The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-10-06

tef u1sned out. flooding the very walls with warmth and light And summer evening though it was, both light and warmth wese needed. A, sunset angry clouds rose in the south, and the rain came sharply dosn. with an ac- eomPanying wind that knew little of its o~n mind and veered sharply round con- i nnually from south to east Amid the wailing wind and dropping rain Helen Archer worked steadily on. l At nine o'clock the train which was 10 bring her husband home vas due. Her last task was finished, when she dished ou, his fovorite viands and set them. covered over with a basin. upon the hearth to keep warm. She leaned from the window. looking out, through wind and rain. for 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. bu, now. with her heart upon her lips, she waited 10 vel come him back. even If he returned as unsuccessful as he went. Wha; did that matter. she thought. as she glanced al the window of her opposite neighbor who had been lief, widow only one short. month ago.
 Only let him return 10 me sately. and will make amends for all" she half thought. half prayed, as memory rec alled the countless times Tn which she had grieyed him during the pas, half year
 Nine o'cleck came and passed. yet she did not heSr the usual whistle of the in- coming tram. Half-pas, Q. and ye, no foots,ep on the stairs Her heart lay like leaden weigh; in her bosom. The color faded from her lips and cheeks, and her blue eyes grew wild with silent dread l At 10 o'clock she could bear the suspense no longer. She Jeff her room and wen, l down stairs. with half.formed purpose in her mind of inquiring a, the neighbor- ing station about the laggard train Dimly. ID the darkness. she saw crowd Of people gathered at the outer door of the tenement house. They were all talk ing eonfusedly, bu, new and then some words broke plainly through the medley of sound
 His poor wife, said one voice. |" how Is she going to bear il. l wonder l, IS well tor her that she has no little enes 10 look after. She is nothing more than a child herself, anyway" Make way there." said some one outside. We mus, carry the body up- stairs. Which room is il. And some woman ought to go up before Us and tell the wife.
 The crowd surged and par,ei Be tween the ranks SIX men came steadily ! onward, followed by policeman. Helen knew him we'll. and when he looked up the staircase and saw the sllgh, ngure bending forward. and the pale face full of 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 away" he ! added in lower voice :" Il Is no sight for her"
 Good-natured Bridget Mccarthy came forward, and ran up the stars To where Helen stood
 You'll come back into the room wid me, my darlint." she said putting her strong arms around Helens slender waist. "Sure lt'il destroy you in,ireiy to look on a, the likes of that"
 " Bridget, Is he dead:' asked the pale lips. pl,eously.
 sorry am ;o say that he is 1, was the train. my dear. on the track. they say. and ten strong men killed ou,righ, besides hlm ,ha, they are bringing up from below"
 Helen feli senseless at the Irish wo- man feet
 Half an hour later she s,Tugglei slowly back 10 lie and loneliness asaln. She opened her eyes 10 find herself l,ing on her own bed, with the kind old doctor oi the neighborhood bending over her with rather an anxious face.
 We shall do nicely now. he sad. making warning gesture ;o some one in the background.
 Helen gave srea, s'gh as he took her hand.
 "Oh. why did you bring me back. doctor: have dnven my husband away to his death, and hoped could die. 100. blamed him because we were so poor, doctor. and scarcely kissed him when he went away this morning 10 look for another place On, l have been so cruel to him. And now, Jus, as xas trying 10 be better wife, God has taken hii away from me. and he wlli never know how bitterly i repeated"
 Hos do you kno~ he Is dead. my dear = asked the doctor.
 Or, saw them bnng him up the stairs. And heard him talking abou, me"
 Not abou: you. my dear. but aoou, poor little Mrs. Cray, who lives in the room at the back. Her husband Nas badly hurt or the train when i; ran otf the track this evening. We though, he was dead al hrst- Bat since then he has revived, and feel sure that. by Gods mercy. he win recover before lsng.-
 = Bat where IS my husband then - cried Helen, starting up.
 God has been very good to you, too, my dear" said the old physician.
 Is he alive: Where IS he ]. Oh, tell me her every gesture struggling be- tween hope and fear.
 He.e."
 The doctor stepped back From a dark corner of the room a ,al! figure rused forward and clasped the won der tn = Il