The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-10-28

Ho moved his chair uneasiIy and
emitted thread of blue, spicy smoke
from his lips very much rs if he wore
not enjoying it particularly.
IL suppose they are at Bilberry farm
by this time" said ho to himself. II
suppose the younkers are ia bed aud
Jonny is sitting out on tho piazza, list
ening to the whippoot wills. Two almost
n mind to so out thcro tomorrow cycn-
Ing, and tako somo peaches and ba-
nanas and things. 1t would bo pleas
ant surprise for jenny, and~-hollo!
What's that! A ring at the bcllp'
Flinging his cigar into tho unused
CRATE, John Smith shunlcd along to
the door in his slippers.
"Oh-a telegram! Now. | wonder
who should telegraph to mer'
well, said tho shiycring and rain
drcnchod messenger. "p'raps you'd
better open it and SEQ. anyway, Tyo
no call to hang around here no LONG
er!"
And off ho went, whlio Mr.. Smith
carried his buff envelope back to tho
parlor light and somewhat neryously
tore it open.
nsTSad aecdenE dA%E Your wS JGX H fSa SMsm .m
your child dangerously hurt. Come by the
next train. JARED MEREDITH, NJ ID.
Again and again Mr.. Smiths be-
wildcrod eyes rovcd over tho contents
Of this appalling missvo before he
could fully comprehend its deadly
meaning.
Dead! Killedr' ho muttercd to him.
self. MY Jenny killed. by u railroad
accidcntn
And then, catching railway guide
from tho bookshelf. he whir.od over
its leaves with trembling hand. Tho
next train did not leave the tcrminu,
under IN hour and Il half! 10 him tho
time seemed almost like eternity. How
could nc endure this awful agony of
soul for an hour and half?
"Perhaps they are incorrect" ho
muttercd to himself, wiping the boads
of cold sweat from his brow "Peoplo
cant always judge exactly in such
moment of dismay. Perhaps sho is
only badly hurt, and can nurse her
through it after all. My Jenny! my
loving. patient, swoct-oyeL wfor' A
strong sob roso up in his throat rs il it
would stranglo him. "No. no, shc is
killcd!" he gaspcd, rs his oyo foil onco
moro on tho telegram. dead! and |
mover can speak to her again or icli
her what II cruck exactiny brute have
boon! God knows | didn't mean ii.
and now it's too lato TO mako any
amends. Why didn't tho children 60
sooP How can bring them up with
out JennyP"
His head droopcd low on his quver-
ing hands; low, spasmodic groan
burst from his palo lips. An hour
and half before ho could 90 to Jenny;
half m hour then. before ho could
look upon her dead face; for Cow drey
was an insignificant way station somo
eight or ten miles up the road.
II could only live my lifo over
again." he cried aloud to tho baro
walls while tight in his arms ho clasp
cd Jcnny's little work-basket, with its
strips of unfinished hemmiug-all that
was left to him of tho fair, departed
presence. 'If could only speak to
her just once, and ask hor forgiveness
for thousand things. But, not is
too late--too late. And"
He stopped abruptly. Tho sound Of
hack driving hastily up to the door,
tho reiterated jerk of tho bell-wiro
reused him onco moro into reluctant
action.
John! dear Johnr'
Jenny, my wife!'
He stood. pale and stupefed, staring
at her as If she wero actually ghost
returned from tho regions Of space and
unreality.
There has been terrible railroad
accidcnt!" said Jenny. her voice falter-
ing. a. sho laid the baby on q sofa and
took Little Johnny lovingly on her lap
"a fcw miles beyond Cowdrcy. Threo
or four people were killed, but, thank
God, wo escaped unhurt. OF course, |
took the first train back that could,
for l know you would hear of it and be
uneasy. And only to think, dear,
thcro was poor mother killed, with
her little babo in her arms, and her
namc was tho same as mino-.'Mrs.
John Smith.
He pointed one trembling fnger to
tho telegram, which lay open on the
table. Mrs. Smith read it with dilated'
Dyes and pale face.
"Oh! my love. what = fright you
have had!" sho exclaimed. "And only
20 reflect, 1t might have boon me!'
But it is not. Oh! thank heaven,
my own darling wife, 1t Is notl' gasp
cd tho husband, holding his recovered
treasure close to his heart "And /
have yet timo to live my life over
again"
And from that hour John Smith was
a changed man. To jenny it seemed
almost like millennium, but Mrs. Geor-
giana Trotter turned up her nose and
said:
John Smith must DO In his dotago,
spending ali his limo and money in
carriages to tho park, extra help, and
fine clothes for that pale-faced wife of
his. John Smith always was foolr'
-Reto York Daily News.