Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-10-03
HOW HE PUNISHED HER.
BY REV. BARTON,

He would show her what it meant to
rebel against him. True, she had asked
him to let her go to her mother, who
YVES i'll, but who would attend 10 his
wants ii she went? He had made it
plain enough to her; what more could
rhe expect? But she was not satisfied.
She had declared her intention of going
any how, and she had said sue did not
see any reason why she should stay
away when her mother needed her so
much. 1t was only q few hours ride,
and sue would come straight back just
as soon as mamma was better. Robert
was angry, but when he thought over it
he would surely see that she was right.
She had reasoned so, and, putting to-
gether few articles which she would
need, she locked up her things securely,
went down stairs and told Jones, the
waiting man, to say to his master that
she would only be gone two days.
Leaving everything in Jones care, she
went out into the street, hailed cab,
and was driven to the train.
Robert Nesbit received her message,
and became deeply indignant. He felt
himself to be greatly aggrieved. His
authority had been set aside, his CON-
fort ignored, and he determined to make
her feel the weight of bis displeasure.
He would punish her so severely that
she would never again defy him.
He went to his Office, but was SO silent
and grum all day that his partner won
dered. Next day he did not come until
about noon, when he announced his in
teption OF leaving the city. This was
sudden resolve, but the former said
nothing. Nesbit was peculiar man,
and liked no interference in his affairs.
He only asked: eff letters come, to
what point should they DO forwarded ?"
"Send none until you hear from me,
for | have not decided yet where I shall
CO." was the reply.
A week passed-two, three, then a
month had rolled away, and no word
had come from him. His partner had a
letter from the wife, saying that she had
written to her husband again and again,
and received DO reply. "Was he i'll?
Was he away? What was the matter ?"
He wrole telling her all he knew,
which was simply that his partner had
gone away some weeks before.
Laurel had never so needed hus.
bands consoling love. Her mother, to
whom she had been devoted, lay on the
bed of death, and her anguish at see-
ing this dear friend about TO leave her
was augmented by her husbands unjust
and cruel treatment. Her delicate health
was failing, her suffering was Intense.
If her husband would only come! Each
time the bell rang her heart would give
a quick throb, and seem to cease beat
ing.
At Inst tho suspense of watching and
waiting the blow that would surely fall
was ended. The blow fell; the good,
kind mother smiled on her for the last
time, and died with her loving eyes fixed
upon her child.
After the funeral she returned to the
city md went straight to the office, but
her husband had not sent any news of
his whereabouts. With sitting heart
sheturned away. She then went to their
home, but here she met with disappoint.
ment also. The house was closed and
locked up, the servants were all gone,
and there was no one there to tell her
anything. There was nothing to do
but to return to the depot and wait for
the trainsto tale her back to her girl
hoods home. In q few hours she was
back sobbing in her brothers arms.