Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-12-22

Dean had left hong, he. slowly and per-
sistently forged his way back, through
heavy snow-driits, until, with. treHi-
bling fingers, he raised ,theilatc ofhis
door aud entered. ''' w.
Blinded by the snow, lie could see
at first, but. by and by he be-
came conscious of the cold hearth, the
awful silence and that theilitt house
was empty. 1t did not even hold a
corpse. sss 'ri Il
The wcaried man sank down upon d
chair and gazed about him blankly
despairingly. ssA
The bed was neatly made, the floor
swept, everything was placed in its usual
orderly fashion, and her dress hung
upon the wall near him-the old brown
calico she had worn the last time he
had seen her.
Gone" he said, dazedly, gone"
Just then one of the boys, who had
felt strange misgivings and had fol-
lowed him, entered.
what did You say, Charlie? is she
gone? Why, that couldn't be, she'd
never be such fool as to venture out
in that storm. If she did-poor fellow,
he's fainted"
1t was some time before Charlie Dean
revived; he was very weary, and the
awfulncss of what had been, through
his neglect, quite overpowercd him.
"There, you're better, now," said his
friend. "What do you think could
have caused her to leave the house,
and where did she go?"
'Idon't know, unless to the stable.
had left little corn there"
"Charlie!" said his friend, sternly,
you never left your wife in such o
condition."
But Charlie only nodded.
81 expected to be home, You know
but don't look at me like that. I'm
punished enough. She's dead some
where under the snow, my poor little
Clarens
They failed to find her; no corn was
missing, it is true, but they found
nothing to so much as point the way
whittier she had gone.
Charlie Dean was a changed man
once more. To his boon companions he
said good. by, and many of them never
forgot the silent pain in his eye, the
anguish that his whole face expressed.
"Its not going to kill him." said the
friend who had been watching him to
see that he did nothing rash. mo, it's
going to make such man out of him
as we never dreamed of; the one thing
that now has possession of him is
work, in order that he may forget. It's
a good medicine. think I'll try some
myself"
Three years later, well-to-do. with
money to spare, for none of it was ever
squandcred now, Charlie Dean once
more sought the far away city where
he had first met and won his wife.
A strange longing came over him to
once more see that place, and travel
stained and bronzed he walked by the
house, almost expecting to hear her
touch upon the piano, and the sound of
her sweet voice.
Bcwildered, amazed, half believing
himself out Of his head, he did hear
her voice once moro.
There's man drunk leaning on the
fence" he heard strange voice ex-
claim.
Then the playing ceased, and a voice
that almost caused him to faint Sec
ond time replied
Drunken men are only too common.
Let him alone; some policeman will be
along presently"
Then the music struck up again, this
time into wild galop as if the players
thoughts were running away with her.
but he's still there" continued the
strange voice. He's peculiar looking;
do look out, Clare. l declare l feel
nervous"
Charlie stood up squarely now,
pushed his hat back slightly and looked
full and straight into the eyes of his
wife.
She fell back with cry, tho place
was empty, and scarcely knowing what
he did Charlie was turning away when
some one came flying down those steps
and-and, yes, had her hand in his, and
in fearful voice was saying: "Char-
lie, oh! Charlie! You've come ut last"
81 want to know" he said, when in
the coy parlor, still clinging to her
hand, 81 want to know how you got
away from the ranch during that awful
storm"
Clare flushed but answered unhcsi-
tatingly:
II was good walker ] felt no fear
of the storm, You had left me almost
nothing to eat, and really thought I
should lose my mind if remained there
many more days al alone.
81 took the little money still pos
sessed, and started soon after you did,
only went in an opposite direction. l
had scarcely reached tho main trail
when two-horse wagon came dashing
up, the mana stranger, but God bless
him, for he saved my life-jumped out
and snatchcd me up before could say
by your leave, and away we tore like
mad. The horses were very strong
and swift, and we seemed to outride
the storm. We reached shelter at last,
just before its fury broke, and l
thanked him as best l could; then,
when the roads were clear, started
for my old home, but | had to stop and
work awhile before got here. Aunt
has never heard all the story; Icouldn't t
talk Of some things"
II thought you dead" said Charlie.
elf You could know how have suf-
fered. Oh, Clare, don't suppose you
could forgive"
81 forgave you long ago. | was some
to blame. l ought to have tried to have
been happier; wrote to your old home,
but they told me you had gone away"
"Shall we begin over, Clara-for
when you were gone found out how
loved YOU"