South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-07-27
Almost too Late.

called home 1t was not the we'd.
ded home he had dreamed of twelve
years before. when he uttered the wal.
edictory' at Yale, when Helen Cor
don smiled at the applause that greet
ed his appearance on the stage. Nor
was that crouching figure beside the
window. in the untidy print dress,
with the pretty sullen face aud the
uncombed golden hair. much like the
graceful belle, of whose company he
had been so proud, SO happy to mo-
nopolize, upon that golden day.
Il am going now, Helen.
His wife looked up and caught the
expression of plying regret upon his
'yi,rsr md ifnndsoyne-faS Her heart
was full Of angry rebellion against her
Fate, against herself, against him-al-
most against God!
'Why do you look at me like that2'
she said, peevishly. 4 KNOW that the
room has not been swept, aud that l
have not made my toilet for tn, day.
NV toilet she laughed bitterly
when shall | make toilet again, I
wonder? [ once set tue fashion in
New Haven! Who would believe it
now! And, Oh. TO think-only to
think what my life might have been,
If had been wise
Her husbands face darkened all
over.
Il understand he exclaimed You
mean If You had married Paul Hay :
den instead of me-
How can | help such thoughts2 !
saw his wife early yesterday morning
when was out. She was driving to
the railway station on her way to their
country house for the summer.
heard the footman say so to some one
when he went TO buy tie tickets for
her Aud, oh, what difference
there WAS between Us two! No won
der she has kept her beauty. No
wonder have lost mine Beauty and
health, ana youth and happiness, they
arc ;lj going away from me. because
we are 50 poor
Better days may be coming, love-
said the husband after IL pause. Il
have heard of good situation this
time, you know II / get it, it will
be Il stepping stone to other things OF
more consequence. And when am
rich, YOU know vel, my darling, that
| shall refuse you nothing
You have thought so many times
that better days were close at hand
And every time you have been disap
pointed, and we have lived on the
same horrible life wss the dIscourag
ing reply,
Il know, my dearest; but this is
really good news, | trust aud hope.
If YOU will only kiss me ard wish me
good luck, have faith that it will
come
He bent down, his dark eyes visit
fully searching hers for one glance of
love, such as he had so often seen
there in the happy days of courtship.
But love, so far as she was concerned
he sometimes feared, had flown ont
OF the window OF this home when
poverty entered The heat, the dust,
shabby. disordered room within, the
general sense of her own nntidiness,
ana the CALLING memory Of the freshly
beautiful summer costume worn by
the wife of Paul IIavdel, az she.
!ounged in her carriage the previous
daY-all these things combined TO
Danish the attectionate glance for
which the husbands heart 50 vaiuly
hungered, ard to make the wife's
parting kiss so cold and formal that it
fingered like ice upon the young
mans lips as he turned away.
He said nothing. But the deep
sigh, t at seemed to come from the
very depths of tried and overladcn
heart, silently rcproachcd her.
She caught last glimpse of his
face as he closed the door. 1t wore
n look of repressed sorrow that woul Id
haunt her to her dying day. What
evil spirit had tempted her 10 try him
so? Was it his fault that, by the fail.
urc of a bank in the great panic tho
savings of years of steady toll had
been lost in n moment? Had he not
laborcd faithfully ever since for her
support? For her uugrateful sake.
had he not stopped even to mental
toll, when no other employment could
be procured?
And now she had sent him from
her, unchccrcd by look or word of
fonducss. What il some accident
should happen to the train by which
he was to travel? What if he should
never return? For moment size sat
dumb, almost paralyzed by the shock
OF that idea Then she sprang from
her CHAIR and rushed 60 the door.
She would call him back, and ask
hun TO forgive that careless, cruel
parting. She was too late. lie was
already in the street. "A moment la
ter she heard the shriIl whistle of the
train. lie was gone.
The day passed on sadly enough.
Thought after thought came crowding
into her mind to unsettle aud reprovc
her. They bore their fruit In less
than au hour after Charles Archer's