The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-12-13
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LOTTI IT,.

both.
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LOTTIE.
When Lottie Grey, having the choice
between steady, sensible Charles Handel
aud his erratic brother jim, chose the
latter, many peopl q thought she must
have taken leave of her senses, and when,
contrary TO all prophecies, he settled
down to tho farm aud quite forsook the
tavern, the general remark was that OF
course it couldn't last long Lottie
seemed happy; children came and throve'
and after awhile the GOODNESS that had
existed between the two brothers passed
away, and the bachelor doctor took the
uucla's part in the little household.
When the eldest boy was nearly 10
yelrs old, and there were two little girls
besides Of 7 and 8, MS we'll as baby,
James Handel one morning declared his
intention OF buying a certain piece Of
ground that adjoined bis farm, the price
of wi ich was 50 COO. He had the money
in the bank in town, and that dny lie
declared be wonld draw it and settle the
affair. With this intention he set out
on horseback soon after breakfast.
When evening came and the tea, which
had waited for him an hour, was over,
and the sun was setting, Mrs, Handel
grew very serious. When her children
were all asleep she went down into her
kitchen, and sitting upon the door, sill,
hid her face in her hands.
Suddenly voice cried in her ear:
"Why, Lottie, is anything the matter"
And, looking up, she saw her brother
in.low, Charles Handel, leaning over the
gate. Aud to her eyes he looked very
pale himself.
Jim is not homo yet she said. 1T
is rs though" she began, and stopped.
"If he lay dead in that room there sup
pose should feel just so!'
There's nothing the matter with
Jim," said his brother. Il saw him a
few hours ago. Perhaps, though, it
would not be quite safe tonight with so
much money about him. III 60 and
hunt him up"
Then DIR. Handel went away and Lot
tie sat down again. When. the gray
dawn broke she sat upon the threshold
still, and knew that her forebodings had
been true. Her husbands horse had
been found fastened in the wood, and
there were footsteps on the soft ground
that seemed to indicate struggle. No
ono doubted that lie would be found
murdered in the woods near by; but ,
though search was maze. it was year
before some one, telling trees at some
distance from the spot where james
Handel's horse hsd been tied, found n
dead body covered with leaves and quito
uurecognizable.
Public opinion. however, decided that
it was all that remained Of James Handel.
aud as such it was buried.
Lottie wore her widows cap and as.
sumed a widows rights over her proper
Is. Handel bad never ceased to love
Lottie. He knew also what no one else
kuew-that her married life had been a
disappointment. Nov, as the years
went by, Charles began to feel hupe'
that Lottie cared something for him II
last. Sue had been widow ten years
surely there was nothing wrong in his
telling her his heart at once.
Oue evening he went ont to the old
farm with purpose in bis heart. He
found Lotlie alone. The boys and their
sister had gone to singing school togeth-
er. He told her that he loved her and
bad always loYed her, and asked her to
be his wife. And, rather by looks than
words, he learned that, however it had
been IN the past, her heart was his at
last Th en- he sat beside her, and his
arm lay about her waist, and her head
upon his shoulder.
Then came a tapping upon tho window
pane. She arose and opened the door,
aud saw the form of man leaning MP
against the door, She started back with
a shrek for be walked past her into the
room, aud she saw that it was her hus-
baud Jim Handel. His hair was iron
gray and his face was bloated. He stag
gered aud his speech was thick, but She
knew him, and 30 did his brother Char.
les at once.
All he said was "well, here I am
again
Then he spread himself upon tbs
lounge aud went to sleep.
His wife aud brother locked at him
with blauched. terror-strieken faces. Al
last the woman turned toward the man,
Good by" be said, God helP us both.
Anorwsrd. when the boys and girls
oame home, the mother told them the
strange news that there father had re-
turned. A peep at the face on the lounge