The Republican., 1889-03-02

glowing west is crimson with the
rays OF the deparCir g sun. Seating
herself by the open window with her
eyes fixed on a point Of the road
where they will first come in sight,
she waits till every thing is vailed by
the falling shadows of night The tea
kettle, which has been kept boiling
all ready to make tea at moments
warning, gradually subsidies to gen.
tie murmur, for the fire, UNDECIDED, had
gorS oaL
Startled at last to see how late it
was, she finds herself rembling with
agitation. Something must be done at
once. They are both killed, she is
sure. She will go and find them.
Never stopping for hat or shawl, bare
headed, she rushes to the gate. Once
more she listens; not sound breaks
the stiffness save the plaintive cry of
the whippoorwill.
Hark! is not that sound Of wheels
slowly crunching the gravelP Yes, and
now voice breaks on the stiffness Of
the night. She at once recognizes it as
her husbands. saying: my Godt
how can tell her! have killed our
| boyi"
She hears as in a dream; her over
strained nerves can bear no more.
Convulsively she starts forward, and
with shrek, falls to the ground.
When consciousness returns, she
finds herself upon lounge in her own
room, while just opposite, lying white
and still upon the bed, is the form Of
her darling child, with her husband
kneeling by his side. 80 Godr' he.
cries, i've killed him; killed my dar-
ling boy! Why was it not whose life
blood was shed; who am so unworthy
| to live! 1t was drink that did it; drink
that has caused my boys death, and
am his murderer in the sight of God.
But here, beside his lifeless form, I
swear never to touch another drop of
liquor as long as live.
The sight of his anguish acted as a
restorative upon the poor wife. Ris-
ing to her feet she crossed the room to
his side. Clarence" she calmly
said, laying one hand upon his bowed
head, ''our boy is dead; his precious
life is sacrificed to your appetite for
| drink. But, oh! implore you to keep
the vow you have just uttered, and
never let the accursed stuff pass your
lips again. 1t may be his death Is not
| in vain"
The house was rapidly filling with
neighbors who in kindness of heart
wished to do all they could for the af-
ficted family. Here's the doctor;
the Doctors come" said some one, as
a portly, middle-aged man passed
through the throng at the door and
made his way toward the bed.
''It's no use," said another, 1.-THE
| child is dead"
The father still knelt with bowed
head. He rose as the doctor ap-
preached, and stood by his wife's side,
tenderly passing an arm around her.
Silently placing his finger on the still,
white wrist, the doctor waited. Was
it slight flutter of the pulse he feltp
He opened the clothes and placed his
hand upon the heart. Yes, q faint
fluttering is felt, but so feeble that il
seems as if each beat must be the last
The child had received a blow upon
the head which had stunned him, and
very nearly caused his death. II
might be that even now the little life
was going out But realizing that
while there is life there is hope" the
doctor went to work, and after weary
hours of anxious watching. pronounced
his patient out of danger.
Not until then did the mother ask
the particulars of the dreadful accident
that had so nearly robbed her of her
boy. Her husband told her all.
II sold my load" said he. land was
nearly ready to start for home when I
chanced to meet an old acquaintance
who had just come back from the West
where he had been for a number Of
years. OF course we had to talk over
old times, and he asked me to take a
drink. l told him l had given up
drinking, but he would hear Of no re-
fusal. just one glass for the sake of
old times, he said. Well thought,
'one glass will do no harm. and then
l will 60 home So / left Harry at
the grocery, next door, and went and
took the drink. But somehow after
had drank one glass it was harder to
refuse another. Harry and home
were forgotten until it began to grow
dark. l then went for Harry, who,
tired out with waiting, had gone to
sleep in one corner of the store on
some blankets the clerk had fixed for
him.
1.-The horses were very restless
from standing so long, and as We
neared the railroad they broke into a
rum My attention was so taken up
by trying to control them that 1 did
not hear train that came laundering
down the grade until it was almost
upon us. Then I was sobered in an
instant. But it was too late. just as
the horses reached the track the train
struck them. They were both killed
and the wagon hurled down the en-
bankment, throwing Harry and me