The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-09-20
That Terrible Scar.

hldnlght had tOllCd Its solemn chino,
vet still the weary watcher sat besidc
he hearthstone plying her busy needle.
Her eyes wero dim and sunkcn, her
,hecls thin and pale, her lips rinchcd
3nd purple, and her slender fingers so
'hrivelled with the icy chill that was
last pnlsying her that the plain gold
ing on her wedding finger and tho
'himble that she held were every now
md then dropping into her lap. Her
iclicate form was siivcring even under
he heavy shawl that she had thrown
'hout her shoulders, and she looked often
With II wistful glance ut the little has
Ect OF fuel that stood beside the fire.
place.
Another hour passed and the clock
struck one.
"He must soon be here now," whis-
percd she i'll holf-frightcncd tone.
II will lay aside my work and make
things as cheerful rs I cam"
SO she brushed the ashes from the
hearth, drew the Goals together, throw
III them ahandiul of the carefully saved
uel and famed the faint fame til it
dashed high in the chimney Then she
looked about the room to see if aughr
could be menGcd; but the few articles it
md everything as neat as the hands OF
owe could make it. An arm-chair was
irawn from q corner close to the crack
ling fire, the dressing gown that hung
upon it spread out anew and q pair of
slippers were upon the fender. The
amp was trimmed afresh, the table
.lusted, and beside it WAS placed a knife
almost as bright as though the blade had
been silver instead of steel.
"I have done the best cam" said the
pale watcher, rs again she scnk into her
chair. ooh, if were only sure of one
kind word" she continued. "Inrk !"
She startedup and listened. "It is he
and how he bangs the gate? / shall
have fearful time with him."
She hastcned to the front door and
gently opened it.
A man staggered in, and rcclirG this
way and that, reached finally the room
his gentle wife had made so bright and
cheerful. But what was her reward? a
colley of oaths so foul that it seemed as
if an army Of fends had spoken with
one voice. He cursed the niggardly fire,
though to make that she and her chill
dren had been half frozen all dnv; no
swore at tho patched drcssinG- gown,
she had planned il; he ravcd at the bread
and meat, though her own lean fingers
had earned them both. And when, angel
like and woman-likc, too, she gave him
a smile for every frown, an cndcarine
epithet for every oath, and would have
wound her arms about him to win him
back to reason and himself; he raised
his heavy hand and dealt her q power
tul blow; aye, he struck her till every
nervc quivorcd with anguish, and she
his wife and the mother of his beautcous
children And now. when she law
PROSTATE before him, ho raised himself
to kick her from thence. Aslight young
hand pushed off the booted foot even a>
1t was falling on the trembling woman,
and voice, agonizcd i'll its tones, cx,
claimed:
"Forbcar, my father, FIR though Won,
wife, she is yet my mother, and / will
save her from your rage -
The eyes of tho drunkard quailnc ::
moment before the upturncd gaHo O
his first born, SO mournfully holy WAS th,
look that bcalncd from his fearful face
then n ticndish glare burned in his OWN,
and cXclaiming:
"You, too must level my house.
hold ere [ can find pcacG?" he seized tlt
glistenine knife and struck his child.
"Will he live ?" moancd the poo,
mother to the surgeon, whcr he ha(
banda8ed the boys head. "Ho is vcr.
| pale and weak"
"tisa ghast;y and dangerous wound,
said the surgeon; "only the eight of ~
inch deeper and it would have bcci
tatal-yet with care he might survive
Mother, There was n pathos in tn
tone that drew her eyes earnestly to tn
speaker, STRIPPING of about II years
''mothcr, | am going away"
"Away and where, Ernest ?" sh
inquired.
Il cannot say" he replied; "Go
must direct my steps-but go from her
must. The curse of the drunkard'
son is on mo. Mono will regard ne
nsne even give me work. And more
mother, if / stay here I must forget m
Bible, for how can honor my fNthc
when he so dishonors himsclf?"
Very long did tho boy talk and plea
ere he won the fearful consent; but sl
gave 1T atlength, and, with d little knaI
sack on his back, his mothers Bible
one pocket and her slender purse in I'll
other, Ernest went forth in tho plc,
| world TO seek not sor ,,,unI, j gro,t.,SS. =. ,