The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-06-03


home.
How pretty it was, how dear, that
simple little cottage in the quiet villagel
The old apple trees where the robins
used to sing so riotously must now be
pink with bloom.
And the peach treel--how beautiful it
was in blossom when the petals used to
fall in showers against her tiny bay win
dowl
Had the new owners driven the swal-
lows away from the eaves2-the wren
from her nest in the moldering stem of
the dead and branches locust?
Perhaps they had pulled down the
dear little house altogether and erected
some grander structure in its steadl
Suddenly she stretched out her arms
yearningly. She lifted her sad face to
the cold, unanswering stars.
''But, ohF' she murmured, eff could
only rest my tired head beneath that
dear old roof tonight think could die
content"
A hstless, uncertain tread upon the
planks of the bridge at that moment dis.
tracted her thoughts and aroused her to
the imprudence Of her position.
She must not remain there. She
must go.
But where?
How strange, how pitiful it seemed
that in all the wide world she had no
place to lay her headl
The footsteps came closer. With a
half frightened glance she saw a tall
man, broad shouldered, roughly dressed,
with a great shaggy yellow beard, and
with pair of piercing eyes which seemed
to look her through and through.
he had passed and repassed number
of times, but she had been too engrossed
with her sorrowful reflection to notice
him before.
He walked directly to her.
He grasped the rail of the bridge with
both hands, and she marveled vaguely
to see that he was trembling.
"You are one of the unfortunate the
atrical companyl Can be of any serv-
ice to your he asked her, abruptly.
"Who are you" she cried in alarm, as
she shrunk back from him.
His reply was uttered in a strange,
rapid and vehement whisper.
81 am like yourself" he said. "Some
years ago had a happy home and wife
i adored. She went away from me, and
since then in hope and happiness / have
been stranded"
For an instant she stood as if suddenly
turned to stone. All the life within her
seemed concentrated in her great, dark,
burning eyes.
you, Jack? Oh, Godi is it your she
exclaimed, at length. "You, who used
to be so proud about yourself, SO brave
of spirit, like this?"
''Do you carer he asked her.
..Do carer" she repeated passionately.
81 care SO much that / would give my
very soul If could undo what I have
done. have failed in my career, but |
might have succeeded, Jack, could
have had your love. / could do nothing
without your love, Jack"
She was crying now, softly, hopelessly,
not daring to believe that she was still
dear to him.
He put his roughly clad arms about
her and Drew her unresisting head to his
bosom-against that shaggy, tangled
beard which with his careless attire she
had fancied a sign of, Heaven knows
how much. restitution and vagabond-
agel
"You have always had my love, sweet
heart Do you think could ever have
ceased loving such an adorable woman
as you are, Kate? Our trouble was all
my fault, too-all my contemplate OBJ
stinacy," said he.
"Oh, Jack, how good you are to say
that, when you know 1t isn't true" she
with her arms around his
neck and her lips upon his.
"Well, darling, we will begin over
again. have never sold the little cot
tage-I couldn't, because we had once
been SO happy therel And have made
a big fortune in the mines back here. So
you shall live where you like and wear
diamonds and cloth of gold, If you
choose. Or, If you would rather stay on
the stage, you can have q company of
your own and theater of your own, il
You desire. And you need not fear ever
again being stranded"
mo. Jack. Neither of us need fear
ever again being stranded" she an
swered solemnly, and with meaning
he could not mistake.
But Kate left the stage altogether.
She had talent, and in time she would
no doubt have succeeded more than
But" she says, ait isn't that I love
the profession less, it is that love my
home and my husband more. Buffalo
News.