Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-12-24

" of her single days, and. to q consider
able extent, re-entered it. Our child
little Jane-was certainly not neglected,
but still felt that somehow her mother
might have drawn her closer to her. l
never said anything TO Frances, though
that is, not i'm a distinct way. She
was a good wife, and had sense enough
TO know that one must look for Little
biz Of disenchantment after marriage ss
a general rule.
$50 affairs went on very happily aud
comfortably in the main till Jane was
between four and Eve years old. The
child and | were very dear to each
other. When was home she was al
WAYS with me, and used 10 distinguish
me from her other playfellowsas as her
best boy 1 never returned from one
of my trips without something to de-
light and amuse her, and great were the
wonder and expectancy with which she
would watch me unpack my latest Of
fering. But one day ! came. or rather
was brought, back empty handed. l
had been taken down with cold and
chill, caught in some III. aired bedroom
The attack developed into rheumatic
fever. For months | lay suffering tor
ments that thought could not be sur
passed. When, at last, the fever passed
away, II left my figure m you see IL
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 ought, and
my illness had exhausted our resources,
besides running us into debt. That my
career as traveller was ended was
only TOO plain, if indeed my entire use
fuluess as a business nah was not a
thing gone beyond recovery. But my
worst trouble was TO come. Ny wift
was attentive, but | missed something
OF tenderness that | could scarcely ac-
count for. AIlast bitter awakening
came. One day saw her reflected In II
mirror when she did not know could
observe her. She WAS looking NJ me,
and on her face was an expression ofrs-
pulsion. In one momsnt, felt the bit
ter, burning truth! Her love had not
been strong enough TO stand the strain
OF my illness, the loss OF my worldly
prospects, the change from my old ap-
psarance TO my present deformity. l
turned my face TO the wall and prayed
for death. All the physical tormcnu
had gone through were N nothing 10
the mental anguish compressed into
those few minutes. Then, at last, came
consolation in tne thought Of my child
only to be succeeded by q still more
narrowing anxiety. Would she, too,
turn from me? knew tho quick aus
ceptibility, the hasty impressions oi
childhood, and dreaded what might b'
the effect on her young mind OF my dis
torted form. With what eagernes, yet
with what fear, / waited for her next
visit. / longed for the moment to come,
and still was tempted TO defer IL. You.
sir, can perhaps enter 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. Use 90
sorry, COS l love you 30 mueh,'
thanked God that had something Sill
left to live for.
"when got sufficiently well to use
my crutches easily, I won't othe house
They were very kind; Of course | was
no real good 20 them, but they made
place for me to help on account OF
stock. could write better then than
now; my joiuts have stiffened up since.
The par was very small compared with
what had been receiving, aad 1t wa'
necessary for me TO find cheaper home
and practice strict economy. Ny wifs'i
father made her a small allowance, bul
he opposed the marriage, ami was moi
inclined TO be liberal, now that II had
turned out as badly as he had prophs'
sled. She grew restless and diseon
tented under our changed circumstances
and | cannot wonder at IL.
$50 far my misfortunes had been be-
yoni my control, but there came tim,
when my own miserable weakness In.
creased them. The pains occasionally
suffered drove me to seek relief In slim
ulants. Ny head had grown weak AND
very little liquor affected me. re
ccivej a gentle waning from tbs office
and promised reformation. But there
came momsnts When my agony grew
too great for my resolve. One nigh
when | returned home, found my Wifi
had gone, taking Jane with her. A
letter was left informing me she bad re
turned to her fathers house, that ny
dissipation rendered her life unendura
bic, and that she was about TO obtain |
separation on that ground.
'sThat blow was crushing 1 wa
weak, i'll, heart broken, and had NJ
force to resist, And-even IL bae tried
what could have done! was To-
poor to hire able lawyers, and she ba'
wealth and influence et her command
But 10 lose the. right, the power, to Sc
my child, to feel her Tiny, warm arm
around my neck. to hear her sweet
lispipg words, was awful. Then cam
the thought that IL was best for her
after all. Away from me she woul'
have every comfort and enjoyment
How litns could give her, and at an
moment that little might be swept away
| Co Iat all Oo and made no Effort