The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-09-03

so disappointed, poor fellow
Oh, the depth Of woman's love and
faith in man, There is nothing equals
it under the wide heavens" said Tom,
as they proceeded. "Prue seemingly for
gets Harry has disappointed her hun
dreds of times
Eleven o'clock came, and still no Har-
ry. Prue's disappointment at not being
at the concert was lost now in her anx-
iety for her husbands safety.
Claude was asleep in his crib, when
she suddenly thought that the railing
had been removed that day from the
bridge crossing the river II Harry
should attempt to cross he might fall of
and be drowned-for well she knew his
steps were often unsteady.
She must go now and see; so kissing
her babe, she rushed out without any
wraps, although the evening was chilly.
Down tc the bridge she hurried, calling,
Harry Harry yet only the sullen
waters gave reply.
4 late moon had risen, and threw a
pale light, when not yeiled by passing
clouds Prue thought she saw some
thing dark, just at the rivers brink, yet
she was not sure 50 climbing down the
bank, she found her husband laying with
his limbs partly in the water, and quite
unconscious of all her words of endear-
ment.
What could she do? He was evidently
either stunned by his fall, or too much
intoxicated to be aroused. She called,
but no one answered. Could she leave
him to 90 TO the Byrne cottage for Tom
He lay partly in the water, and might it
not sweep him away? Finally Prue de-
cided to stay 50 grasping her husband
firmly by the arm, she clung with all her
strength to a willow firmly rooted in the
bank.
The frail little wife had not the
strength to even so much as move the
powerful form of her husband. yet she
clung to him and kept him from floating
down stream. As the hours slowly pass
ed, the mother wondered if little Claude
would awake and f nd no one there she
even imagined the house might take fire
and her darling per r-sh in the flames.
"Yet I cannot leave Harry" she said TO
herself 81 married him for better or for
worse, till death do US part"
The wind shrieked. and ever and anon
there would come burst Of storm. The
woman's clothes were drenched through,
yet bravely she kept the long hours of
that strange tryst, which if unkept,
would end in death to him she loved.
In the first early dawn Prue heard a
wagon coming down the road, and reeog-
nized the quayering voice of old Uncle
Abner Mills, singing the familiar tune of
"Old Hundred" as he drove along with a
load of vegetables for the city, twelve
miles away. Prue strove 10 call, but her
lips refused to move yet Uncle Abner
heard what he thought to be child in
distress, so he stopped his horse and was
soon beside the now nearly fainting
woman.
"Wby, land o. livin' Mrs. Ainger, what
be We here for?" said the old man. But
Prue could not answer, for when the
great Strain was lifted she fell back in a
death-like swoon. Tom Byrne and his
wife, who had stayed at Mattie's mothers
after the concert, now came along, and
Harry and Prue were soon carried home.
Poor little Claude had awakened and fal-
len from his crib, making an ugly wound
upon his forehead, caused by striking
against a rocker.
DIR. Webber was called, and Harry was
found to be uninjured, save badly
bruised hip, and was soon so far recover
ed as to speak. Claude's wound was
dressed, and he was made as comfortable
as possible; but poor Prue Anger lay
long in a swoon, and when she did show
signs of returning life, it was only to
mutter in delirium.
Matte Byrne fook her station beside
the bedside of her friend, to remain until
she either came back TO life and health,
or drifted out to the great unknown.
The aunt who cared for Prue's baby
hood also came, almost hating the man
who had so blighted her darling's life
vet when Harry would sit for hours, mo-
tionless, beside Prue's bed, his face wear
ing a look of dumb agony, she nearly
repented.
"The river did sing song Of sadness
Harry, heard it," Prue would cry out in
her delirium. ~Oh, Harry will be drown
ed - she would shrek. "Save him, fol
Gods sake save him."
What must have been the agony com.
pressed into a single night, which could
have made those curls of gold gray as We
see them to-day
"Hopeville must be rid of the curse
that entails such misery said the minis
ter who had sprinkled the baptisma
water upon Prue's brow when an infant
'ewe, as Christian men, have no right tC
allow it the saloon must go"
"Amen," said the doctor.
Weeks had passed away, during which
Prue's slight form had tossed in delirium
and now the crisis was approaching. TO
night said the doctor, will tell the
story"
The good old pastor had come, too
and as the night wore on, he knelt in
prayer.
@she's saved" said the doctor, "Sh'
is sleeping sweetly."
Thank GodD said the pastor, anC
every watcher murmured Amen
Six months from the time when Pru'
Anger lay tossing in delirium, there wa
no saloon in Hopeville, because be
prominent citizens would have it so. anC
one of the foremost temperance worker
was Harry Anger; for never again di'
liquor pass his lips Had he felt lik'
wavering, Harry Anger had only to lool
at the white locks of his wife, and tn
deep scar on Ciaude's forehead, TO re
mind him Of that awful night when b
came so near going ont into eternity
poor. miserable drunkard. Once NOR
came the anniversary evening Of thei
betrothaI, and Harry guided the sterso
Prue to seat beside the river. She wa