The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-06-02

he drcw the missive forth, feeling guilty as
thief, as he remembered how near his
wife had come to detecting him in his
treachery. But when he read her comments
at the bottom OF the page he was stunned.
But he must stop her going. Shame, contri-
tion, fear Of scandal all working upon him
at once, lent rather hang-dog appearances
to him as he entered his own house. Every
thing was topsy-turvy for the first timc
since he was married. He began to realize
too late at least one OF his wife's
virtues. Finding her gone, he took the
next train inpursuit and found her In her
fathers parlor, and there made his confes.
sion and apology and promises to never do
so again-wlthout avail, however. After
hearing him through and listening TO his
petition that she return to him, she said
scornfully:
mot for worlds!'
"Not If you could offer tor kingdom
should she return to you, you tascalv' ex.
claimed her father "Ain't You pretty
specimen Of mankind, leaving your wife at
home and galvanting round the country
making mashes on other women! lam able
and willing to support my daughter, and the
sooner you get out OF my house the better.
again. Vamoose!w
Here he emphasized with1his cane in such
a manner that his son-in-law thought best to
retire.
He waited week, expecting their anger
to cool, then went back again. His father
in-law met him at the gate and threatened
farm again. So he troubled them no more.
LAD 4 t..s
girl, and, with the inconsistency of a
woman, named 1t Louise. Two years later,
she was notified of her husbands applica-
ton for divorce, and a little later she read
Of his marriage to "Louise. eldest daughter
of Senator Seely" Her father was dead by
this time, so she decided to move West.
Not wishing ever to know or be known by
any former acquaintances, she changed her
own and children's name to Ashley, and
under this cognomen we find them, several
years later located on homestead in West
ern Nebraska, rs mentioned in the beginning
of our story.
The hired man and girl who worked for
Mrs. Ashley, and were brother and sister,
had been called away the morning Of the
10th to the sick.bed of their mother; so only
herself and the children were at home.
Julian studied his lesson, and little Louise
practiced her music while the mother cro-
cheted.
The wind howled and the sleet came
against the windows with such force ii
seemed it would break them Suddenly, in
the midst Of the roaring, there came sound
just outside the window like the neighing OF
a horse They listened, and in minute II
sounded again.
''It must be one of the ponies loose. Some.
thing must be wrong at the stables. Light
the lantern and We'll go and see,' said Mrs
Ashley, putting on her wraps.
When they opened the door and looked
out, there stood a buggy with two horses
attached, and in the buggy the figure Of q
man.
"Hcllow called Julian.
No response.
It's somebody lost in the Storm" said the
mother ''Pcrhaps he's frozen. It's good
thing left the curtain up; the ponies must
have seen the light and instinct led them to
it. Here, let's see if we can lift him."
They got the man into the house. and the
ponies stabbed as quickly as possible. Then,
finding that life was not extinct, they ap-
piled all the remedies they had at hand to
restore him. BY and by he began to show
signs of animation, and after long time
opened his eyes. They wandered around in
puzzled manner until they lightened upon
Mrs. Ashley's face. Then with glad cry,
the stranger leaned forward.
"Lucy!" he cried. SIS it only a horrible
dreamW
"a horribly real Dream" she replied,
icily, recognizing in the man before her, for
the first time, her husband.
"Don't be hard with me, Lucy; remem.
ber now, deserve every thing harsh, but ii
you knew all, you would pity and forgive.
Believe me, Lucy, learned too late, what a
jewel you were in comparison with any
other woman ever saw"
"How about Louisep questioned Mrs.
Ashley.
''Didn't you ever hear. She led me mis-
cradle life, and we quarreled, and she used
to fly at me like mad creature. She finally
ran away with bank cashier. l wasn't
sorry that she went, either. l had been
drinking and my credit was gone, and was
so down in the world that didn't care for
the disgrace. I've hunted for you ever since,
but had given up all hopes OF finding you.
I think Providence must have directed me
here. was over by Culbertson looking at
piece of land to-day, and tried to make it
back to McCook, but the blizzard overlook
me, and the horses wouldn't face it, so we
drifted here. My money, friends and repu-
tacion are gone, and Pm going to take claim
and settle down and try again. You must
help me to redeem myself, Lucy. I've been
terrible scoundrel, but I've paid dearly for
all my misdeeds."
To repeat all that was said by this man
and woman, who had once been husband
and wife, would fill a volume. The main
loot A1Iya1t hv Aah1aV WinthrOn