The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1892-05-14

her paths are peace.
Then he went into the little bedroom
to place it open on Lucy's pillow.
Everything neat and folded always.
But what is this? A note on the dress.
ing table.
"She's been before me, bless herr
cried Theo, selling it. Its love letter
worth twenty presents"
Then he sat down to gloat over it.
From red to white; from white to
awful yellow; from yellow to dull, thun-
derous black. and then the miller cast
the evil thing upon the ground and tram
pied upon it with his heel.
Only these blasting words:
"Icannot longer deceive myself or
you. should have never married you
it should have been Tom. l know
now. to your disgrace and my own ruin,
which love. Oh, don't be cruel, Theo,
for | am going to my ruin, though be
has my heart. Forgive, if you can, the
most miserable creature upon earth"
An hour afterward Theo crept out of
his dishonored home into the holy calm
of sunset. The mighty storm which had
swept over him had left him broken, hag-
gard and well nigh crushed. And that
storm was not yet over. There was a
giant of murderous vengeance wrestling
in his meek heart for leave to wreck its
will on the vile thief who had stolen his
love, his honor, his home
He stood on the bank of the pond, with
his hands clinched hard, and his blood
suffused eyes glazing up at the house on
the hill, where the smoke curled merrily
and oh! how the wish tore at him to 90
up and cover that guilty hearth with
coward blood!
Hark! tiny voice calling out: "Oh.
no! Missar Tho'pe! see 'ool'
Little Maysie running down the slope
and across the plank which spans the
narrows in needless haste to reach one
who had ever been kind to her. A mis-
step, a scream, a splash in the water, the
futter Of checked frock, the upraising
of two little hands for help.
Tom Winston's baby slowly whirling
down to death at the fume.
Tom Winston's baby! Talk of ven
geance-what more keen than this?
Theo stood transfxed, the veins knotted
on his brow, Satan mighty at his heart
to make him evermore a Cain-heaven
battling for this wavering soul with
throes of pity and stings of conscience.
Death or life-which?
A smothered cry as the terrified little
one swept past him, her eyes starting
with alright, her baby face stricken and
pale, her innocent little hands thrown
up to him for life!
Theo's self came back; with one bold
plunge he was at the throat of the heavy
waterfall before her. holding on fercely
by the slippery log, and as she eddied
around before the death descent of
twenty feet to the fume he caught her.
with superhuman strength wrenched her
from the current and tossed her upon the
bank.
Then battling for dear life for full five
minutes, he got away at last, and clam
bered, bruised and beaten, up the bank
to the child.
She was senseless; perhaps, after all,
dead. and taking her to his desolats
home, he laid her on his own bed and
rubbed her cold limbs. Pulling off her
dripping clothes he wrapped her in
Lucy's warm shawl, and at last the blue
eyes opened and Maysie smiled.
Then Theo fell on his knees and
thanked heaven for its great mercy in
saving her life and his soul.
"How could l think to do it, baby?"
he gasped, clutching her close to his
heart and gazing down into her wonder
ing eyes.
While he was drying the little ones
clothes and his own around the stove.
and with her on his knee was feeding
her with warm milk and bread, awk-
wardly enough, but very lovingly, the
door opened and hasty feet crossed the
threshold.
What was this?
"Theo!" sobbed Lucy. dropping at his
feet. Selling his hand, kissing it, weep
ing over it, clutching it hungrily to her
bosom: ''take me back. I've come
come back to you! couldn't leave you
after that"
She pointed to the child with a pas-
ZION Of tears
Lucy" faltered Theo, very pale, but
mild, ''have you repented of the evil you
would do!"
Eyes. yes. yes-a thousand times yes.
know my heart now. 1t was my mis-
'rable vanity. but never love. Oh, my
'wn husband, forgive, forgive. and let
ne be the meanest thing in your house."
"Iom? asked Theo, trembling so much
hat he had to hold Maysie with both
lands.
HE is in the porch" whispered the
rail wife, hiding her shamed face, full
II remorse and waiting to ask your for
yiYeness"