Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-10-12

Io'ed and welcomed these things fooL
no pleasure in them now. Colder mi
| coiaer grew his heart, darker and ds
er his life. "--'' ia -
one evening he went to seek her and
!ound the two together, as thew stood
IN the shadow of tall tree. His arms
were about her. Her face was hidden
upon MS breast, Just as she had hidden
upon Jlm's aching heart so long
ago her sobs fell upon the night
Poor little pet. the traitors voice
was saying, "cheer up, he shall never
take you from mel What, marry him
with his graveyard face? We will 90
away: You have never cared for him
ago." ~ -s
HE knows it noW," said poor Jim.
standing before them. There was a
sharp cry from the girl, then silence for
one brief moment. Then his miserable
voice went on, 'Nellie, little love, l
give you up, l give you to the man
you love.
A lew weeks later Nellie and her
mother had sold their place aud gone,
Whlle jim remained alone with his
mother and his undying misery. Pa
tiently, and silently for her sake be
bore 1t all. She was dependent upon
him for everything He must not fail
| her.
Two years Passed and there came
a night when mother and son sat be-
lore the fire, in the great kitchen. 1t
had been terrible day. Bitterly cold
and showing hard. and now the dreary
wind came sweeping down the wide
! open chimney moaning like q human
being in distress.
Jim was reading aloud to his moth
er, when suddenly there came knock
at the door, and voice called, "Openl
openl quick" AS Jim hastened to
obey, a woman covered with snow fell
upon her knees before him. A white
face was upturned to his.
Jim, Jim, save me, save my baby.
We are freezing"
Without a word he took them in his
arms, placing her before the fire.
| Without a word, though trembling in
every limb, he undid her shawl and
| took her wet hat from her head, then
he laid her baby upon his mothers
bed, and bade her get food
for the wanderer. While his mother
hastened to do his bidding, he stood
in pitiful silence, not daring to look at
| Nellie. Her hair wet from the falling
snow fell about her white, childish
face; her great blue eyes with dark
rings around them, were fastened on
his face. Her hands clasped and un-
clasped themselves. Her lips mur
mured timidly:
"Jim-Jim-look at me. Speak to
me. Say | am welcome. In all the
| 4 h1t
husband-both dead. Oh he was a
cruel, bad man. Jim. l have suffered.
| But he is dead-and my baby and
l are all alone-aIone. am homeless
cold and hungry-Jim, and like the
| little child that used to climb upon his
knee she stretched her arms towards
him and sobbed bitterly, "Forgive me
Jim-forgiye me. Let me stay with
you. Let me be your wife. 1 love
you JIM do do"
| What could the man do, who had
worshiped her all his life? What could
he do but take her in his arms, weep
| ing over her while he kissed the child
ish face; trying to forget the great
wrongs he had done him and so soothe
her tears away.
Once again they were together
| in the old farm house. Once
again they sat side by side as in the
old days. Once again her beautiful
face charmed him back to life and hap
| piness. He took her child to his faith
full heart because 1t was hers. She was
his wife at last Ele loved her. He
forgave her.
So flew the year away. Jim working
early and late that his dear Cnes might
be comfortable. His mother grew
feeble, she was passing away. Life
was very quiet in the old farm house.
There was little noise heard save the
chatter of Nell's baby. She made
music for them all. Jim had learned
to love her dearly. She would sit for
hours on his knee, and was always on
the watch to see him come in, and
would run to meet him clappiug her
little hands gleefully as he caught her
up in his strong arms. Nell sometimes
complained to him about the dullness
of their lives. She wanted to go back to
the excitement of the great city where
she had passed the two years of her
absence. "Would he not sell the farm
and move there?"
Jim would look at her rather sorrow-
fully, "What, leave the dear old
house?" One evening he came back
from the village and found his wife
talking to stranger at the gate. He
was a tall. blond man dressed in the
extreme of fashion. Nell's eyes were
shining like two STARS her cheeks
flushed hotly as she introduced tine
stranger to her husband as an old
friend of Ralph's who had been very
kind to them all-and, lifting his hat,
turned away saying, that he returned
to the city that evening. He had
learned where she was and had looked
her up. He WAS very happy to find
tnat her troubles were all ended. And
SO he left them, and Nell with her arm
through her husbands went back to
, the house singing merrily.
Late one afternoon Jim came home
from distant field where he had been
hard at work in the hot sun all day.
He came with willing feet to his door.
He was yery weary. He would be
glad to rest In the sweet twilight,
beside his pretty wife and her little
one. He would be glad to have his
mother come to him, and kiss him in
her quiet way. Ahl there was no hap
piness like that of peaceful home.
Strange the child did not run to
meet him as was her way, and there
was no sound of Nellie's voice.
He went in; only his mother rose to
come to him
eNeEie and the child, mother,
Were are they9" he asked. She looked
at him.
..Did YOU not see her, Jim? She went
to meet you over an hour ago
ssStrange." He would get ready for
tea. They would be coming presently.
He went upstairs. How quiet the
whole house seemed without the little
one, God bless her. God bless both
mother and child, thought poor Jim,
AZ he entered their room. All was
neat and in order. The dying sun
light fell upon the floor. In the tall
L., .vip1nU the tWItter OF