Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-07-04
SELECT STORY.
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A HEAVY BURDEN,

from the ledger and looked towards
the speaker. Clarence was young
man-uot more than five and-twenty
and was book keeper to Mr.. Solomon
Wardle, pleasant faced, keen-eyed
man of fifty, whe had spoken.
"a heavy burden, isn't it, Clar-
ence ?" the merchant repeated.
Aud still the young man was 81
lent. His looks indicated that he
did NOT comprehend. He had been
for some time bending over the ledg-
er, with his thoughts far away and
that his thoughts were not pleasant
ones was evident enough from the
gloom on his handsome face.
"My dear boy, the burden is not
only heavy now, but it will grow
heavier and heavier the longer you
carry it,
"Mr. Wardle, l do not comprehend
you"
"Ah, Clarence"
81 certainly do not"
"Didn't | call at your house for
you this morning?'
Clarence nodded assent.
"And didn't | see and hear enough
to reveal to me the burden that you
took with you when you left? You
must remember, my boy, that am
older than you are, and that have
been through the mill. You fnd
your burden heavy, and I've no
doubt that Sarah's heart is as heavy
as your own"
And then Clarence Spencer under
stood, and the morning scene was
present with him, as it had been
present with him since leaving home.
On that morning he had a dispute
with his wife. 1T had occurred at the
breakfast table; there is no need of
reproducing the scene. Suffice it to
say that it had come of a mere moth
ing, and had grown Il cause of anger.
The first had been look and a tone !;
then Il flash Of impatience then a
rising Of the voice, then another
look; the voice grew higher; the
reason was unhinged passion gained
sway, and the TWAIN lost sight Of the
warm, enduring love that lay smitten
and aching down deep in their hearts,
and felt for the time only the passing
tornado. And Clarence remembered
that Mr.. Wardle had entered the
house and caught sight of the
storm.
And Clarence Spencer thought of
one thing more; he thought how
miserably unhappy he had been all
the morning; and he knew not how
long his burden of unhappiness was
to be borne.
"Honestly, Clarence, is it not a
heavy and thankless burden ?"
The book-keeper knew that his
employer was true-hearted Chris
tian man, and, after a pause, he an
swered:
"Yes, Mr.. Wardle, it is a heavy
burden"
"My boy, l am going to venture
upon bit of fatherly counsel. l
hope shall not offend"
"Not at ALL" said Clarence. He
WINGED little, as though the prob
ing gave him new pain.
SIN the first place." pursued the
old man, with Il quiver Of emotion in
his voice, "you love your wife?''
"Love her? Yes, passionately."
"And do you think she loves you
in return"
81 do not think anything about it
i know it."
"You know she loves you -
Eyes"
"Ihen you must admit that the
trouble this morning came from nc
ill-feeling at the heart"
"Of course not
at was but a surface squall, fol
which you at least are very sorry"
A moments hesitation, and then
eyes, l am heartily sorry"
"Now, mark me, Clarence, and an,
swer honestly: Don't you think that
| your wife is as sorry as you are ~
81 can not doubt it"
"And do you think she is suffering
all this time ?"
"Perhaps."
"Very well. Let that pass. You
| know she is bearing her part of the
heavy burden"
eyes, ! know that"