The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-10-30
BY HER HUSBANDS SIDE.
! she not IoreIs. RntherfnrIl p

Is she not lovely, Rutherford ?"
A lovers enthusiasm spoke in the ear
nest tones. shone in the handsome eyes
Of the young man who asked the qees-
ton in such manner as though be deem
ed an answer unnecessary, yet his quick
ears detected something in the reply
Very lovely which caused him to
start and turn to look in his com ompanion's
face.
The two friends were cemented by a
bond of years, and as they were slowly
sauntering up the carefully ordered lawn
of Mr.. Howardis country seat, il was Of
his daughter, and of the betrothed of the
young man, of whom they spoke. She
stood awaiting their approach, a smile Of
welcome lighting her. eyes, vision of
youth and happiness yet Percy Ruther-
ford had betrayed, even in assent TO
Clarence somers eager question, that he
felt his choics nigh. not have been a
wise one.
She il mere child, Clarence, who,
it seems 70 me-" he continued, '.is as yet
scarcely fit to battle with the realities Of
life. 1t seems hard that she should not
yet be Jeff in the midst Of her birds and
flowers
All, but shall / not give her birds Of
brighter plumage. flowers of fairer hue ?;
No shadow shall cross my darlings path
no chill winds pierce through the cloak
Of protecting love in which shall enwrap
her l."
But merry laugh and musical tones
interrupted him, as the young girl came
forward to greet them and playfuIly
ehide them with their very slow ap-
proach.
Only seventeen summers have left their;
faint impress upon Fay Howard's brow
and that the new life on whose threshold
she stands is to bring responsibilities and
cares upon her shoulders is thought,
she has never harbored.
In one more week she is to be the
bride of the man on whose arm she
leans
So the week passed-the final week of
the old life-and she stands al last, clad
in white robes, with the sunbeams crown
ing the young, fair head, in the old
church, by Clarence Somers side, and
uttered, with scarce thought of their
solemn meaning, the words which bind
them together for aye
Into the home which Clarance has pre-
pared for her she enters with happy feet,
seeing only on every side evidences of
her husbands indulgent love in the ap-
pointments taste and wealth have COM
bined TO give her.
So year passes, bright. happy year,
and she notes. not that on her husbands
brow are lines which q, few mouths ago
we're not there that he often avoids
gay scenes, pleading some excuse, but
never letting her share the solitary vigil
at which she sometimes wonders; but ere
her wonderment finds words it is for
gotten
Then comes the crash, the knowledge,
sudden and overwhelming, that her hus-
band is bankrupt.
Plying friends gather round his wife,
and to their consoling promises that still
her fathers home is open TO receive her,
where she shall not miss the comforts
which have grown necessities, she yields
with unthinking consent
1t seems 50 hard that all should be
swept from her, and so, with self-pity
only at her heart, Clarence resigns her
until he can again win health and for
tune
A small clerkship had been offered him
in distant town, with promise of ulti-
mate partnership. Could he ask Fay TO
share such life 81 he goes alone, ney-
er shrinking from the daily trials which
he meets, and treasuring with reyerent
care the short notes which Fay sends,
filed with hopes that he soon may give
her back her home, while he glances
round the meagerly furnished room
which he dignifies by that sacred title,
and thinks how incongruous would be
her radiant presence there, and yet, ah,
how sweet to the heart which sometimes
shrinks disInayed at its own loneli-
ness
1t Is like gieam Of sunshine when
on day he finds himself discovered by
Percy Rutherford, and his greeting of his
old friend is frank and cordial
Unfortunately, old fellow" he says,
with half sigh, | can only give you
half welcome, since Fay cannot share
If. could not, Of course, ask her into
my exile
Did she not wish it 2'
Poor little girl think she scarcely
knew what she wished, Toe crash was
so sudden and overwhelming Every
body advised that she should stay and
!, too, could.not be so selfish as to wish
her with me"
What God hath Joined together let
no man put asunders Solemn words,
Clarence, solemly spoken They and you
and she are wrong. Where is a woman's
place, if not by her husbands side ? You
said truly, on that day, you may remem-
Der, that birds of brighter plnmage,
and flowers Of fairer hue, should be her
lot I; and so, when the flowers faded. and
the birds shed their radiant covering,
you put her from you and went forth
alone. She is selfish only in her thought
lessness. Show her that you miss and
need her, and you viii find the true
woman-heart spring into life"
But Clarence shook his head, and Per-
cy felt he could say no more. But when,
month later, he stood in Mr.. Howard's
briIlisntly-lighted parlors, everywhere
around him evidence ofiuxurious wealth,
and saw the daughter of the house with
her smile as free, her laughter as joyous
as though her heart had never known
care. he wondered if there we're aught
beneath that smiling surface which could
turn sfrom the altar Of rorldliness at
which it seemed TO offer itself living
sacrifice If there WIS no one else TO do
it. he would make one appeal to the