti-
ful as the notes Of the thrush, filled the
air with music.
1t was q frank, almost boyish face,
though bronzed and bearded, that a'oe
homeward that night; Just such an one
as q mother would have delighted in
| looking upon, ,bc ause the world had left
no traces of evil upon 1T.
AS he stepped into n6e porch, eth
ulrfssifnc softly, a slip Of folded paper
living upon the floor attracted his atten.
ton. He picked IT up and read his
wife's name written in a well known
hand upon the back. The impulse was
strong upon him TO crush il in his hand,
but something restrained him; what
ever the feeling was that flashed up in
! his cyes for the moment, he had, or
s:;ss Is, e irHsii:sssi VIII: %f.;, ,s9n.rol OF T. lie
his hands and TIER DTS the l"s ho.,se .e
AS quietly as though no fierce passion
had been praspiug hard at his heart
| His wife was sitting at the table, and
| with a simple, This must be yours,
SARAH" he laid the folded paper beside
her.
"Thank you," she answered, without
raising her eyes; ard Harry Nane
passed on, something very like a sol
rising TO his throat.
The husband sat down to the evening
meal withouta O word. somehow, every
thing seemed terribly real 10 him that
night. Looking about the pretty, taste
iul room, ho saw it as ho had mover seer
it before 1t stood before him like {
ivingtietue, with its homemade orna
meuts, snowy curtains and neatly laiI
table And the wife, too-how fair she
was to him-how far above other wo-
meu, 18th her neat, housewifely habitl
and ladylike waysl No matter il shC
no lore r loved him-if some one else
had taken place in her heart, of al
women, she stood to him the lairest ant
the best. He was but common fellow
after all, with little taste for poetry OF
books, while George
His thoughts startled him with thei
intensity, and ne spTang forward so sud
denly in his chair that Sarah locked ur
wonderinrly.
what is it?" che asked.
"Im afraid cannot make you happy
he said, in a choked voice. "I-I-what
shall do, Sarah2'
You can do nothing" she answered
in a low tone. 81 am rs happy as
deserve to be-
Tie arose from the table and hell GU
his hand b her. She did no. place her
I in Il. She was too honest to play doubl'
game and che could not show love sh'
did not feel. He read it all in her whit,
face and startled eyes and turned away
without another word. The next mo
ment he was out of doors, walking rapidly
toward a little igclosure which lay . few
! yards from the house. IL seemed all tn,
place in the world for him then, an,
with a great sob he threw himself down
upon the grass aud laid his head upol
his baby's crave. Never child longe,
for the caresses of its mother as llarrl
Nane l0ngVd for the touch Of the bab,
hands and lips at that moment. Broker
hearted and alone, wanderer, As il
were, and oh, so terribly homeless n
pressed the very gates Of Heaven to bg i'm
back his child. Above him the s,ar
looked down coldly; the winds soughe,
through the naples and rushed alopl
the prairie grass, as if 70 tell him hoy
barren life lay before him.
IF she does not love me | have II,
right % her Ny suffering is nothing
her truth and purity is everything" h
thought "She shall nevef look upon N,
face again
He pressed his lips and checks TO thi
dsw.wet sod, smoo,heA It tsnderly viii
his hands, and then went from IL forever
The light was shining brightly rom thl
c6tta.o windows, but he turnoJ from j
rsolutely and walked with long, rapi
strides forward into the darknt IS.
d II was ten miles to The nearest LAX
, town hut he was accustomed b walkin
b and the distance Yves nothing 20 him
He only prayed that he might find
boat ready for sailing at the landing; 70
+ now that he had resolved u g., he ooul'
, not brook an instant delay.
/ AS he walked on he took his hat from
his mead and let the cool winl pay owe
his forehead. II wsz hot ard feycrisl
with pain. Once in while a night
bird screamed above him, flying on
through space. Occasionally a dos