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

sent iilasteV Hasneu out, noOulng the
very walls with warmth and light.
midsummer evening though i. was,
both light and warmth were needed.
AT sunset angry clouds rose in the
south, and the rain came sharply
down, with an accompanying wind
that knew little OF lis own mind and
veered sharply round continually
from south TO east. Amid tho wall.
ing wind and dropping rain Helen
Archer worked steadily on.
At nine o'clock the train which was
to bring her husband home was due.
Her last task was finished when she
dished out his favorite viands and set
them, covered over with Il basin, upon
the hearth TO keep warm. She lean
ed from the window, looking out,
through wind and rain, Cor some sign
of his coming. She wore the dress he
liked best. Her hair was arranged in
his favorite fashion OF braids and
curls. She had kissed him coldly as
he left her, but now, with her heart
upon her lips, she waited to welcome
linn back, even if he returned as an.
successful rs be went. What did that
matter, she thought, "a she glance at
the window of her opposite neighbor,
who had been left a widow only one
short month ago.
Only let him return to me safely,
aud | will make amends for ALL she
half,thought, half.prayed. az memory
recalled the countless times in which
she had grieved him during the past
halfyear.
Nine O'Clock came and pussel, yet
she did not hear the usual whistle of
the incoming train. Halfpast nine
and yet no footsteps on the stairs !!
Her heart lay like Ieaden weight in
her bosom. The color faded from
her lips and cheeks, and her blue eyes
grew wild with silent dread. At ten
| O'Clock she could bear the suspense
no longer. She left her room ran
down the stairs, with half formed
purpose in her mind OF inquiling at
the neighboring station about the lac.
gard train.
Dlmly, III the darkness, she cav n
crowd of people gathered at the outer
door OF the tenement house. They
were all talking confusedly, but now
and then some words broke plainly
through the medley Of sound.
Ills poor wife . said one voice,
how is she going to bear it, / wonder
1t is we'll for her that she has no little
ones to look after. She is nothing
more than child herself, anyway
Make way there = said some one
outside we must carry the body
upstairs. Which room is it? And
some woman ought to 90 up before rs
and tell the wife
The crowd surged and parted Be-
tween the ranks, six men came steadily
onward, following n policeman. Hell
en- knew him well, and when he look
ed up the staircase, and saw the
slight figure bending forward, and
the pale face full OF a fixed and settled
horror, he turned again to the crowd
and called out
'One of you women come up here
to break the news And take her a.
way, he added, in a lower voice; 1T
is no sight for her.
Good-naturcd Bridget Mccarthy
came forward, and ran up tue stairs
to where Helen stood.
You Ii como back into your room
wild me, my darlint,' she said. putting
her strong arms around Heien's slen.
der waist. Sure it'll destroy you in
tirely to look on at the likes of that 9
Bridget, is he dead2' asked the
pale lips, pitifully.
Sorry | am TO say that lac is II
was the train, my dear. Of the track
they say, and ten strong men killed
outright beside him that they are
bringing up from below
Helen fell senslcss ut the Irish wo-
mans feet.
Half an hour later she struggled
slowly back to life and Loneliness n.
gain. She opened her eyes to iind
herself lying OF horow bed, with the
kind old doctor OF the neighborhood
bending over her with rather an anx-
ious face.
We shall do nicely now he said
making warning gesture to some
one in the background
Helen gave a great sigh a. be tool;
her hand
Oh. why did you bring me back
doctor? have driven my husband a..
way to his death, aud hoped could
die, too l blamed him because VIC
were SO poor, doctor, and would
scarcely kiss him when he went away
thus morning 10 look for another place.
oh | have been 80 cruel to him +!
Aud now, when l was trying to be a
better wife, God has taken him away
from inc, au1 ne shall never know
how bitterly | ropcnted
How do you know that he is dead,
my dear" asked the doctor.
'Oh, | saw them bringing him up
the stairs And | heard them talking
about me-
Not abOut you, my dear. but about
poor little Mrs. Gray. who lives in the
room at the back. Her husband vaa