Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-11-19

sworn II was her voice cainng me JUST as
she used to call in the old days. "Yesl"
he shouted, -eyesi''
As he held up the lantern, its flicker
ing light fell on slender figure seeming
to advance from the whirling background
Of snow at the barn door.
Celestial" he cried, starting wildly
back.
"Then am not drea ming90 she said,
clasping her hauds. sIt is-John7''
And she made movement as if she
would shrink from him.
"Stop, he said. s'You are not run
ming away from me2 You shall not
evade me second timel You are my
wife, and I have at least right to de-
mand simple justice at your hands"
you shall have it." she answered,
pausing, with hard, rocking laugh.
"Speak on; am listening"
Then tell me why it was that you de-
serted nv home while was absent in
Canada2n he asked, sternly.
.sWhy was it, !, she retorted, bitterly,
that you sent your photograph and
loving letter to Ailsie Bryce. and never a
word to me9 Do you think that any
wife would endure slight like that9
Ailsie was your first sweetheart-there
was always the lingering fear in my mind
that you cared for her still-and when
she showed me your picture your letter
of tender words
s'Stopp said John Burton, vaguely
''stopl never sent her my picture. I
never wrote her letter. I never cared
for any one but you, Celestia. I gave the
letter and the picture into James Bryce's
charge, Celestia. Is it possible that he
let his sister Ailsie vile them away from
him9 For Ailsie would have done any
thing to strike knife into your heart,
Celestia. Ailsie never loved you over
much. But surely surely, my wife, you
might have trusted me''
There was no proof of John Burton's
truth except his own words-except the
sad, reproachful light Of his hollow eyes
but Celestia recognized their veracity
at once. She uttered cry of anguish
of remorse.
"Oh, John?n she wailed-''oh, John,
forgive me--forgive me, if you canl
For, indeed, indeed have loved you
ali this timeln
ssNoah, . said old Mrs. Simlinn, "Go
out to the barn and see what keeps Co.
lestia It's full FIVE minutes and more
since she went out"
'Don't fret, old lady," said Mr.. Sim
linn, composedly adjusting the poker
and tongs. "Here she comes now with
the new hired manl'
with her own husbandln Celestia's
voice echoed, in accents Of soft triumph.
''Dear, dear old friends, some strange,
happy fate had reunited rs beneath your
roof. For am John Burton's wife9"
But" gasped Mrs. simlinn, 81
thought you were widowl"
Ibid l ever say so1'' pleaded Celes-
tia.
mo; but
81 said l had lost my husband, = said
Celestia. 81 thought SO then. believed
I had lost him by separation keener
than death. But God has restored him
to me again. upon this blessed Thanks
giving Eve. And I will never mistrust
him again"
And then she told the simple story of
love and jealousy and despair. And the
good old farmer and his wife wept and
smiled with her; and in the stormy
gloom of the Thanksgiving Eve, deep
and abiding peace settled down upon
their hearts.
The next day Noah Simlinn and his
wife harnessed up Black Bill and drove
to church, secure that all would be cared
for during their absence. For the clouds
had all foated away in the night, and
clear winters sun shone gloriously over
the world And John and Celestia.
looking out upon the brightness, took
new courage.
'Letus accept the omen," said they.
'The tempest is pastand gone-the sun
shine lies before US now.n Helen Forrest
! Ggnres.