Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-06-03

and swore away her character, ard that
was the grounds for divorce. | don'i
s'pose she ever spoke five words to the
cur in her life, but they said afterward
that the Cap'n hired him for suit
of clothes, and / think it's likely he
did.
When Cynthy heard it she went into
convulsions, and as soon as she could
be moved Dan took her to little house
i'll the village, and went right down to
see her. She looked so sad 1 couldn't
keep the tears back, but before could
ask her how she was she begun to de-
fend Dan. He didn't know thing
about it. The Cap'n managed it, and
Dan was almost killed, and so OH. !
didn't believe word of it, but couldn't
tell her so when she was sick, but did
ask where Dan was stoppin'. "Why,
here" she says; "where would he
be?" | tried to make her see that she
wasn't married to him, and ought to go
away to her fathers or somewhere till
he was ready to marry her again. She
fired up in a minute at that. ''She was
Dams wife just as much as ever. Dan
knew there wasn't word of truth in
what she said at The trial, and he'd
uever give her up, and they'd be mar
ried as soon as he got time to tend to
it." When she talked that way made
up my mind I'd never worry the poor
thing again, for saw twas no use.
Things ran along, always gettin a
little worse, for a year or two. The
Cap'n wouldn't give Dan the Fort Hill
place, for all his sellin' his soul for it,
but put him off with'a lot of new land full
of stumps, down in Jefferson county.
He used to make an excuse to be off a
good deal, and he never found time to
marry Cynthy, though when he was to
home l think he was always kind to
her.
Next thing she lost her boy. He had
scarlet fever, and didn't get up strong,
and from that he dwindled right away. |
was KEEP at home by sickness, but Mother
Pierce said she never heard anybody take
on as she did when sho found she'd got
to lose him. Perfectly reconciled. They
all thought Cynthy cared more about
the child than she'd ever showed, but
told Mother Pierce | thought it was
more'n half because Dan set great store
by the boy. Not but what Cynthy was
a good, careful mother; but it amt III
any woman to set her heart on two
things the way she did on Dan. could
see, though | didn't say it, that she
begun to feel that her hold on Dan was
GROWN weak and she sknew the boys
death would help set EN- apart
She faded fast after that, and things
went worse and worse, till one day [
went down TO spend the afternoon with
her. Dan Lad been off for weeks,
knew, but | didn't speak OF him. ! was
tellin' about our church festival, Jest to
take up her mind, and she was tryin' to
seem interested, but all the time she
acted as if she was listenin', listenin' for
said, "Someway l keep expectin' Dan
to-day" Then | noticed sine had on the
same white lawn first saw her in. Oh,
how changed she was Like the ghost
of herself, with great hollows in her
cheeks, and kind of tired, patient look
round her mouth. But when she
smiled, thought she was still pretty.
There's Dan," she says, all at once,
and l thought then she had never been
so beautiful There was such a light
on her face it seemed as if she didn't
want anything but wings and harp
to walk right into heaven. She ran to
the window and stood there. | was
castin' about for an excuse to get away
before he came in, when / heard the
wheels go straight by, and when
turned round to look at Cynthy there
she lay in dead faint. / got her on to
the bed, and tried everything | could
think of, but it did seem as if she never
would come to. Finally, when / was
clear discouraged, she gave long,
shuderin' sigh and opened her eyes. In
a minute she raised up and looked
around as if she didn't really know
where she was. Then all at once |
could see by her face that she remem-
bered, whatever it was, and she dropped
back and turned her face away, aud lay
so still that I'd have thought she'd
tainted again if her heart hadn't beat
SO; could see it stir her dress from
where | sat.
Just then heard a noise in the other
room and went out. John was there.
He'd been up to his fathers of an er-
rand. and while he was there Dan came
in and SAYS, as bold as brass, Well,
mother, l brought wife home with
me-" Before the Cap'n could git in a
word Mother Pierce said, "You can
drive on with her." That settled it.
They was never either of 'em allowed in
the house while she lived
Then knew what Cynthy d seen. I
felt as if I'd ought to speak to her about
1t; but when | went III and said, "Cyn-
thy" she raised up her hand to stop
me. "I know" she whispered, aud
when | went up to try and comfort her
there was great stain of blood on the
pillow near her mouth.
We took her right home with US, and
she fingered along for two or three
months. Her lungs WANT never strong,
and | never saw any body run down so
fast. She was so sweet and grateful for
any little waitin' on. She seemed to
take right to me, and talked pleasant
and interested about other things, but
she didn't mention Dan, and we didn t
know how she felt till the end.
/ don't s'pose the second marriage was
good if we'd make fuss, but divorces
want common in those days, and we
didn't rightly know what to do, and
Cynthy failed 50 fast it didn't seem
worth while to trouble her last days
abont it. The night she died l set rp
with her, and she'd been sleepin' some
but all at once she smiled and stretched