The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-03-01

4
chances were that he would not see her.
She wouldn't have had him see her for
the world!
When she arrived opposite the house,
t. she perceived that there as light in
" the little sitting-room. Her first impulse
IS was to hurry by; but some more power
/ full Influence prompted her to stop. She
1 did so, and stood timidly at the farther
side of the road. gazing almost longing
: ly at the house that had been a home
for her-irst of happiness, then of mi
d cry. By-and-by, she felt an irresistibl.
yearning to look at the interior of thai
room once more. He was evidently
, within, and there was no dang'r thai
he would see her. So she walked hur-
: riedly across the road, opened the gate
softly, and stepped on to the lawn. An
other moment, and she WAS at the win
} dow, looking in. What singular be
havior, but she could not help it.
The little room was as neat as when she |
herself had watched over it. A cheer
full fire was burning in the CRATE, al
though it was not very cold, and light
ed lamp stood on the table. 1t was there
that Harry was sitting. How her heart
bounded as she caught sight Of him!
He held in his right hand book from
his scsnty library. She recognized it
at once; but he was not reading now.
He had allowed it to drop, with the
hand that held it, upon the table, where
its open pages looked mutely at the cell.
ing-and his face was supported, half
concealed, in the left hard, the elbow
resting on the table. Was he asleep
or was he buried in sad reverieP
Nettie thought that the latter was the
case, and her heart was touched.
81 wish had borne with him." she
said, to herself.
Bat a moment later her heart was
more than touched, when she was sure
that she saw a tear roll down from hi
cheek, and drop upon the book.
The lonely man was not asleep-he
was crying!
She could not help it, All that was
womanly in her heart was aroused, and
she was at the door in moment. No
ceremony-she burst into The sitting
room, and was at his side.
"Oh, Harry"
The voice quivered with emotion.
why, Nettie" he exclaimed, trying
to hide his tears-men are so ashamed
of them Isis it youP''
"Yes. Harry" hiding her face in her
hands. 81 was passing-I looked in-I
saw you sitting here so lonely. and |
could not help coming in. 1 thought OF
the time when we were happy here,
and"
Tnen her own womanly tears could
be repressed no longer There was no
use trying to hide them. Besides, her
voice broke down, and she could say no
more just then.
"Nettie"-he rose and took both her
lands from her face, and held them in
lis own-'I thought you had blotted
ne out of your memory
"No, no, Harryr' she sobbed. IL
ould not do it. Icould not help leav-
ng you; but left you, loving you more
han ever. Oh, / have been unhappy
incel
"Nettie, you have heard that u
''Yes, l hava heard that you are
you do not drink any
you are again manly and
ldustrious, like you used to be; but
DIV lonely you must be here!'
And the tears gushed forth anew, as
Or heart felt what her lips spoke.
Eyes, am lonely, Nettie-more so
an you may even think; but l deserve
IS punishment for the way have ect-
!. L had no discouragements; l had
'thing to make me do so. 1t was only
passion for drink, that it seemed i'm
'ssible for me to overcome. You were
a wife should be or could be. When
u left me, thought should become
pre- reckless than ever. Only day OF
o after l knew you had left me for
cd, l was in town, drunk, and heard
ne OF the village people-they did
t think could hear the m across the
all sorts of remarks
out me, aying that now l was
omed man for certain, and that my
'truction was near. Although intcxi.
ed, it startled me, and for the first
le l felt the full force of our separa-
n, and realized that ruin stared me in
'oSo. hau UOillo Vi WIlShJ III Il
,ket at the time, and when got on.
town l smashed it, bathed my
o in q little, clear stream Of
ter at the roadside, and silent
resolved never to touch
isky again. had tried it long :
,ugh to know that 1 could not drink
be temperate. 1t was hard to keep
resolve for the first week or two;
stood it and soon my taste for M
nix disappeared. l care nothing for Na
low aud would not touch it il it ran sus
streams. Now, Nettie, if you love
as overland God knows 1 love you
same-let US start anew; let us get
FRIED over again, and the bitter ex-
fence of the past two years will only
lance our happiness. Nettie, dear,
at do you sayP"
he could not answer. She was cry
q . fhOnnb bor hoo rf L,o r.