Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-10-22


they can to encourage him. Mr.. Tracy
may be among those"
To Mrs. Tracy's eyes there must bt
danger. Brick and portions Of the wal
were continually falling. And Harvey
might not be there-nobody could know
certainly where he was. No lives are
knopn to be lost-that was how her
friend had phrased it.
The falling Of o portion of the root
drove back lookers-on and workers in a
confused crowd.
"Do go home, Mrs. Tracy" urged
Mr.. Brand. "You can do no good by
staying /; you are risking your health
and the child's too. l will surely see
that you have the very first news ofMr.
Tracy that can be secured"
Her teeth were chatterlng aud her
whole frame shivering, although she
had not realized that she was cold. She
felt that she could not go. but, after a
glance at little Willie. who would not
complain, she allowed herself to bo per
suaded.
Arrived at home, she was thankful
for the care demanded OF her b. the
sleepy children. But in due time the
clamor of the little voices was hushed
and then nothing remained for her but
to pace restlessly to and fro-now feel
ing as though another moment of sus-
pense would drive her wild,now shrink
ing in dread from the thought Of what
the end of that suspense might be.
He had left her in anger. She had,
in her pettishness at his forgetfulness,
refused him look or smile !; she had
been harboring bitter thoughts against
him while he was exposed to danger,
perhaps death. How far she had gone
aside from the ideal she had formed of
her duties as true wife how far fail
ed in making for him the sunshiny
home they had long ago pictured And
now, what il she should never more
have opportunity to show him how
dearer to her than all else or earth was
his happiness and that of their chill
dren I?
In her misery it seemed that hours
had passed before she heard footstep
at the door. And then she sprang up
in terror. Was it his step or that of
another, come to tell her?
"Amy-at last. Poor wife, did you
think would never come ? But don't
come near me yet, dear 10
But she clung to him for moment,
and then stood back in amazement at
his appearance. Smoke-b g r / m d,
drenched, and with ice clinging to his
dress and hair-she would not have
known him except for his voice. AS
she hastily brought him dry clothing
and hot coffee, he gave her an outline
of his experience for the past few hours.
sit was tight place we were Gagged
in" he said, in concluding freezing
on one side and almost burning on the
other. But we got the poor old man
safe at last. .and all my papers are safe. "
"And would you really weigh any
kind of property against your life, Har-
yey, even though it might belong to
other people ? Is that all you care for
us here at home ?"
"Well, Amy" he said smiling at her
half anger, "if it were deliberately
placed before me to choose.I might,per-
haps hesitate; but when all of sudden
you find that sacred trust is in dan
ger, what remains but TO use your best
endeavor, even though there may be
risk in it, with faith in the kindly and
powerful arm which has brought me
out Of it ?"
His voice had taken on a reverent
tone. and she could not say he was not
right.
But she lay down to rest witha great
thankfulness in her heart that she
could yet reach him with looks and
tones of affection and an earnest prayer
that the lesson of the last few hours
might not soon grow dim and be for
gotten.