The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-12-25


NUMBER IS.
views for their daughter, though the
father himself was salesman for many
years. We we're firm, and in the end
We conquered. I don't think there
was happier man living than was
the day was married and when a
daughter came to gladden. our home
wouldn't have changed places with an
emperor. My trouble was that my
frequent trips kept me SO much from
my dartings. Frances did not prove
to have 80 many resources In herself as
1 hoped. She complained OF being
dull In my absence, aud though 1
spent aeOre than ought In trying to
make our homo attractive, sho longed
for the gayer society Of her single days,
and 10 a considerable extent re-entered
it. Our chtld-little Jane - was GER
tatnly not neglected. but still felt
somehow that her mother might have
drawn her closer to her. never said
anything to Frances though-that Is,
not In distinct way. She was good
wife, and had sense enough to know
that one must look for q little bit of
after marriage, as
general rule.
"So affairs went OH very happily and
comfortably In tho main till Jane was
between 4 or 8 years old. The child
and were very dear to each other.
When I was home she was always
with me, aud used to distinguish me
from her other playfelloWs as sher best
boy.' I never returned from one of my
trips without something to delight and
amuse her, and great were tho wonder
and expectancy with which she would
watch me unpack my latest Offering.
But ono day / came, or rather was
brought back empty-h handed. I had
been taken down with cold and chill,
attack developed into rheumatic fever.
For months I lay suffering torments
that thought could not be surpassed.
When at last the fever passed away II
left my figure as you see it now.
"Day and night was tortured by
the thoughts Of what our future would
be. In the effort to make our home
pleasant, had spent far more than i
ought, and my Illness had exhausted
my resources, besides running us into
debt. That my career as traveller was
ended was only too plain, II indeed my
entire usefulness as a business man was
not thing beyond recovery. But my
worst trouble was to come. My wife
was attentive, but missed something
OF tenderness that could scarcely ac>
count for. At last II bitter awakening
came. One day saw her reflected Ia
n mirror when she did not know ]
could observe her. She was looking ut
me, and on her face was au expression
OF repulsion: In ono moment, / felt
the bitter, burning truth! Her lovo
had not been strong enough to stand
the strain OF my illness, the loss OF my
prospects, tho change from my
old appearance to my present defor-
nifty. turned my face to the wall
and prayed for death. All the phys
ical torments had gono through wero
as nothing to the mental anguish com
pressed into those few minutes. Then
Mt last came consolation in tho thought
Of my child; only TO DO succeeded by
a still moro narrowing anxiety. Would
she, too, turn from me? ! knew the
quick susceptibility, the hasty impress
sions of childhood, and / dreaded what
might be tho effect on her young mind
of my distorted form. With what
eagerness, yet with what fear, waited
for her visit / longed for the moment
to come, and still 1 was tempted to
defer 1t. You, sir, can perhaps enter a
little into my feelings. at last she
came, and when saw pure, unchanged
love In the depths of her clear, bright
eyes and heard her whisper, "Poor
papa, Fse 30 sorry, eos i love you 40
much,' / thanked God that had some
thing still left to live for.
"When got sufficiently well TO use
crutchcs easily l went over to the
house. They were very kind. or couisc
was no real good To them, but they
made place for me to help keep ac-
count Of stock. i could write better
than now; my joints have stIHened up
since. The pay was very small com,
pared with what i had been receiving,
and 1t was necessary for me to find a
cheaper home and practice strict econ
omy. My wife's father made her n
small allowance, but he had opposed
the marriage, and was not inclined to
be liberal, now that II turned out as
badly as he had prophe,ied. She grew
restless and discontented under our
changed circumstances. and / cannot
wonder at 1t.
$50 far my tnisfortunts had been be
yond my control, but there came IA