The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-08-02

One f1gnt WORD IN THIS moment and all
would have been we'll. 1t remained
unspoken ; 1 seemed to have lost all
power to act but on certain page
Of my ledger are still traces Of the
tears l shed in anger at my own
stupidity.
There was no doubt about it another
spirit had stepped in with its little
curly head--the spirit Of love and
that made me q stranger in my own
house. A Aprecious sunshine frightened
the rooms, even when the one in the
heavens was hidden by clouds. The
face of the servants and even inanimate
objects streamed back this radiance.
But me, only, the sunshine did not
touch.
1 felt myself always more and more
unhappy in my loneliness. Jealousy
grew in me it gave me all sorts OF
foolish thoughts. 1 wanted to rebel
against the little autocrat, but that
would be ridiculous. 1 wanted to give
her the choice between him and me.
/, audacious one. l knew very we'll
which side her heart would choose. At
another time I was ready to take steps
in order to find the mother, and, with
the power of gold, force her to take
back her child-behind my wife's back.
That would be cowardly.
I could no longer fix my mind on
business. / mistrusted even myself.
People asked what was the matter with
me. / feigned illness.
The sunshine would not let itself be
banished, and the spirit of love was
stronger than I. With his flaming
sword he drove me out. az must take
long journey, Martha" My voice
trembled as said this. Ny wife must
have noticed it; for something like
moist, shining pity shone in her
beautiful eyes. At my taking leave she
held the little one toward me and asked
in soft, caressing tones: "Will you not
say adieu to our child" I took up the
little one, perhaps too roughly; at all
events, he began tc cry and resist my
caresses. Then / put him down and
hsstened away.
I travelled in uncertainty through the
world and behold after the first few
days in addition to an ordinary travel
ing companion, bad humor, there came
another fellow who told me plainly that
was fool. First it sounded like a
whisper, then louder and louder: "You
are downright fool" Finally, I read
it in the newspaper before me; it was
traced ON the blue mountains; the loco.
motive shrieked it to me. Yes, be-
lieved it: why did 1 not then and there
turn my face homeward? Well, the
fool mnst first travel it all off before
everything would be right again.
At last, one day, with q violent beat
ing of the heart, again entered my
dwelling. What q solemn stiffness
reigned therel 1 could now hear the
sound Of whispering voices; my wife
came toward me: at is very sick,
very sick" moaned she, at will surely
diep l tried to comfort her. Only q
short time, however, proved that hel
fears were but too we'll grounded
During the night We both sat by the
little bed; she there and / here. Each
of us holding one Of his little hands
Ahl those feverish pulse beats!-everJ
stroke sounding like an appeal: Glove
each other, love each other; be goodl'
We felt eventually these throbbingt
and we understood the appeal. Our
eyes met full and earnest through the
glittering tears, as in a first holy vow
Words would have seemed sacrilegt
then.
Not long after we laid our darling il
the warm spring earth.
When we again eat down at our table
there was stiffness between us; but il
was not the same stiffness as that which
the little stranger had broken in upor
with his parting Papa" BY thu
wall stood his high arm-chair, and OF
the little board before it lay his spoon
scepter. My wife reached her fine, whit
hand over the table, and asked: "DiC
you also love it?-at least little 2
Her voice trembled. "My wife my
sweet, my own wife r. called I. Then
| fell at her feet and held her hands fas
in mine. "I love thee, my wife, oh
wife |"
After the first emotion had subside(
I pointed to the armchair: "The littl,
one came to teach US love-" whispered
l. "And when it had finished its teach
ing it went again to the angels" added
I she. through her tears.
One day the physician stepped out o
my wife's room, with q smiling face
. He touched the little armchair as b,
passed it, saying: "Let it stand there
you will need it again"
ReallyP Was it possible? Had / de
served such happiness?
AS l held my wife close to my hear
in my irrepressible JOY, could not for
bear to bend down to her blushing littl,
face, and say: "We will love it dearly
very dearly. Is it not 80 ?"