Middletown transcript., 1883-01-19
Madame, it is impossible"
"And why ? You sayl A wife's
place is beside her husband.'

| p1ctCO 10 DColuC uOl uuOUcsIlus
He smiled bitterly.
"This is scarcely the time, madame
to remember your VOWS. Forget them
1 pray you, in this as in all else.
must insist upon your choosing shel
ter"
She shook her head.
4 cannot, y she murmured in voic
SO low that he could scarcely catch tn
words.
"You cannot Is there some rea
son, then, l do not know ?"
Perhaps, but one I may not confess
Respect it, however, l beseech you, ant
let me remain
81 could scarcely hope, madame
neither can l use force in compelling
you to leave this house, but must ex
ercise husbands rights in demanding
your obedience. The danger is too OBJ
vious to permit you to share it.. =
aBe it so, then. Within an hour my
apartments will be vacant.
"ShaH L escort you to your friends
house ?"
emo. will go alone, Carl"
She hesitated moment.
You will promise me to run no un
necessary risk P''
"No man should trife with his life
1t is Gods gift, )" he answered, and alb
ruptly left her, standing with clasped
hands and heaving bosom.
"What care he took to tell me why
his life was precious" she murmured.
g Yet, do not deserve it? Yes, but
not that it should be taken from me.
Oh, God spare him spare him ~ and
she fell, in bitter weeping, on her
knees.
1t was midnight when the mob at
tackled the house. There were loud
cries for the master.
"Let him speak, and we will listen, y
they shouted.
Within his barricaded windows, Carl
Sigmund heard and understood. He
advanced toward one of the windows
and began unfastening the barriers.
The foreman of the works seized his
arm.
You are niad,' he said. g have
dispatched messenger for assistance.
Show yourself, and your life will not
be worth a moments ransom. It is
pretense to make you show your
self.'
The master the master ~ came the
cry.
"They are right,'' said sigmund.
They respectfully used to care for
me. 1 will talk to them. If they kill
me, man cannot die in better cause
than in his duty. Ny duty lies in prov
ing my cause right. Let me CO."
But at this instant dress rustled at
the door. Carl turned. His wife, pale
and beautiful, stood upon the threshold
of the room. Ere his surprise could
find words, she was kneeling at his feet,
her arms clasped about him.
"My love my husband ~ she cried.
you shall not 60 Despise, hate me,
as you will. 1 deserve it all. But, oh,
do not cast away the life without which
mine could not exist. y
He looked at her as if in a dream,
then motioned for the others to with
draw, before he lifted her from where
she knelt.
Chow came you here ?" he ques-
toned "Poor child the terror has
turned your brain"
"No, Carl-no 1 could not leave
you. / said | would go, only that I
might stay. 1 stayed because love
you-because l have loved you from
the very day became your wife, though
1 scorned and refused to acknowledge
the passion which has mastered me. l
know that 1 may never hope to win
that which l might once have won !;
but let me know that you live-let me
see you, hear your voice, and even
though you hate me, yet | may CLEAN
some happiness.
"Hate you ?" he whispered. MY
love, my wife! You have indeed made
my life a precious boon. But listen,
they are calling me. must 60"
"Then 1 will go with you," she re-
piled.
And as the fastenings fell at touch
of his hand, she stepped out on the
balcony by his side. A long, low muir
mur ran through the crowd below. No
weapon, no armor, could have protected
Carl Sigmund as did the presence Of
that young, beautiful woman, who
stood with hands clasped about his
arms.
Silence fell as he spoke few earnest
words. Ere he had finished, the tramp
was heard of approaching soldiers, but
they were not needed. The strike was
ended. Calm had taken the place of
passion, and reason of anger. But far,
far deeper than the external peace be-
tween master and men, was that which
had stolen into Carl Sigmund's heart
the heart where lay pillowed the fair,
naughty head, which, like the restless
dove sent from the ark, had found at
last shelter and sweet rest.
AN OLD WOMAN in st. Louis saved
$1100 out of the hard earnings of thirty
years, and the other night lost the
money in the street. The newspapers
described her pitiable grief, for she was
COMPLETELY nrnstrated by the loss, and