Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-30

forced nis way hack through heavy
saoTdrists nnfil with tren hing fingers
he RAISED the LATCH ef his aosr and en-
tered
Blinded Ss TIE snow. he cossad 80
neshsng al trsi. tEt by and by he be-
came Conscious Il fae Geld hearth. the
awful siiesloe AID that tie little house
was empty. II did not even hold .
oerpse.
Tie svesracd man sank down upon .
ohsir and gaxod about him blsIkly.
desgairiryly.
Tie bed was neatly mads. the floor
sweps, everything was placed IN it,
usual orderly fashion. and her dress
hung rlon the wsll near hirn-tAe old
brown calico she had worn the lsss time
he had seen her.
ssGone, be said dszedly, gone
Just then one Of the boys, who had fels
strange nisgiy.ngs and bad followed him.
entered
What did you say. Charhes Is she
gomez Why, that couldn't be; she'd
never be such fool as 20 venture out In
that storm. If she dhd-poor fellow. he's
fainled,"
1t was some time before Charlie Dean
revived. lie was very weary. and shs
swfulness Of what had been through his
neglect quite overpowered him.
There. you're better now" sid his
friend. What do you think could have
caused her TO leave the honse. and where
did she goG"
Il don't know. unless 20 the stable.
had left little corn there"
Charlie" said his friend sfernly, s.you
never left your wife in such condition.
But Charlie only nodded.
"Iexpected 70 be home. you know-but
don't look at me like that. I'm punished
enough. She's dead somewhere under
the SNOW, my poor little Clare"
They failed 20 find her. No corn was
missing. it is true, but they found moth
| ing 10 50 much as 10 point the way
whittier she had gone.
Charlie Dean was q changed man once
more To his boon companions he said
goodby, 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 tho
friend who had been watching him 10
see that he did nothing rash. mo. it's
going to make such a man on! Of him as
we never dreamed Of The one thing
now that has possession Of him lie work.
in order that be may forget. It's a good
medicine. think I'll try some myself"
Three years later. wei 30 do, with
money to spare, for none of IL was ever
squandered now, Charlie Dean once more
sought the PARKWAY city where he had
first met and won his wife
A strange longing had come over him
to once more see that place, and travel
stained and bronzed ne walked by the
house almost expecting 10 hear her touch
upon the piano and the sound OF her
sweet voice.
Bewildercd amazed. half believing
himself out Of his head. he did hear her
voice once more.
There's q man drunk leaning on the
fence" he heard strange voice exclaim.
Then the playing ceased. and voice
that almost caused him 10 faint second
time responded:
Drunken men are only too common.
Let him alone. Some policeman viii be
dicuts
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. Hes peculiar looking.
Do look out, Clare. Ideclare feel merry
GUS"
Charlie stood up squarely now. pushed
his hat back slightly and looked full and
straight into the ewes Of his wife.
She fell back with cry, the place was
empty. ard scarcely knowing what be
did Charlie was turning away when
some one came flying down those steps
and-asld, yes. had her hand in his. and
in fearful voice was saying: Charlie
oh, Charlicl You've come at LAST
II want TO know" he said when in
the cozy rarlor still clinging 10 her hsnd.
II want 10 know how you got away from
the ranch during that awful storm"
Clare finished. but answered unhesifat-
ingly:
II was n good walker felt no fear
of the storm. Yon had left me almost
nothing TO eat. and ] really thought
should lose my mind if / remained there
many more days al alone.
81 took tive little money I still pos
seseed and started soon after YOU did.
only went in an opposite direction. !
had scarcely reached the main trail when
two horse wagon came dashing up. the
mana stranger. but God bless him. for
he saved my life - Jumped out and
snatohed me up before could say by
your leave. and away we tore like mad
Tho horses were very strong and swift.
md we sesu1cd 60 be ouuiding the storm.
We reached sne1;or at last. just before
its fury broke, and thanked him ms
best conld. Then. when the roads we've
clear, l stsrted for my old home. but j
had 60 SOP end work awhile beforel got
, here Aunt hes never heard al the
story: couldn't talk of some things"
81 thought you dead" sad Charlie.
"l--if Won could know how i have suf-
fcrcl. Oh. Clare, don't suppose you
could forgiven
Il foreave you long ago. Twas some
10 blame / ought to have tried TO hsea
, been happier. wrote 10 your old home,
but they told ne you had gone away
Shall we begin over. Clare-for wben
! you were gone lfoupd ont how j loved
: youY"
r 'Oh, yes. and wherever you 20 III try
, 90 make that home haPpy.'
: And I'll see that il is a home in which
a TO be happy answered Charlie. with q
! trerltle In his voioe.-Abbie C. Mo
Kccver in Yankee Hlssie.
a