Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1888-12-01

my zap again.
The boy laid his curly head once more in
his mothers lap and with fearful eyes she
gazed upon his innocent form.
The clock struck elevenl The poor wife
was yet on her tireess, seepless watch Bat
hardly had the sound of the last stroke died
away ere the snow crust gave back the
sound of football, and in a moment more
her husband entered. With trembling fear
she raised her ewes to his face, and a wild
thrill OF joy went to her heart as she saw that
all there was open and bold-only those man
~ features looked more JOYOUS, more proud
than ever.
Lizzie" SAID he, in mild, kind accents II
am late tonight, but business has detained
me, and now have favor to ask OF thee"
Name it, dear Thomas, ami YOU shall not
ask second time" cried his wife, as she laid
her hand confidently upon her husbands
arm.
And you will ask me no questonsf con
tnued Wilkins.
mo, | will not"
Then" continued the husband as he bent
over and imprinted kiss upon his wife,
brow, 81 want you to dress our children for
walk, and you shall accompany US. The night
is calm and tranquil, and the snow is well
trodden.-Ah, no questionsl Remember your
promise ~
Lizzie wilkins knew not what all this
meant, nor did she think to care; for any,
thing that could please her husband she
would have done with pleasure, even though
1t had wrencbed her very heart-strlngs. In
short time the two children were ready; then
Mrs. Wilkins put on such articles of dress as
she could command, and soon they were in
the road. The moon shone bright, the stars
peeped down upon the earth, and they seem
ed to smile upon the travellers from out their
twinltling eyes of light. Silently Wilkins Leo
the way, and silently his wife and children
followed. Several times the wife gazed up
into her husbands countenance; but from
the strange expression that rested there she
could make out nothing that tended to satisfy
Der.
At length n short turn in the road brought
them suddenly upon the pretty white cottage
where years ago they had been so happy.
They approache the SPOT. The snow IN the
front yard had been shoveled away and
path led up to the piazza. Wilkin opened
the gate-his wife trcmblingly followed, but
wherefore she knew not Then her husband
opened the door, and in the entry they were
met b. the smiling countenance of old Capt.
Walker, who ushered them into the parlor
where a warm fire glowed In the CRATE and
where everything looked neat aud comfort
able Mrs. Wilkins turned her gaze upon TIC
old man, and then upon her husband. Sure
", in that greeting between the poor N an
and the rich, there was none Of that con
straint which would have been expected.
Ther met rather as friends AMI neighbOrs.
What could it mean.
Harill the clock strikes twelve! The Old
year has gone, and new, bright-wiuged
cycle, is about to commence its fight over the
earth
Thomas Wilkins took the hand of his wife
within his own, and thea drawing from his
bosom paper, he placed it in her hand, re-
marking as he did so: 'Lzzie, this is your
husband s present for tn ts0 year"
The wife took the paper, and she opened It,
She realized its contents at a glance; but she
could not read it word for word, for the
streaming tears of wild, frantic Joy would
not let her With quick nervous move
ment she placed the priceless pledge next Der
bosom; and then, with low murmur, Ike
the gentle whispering of some heaveu-bound
angel she fell half fainting into her hEs-
bands arms.
Look up. look up, my own dear wife" ut
tered the redeemed man, 'iook up and smile
upon your husband; and you, too, my chill
dren, gather about your father-for a
husband and father henceforth 1
will ever be. Loot, ~, my wife. There!-
Now, Lizzie, feel proud with me, for we stand
within our owa housei Yes, this cottage is
once more our own; and nothing but the
hand of death shall again take rs hence.
Our good, kind friend here will explain 1t all.
o, L zzit, if there is happiness on earth it
shall heuceforth be oursI Let the past be
forgotten, and with this, the dawniag Of
new year, let US commence to live in the
future"
Gently the husband aud wife sank upon
their knees, casDei in each others arms;
and cllng.ng ioyiully to them knet their
conscious, happy children prayer from the
husbands lips weuded its way 10 the throne
Of grace; ana, with the warm tears trinkIug
down his aged face, old Captain Walker re
spoudel l heartfelt Amen
FIVE years We passed since that happy
moment. Thom7s wilkins has cleared his
pretty cottage from all encunbrrnce, and
happier, or q more respected family do not
exist And Lizzc--that gentle, confdin-
wife-as she takes that simp paper from the
drawer, and goz3s again and again upon the
magic pledge it bears, waep5 tears Of joY
anew. Were all the wealth of the lniie5
poured out in one gllttering, binding pie at
her feet, and all the honors of the world ad-
ded thereto. she wond not, for the whole
countless sum, give in exchange one single
word from that pledge which constitu ed her
husbands present. YH,te Bads.