Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-02-18

When having the
choice betwe> ensible Charles
Handel and hl. &c brother Jim,
chose the latter, LAny people thought
she must have taken leave of her
senses. Some girls, it is true, saw
well enough that Jim's eyes were
blacker and brighter; his way" the
ways that charms a young heart most.
But no one expected any domestic
bliss for her, and when. contrary to
all prophecies, he settled down to the
farm and quite forsook the tavern,
the general remark was that Of course
it couldn't last long.
Again, however, the prophets failed
to prove themselves true ones, for
there seemed to be no change. The
farm prospered. Lottie seemed hap
py children came and throve and
after awhile the GOODNESS that had ex-
listed between the two brothers passed
away; and the bachelor doctor took
the uncles part in the little house
hold. Now and then, it is true, some
woman who prided herself on her sa-
gacity in affairs Of the heart declared
that Charles was as much in love
with Lottie as ever, but no man ever
agreed with her.
Indeed, his profession seemed to
absorb the young doctor altogether,
in their eyes, and anything ike love
seemed te be entirely out Of his wav.
1t was when the eldest boy was
nearly ten years old, and there were
two little girls besides of seven and
three, as well as baby, that James
Handel one morning declared his in
tention of buying certain piece Of
land that adjoined his farm. He had
talked the matter over with the owner,
and settled upon the price, which was
two thousand dollars. He had the
money in the bank in town, and that
day he declared he would draw it and
settle the affair With this intention
he dressed himself in better garments
than those he usually wore at work,
and set out on horseback soon after
breakfast.
Before he went he kissed his wife
and the children all around, and prom
ised to bring the latter something from
the store.
1t was only natural that he should
make days holiday of his Journey,
and though he promised to return to
dinner Lottie did not actually expect
him; but when evening came, and the
tea, which had waited for him an
hour, was over, and the sun was set
ting, and the children stood peeping
through the garden pailings, watching
the road, and as casting her eye along
1t, Mrs. Handel saw nothing of the
brown horse and its rider, she grew
suddenly very serious and was trou-
bled by fancy that she should have
been more anxious about her husband !;
that it was not even quite loving and
wifely not to have wondered at his
absence.
At the same time she knew that she
was not anxious, but that a sadness
had settled upon her like that which
falls upon people in the house Of death.
when all 10 over, and there il nothing
10 be feared, or hoped, or done.
She tried to shake the feeling of,
but it would not leave her. She
found herself going about her work
softly. and speaking in hushsd man.
nei. When in q little while abe
called her children into the house and
Put them TO bed, she could not smile
at their pranks a. usual, and had no
promises Of thsir fathers speedy re.
turn 10 give them, and when hopes Of
dolls aud marbles and wagons had
quite deserted them. aud thsy were ali
asleep. she went down into her kitch.
en-, and sitting on the dcorsill hid
her face in her hands, without the
slightest hope Of her husband return
in her heart.
She sat for long time quite alone.
The faint rays Of sunset faded, twilight
died cut and the moon arose. The
light fell over her, and made her, with
her fair hair and skin, in her light
dress, look more like 0 statue than q
living woman.
Suddenly voice cried in her ear :.
Why Lottie, is any thing the matter"
And looking up, she saw her brother
in.law. Charles Handel, leaning over
the gate. rs it the moonlight, or are
you really SO palsS" be added. And
70 her eyes he looked very pale hin.
sell.
She arose then and stood with her
hands folded loosely and hslplessly
together in way quite unusual to
her.
jim is not home yet" she said.
"1t 10 9 thought" sha began, aud
stsrrsd.
"WailS" said 10.