The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-12-01

door and entered.
Blinded by the snow, he could see
nothing at first, but by and by he be-
came conscious of the cold hearth. the
awful silence and that the little house
was empty. 1t did not even hold q
corpse.
The wearied man sank down upon q
chair and gazed about him blanllly,
despairinGly.
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 misglvings and had fol-
lowed him, entered.
What did you say, Charlie? is she
gone? Why. that couldn't be, she'd
never be such n fool as to venture out
in that storm. If she did-poor fellow,
he's faintedw
1t was some time before Charlie Dean
revived; he was very weary, and the
awfulness of what had been, through
his neglect, quite overpowered 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?''
II don't know, unless to the stable.
had left little corn there"
"Charlie!" said his friend. sternly,
''you never left your wife in such q
condition."
But Charlie only nodded.
81 expected to be home, you know
but don't look ut me like that. I'm
punished enough. She's dead some
where under the snow, my poor little
Clarcw
They failed to find her; no corn was
missing, it is true, but they found
nothing to SO much Us 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. NO, it's
going to make such 4 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
good medicine. think I'll try some
myself"
Three years later. wcll-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.
Bewildered, 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 q strange voice ex-
claim.
Then the playing ceased, and 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. Hes 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 a cry, the place
was empty, and scarcely knowing wha,
he did Charlie was turning away when
some one came flying down those steps
and-and, yes, had her hand in his. and
in q fearful voice was saying: Char.
lie, oh! Charlie! You've come at last!''
II want to know" he said, when in
the coy parlor, still clinging to he,
hand, II want to know how you go,
away from the ranch during that awful
storm"
Clare flushed but answered uuhesi
tatingly:
81 was a good walker. Ifelt no fca,
Of the storm. You had left me almos,
nothing to eat and really thought
should lose my mind If remained there
many more days al alone.
81 took the little mouey l still pos
sessed, and started soon after you did
only / went in an opposite direction.
had scarcely reached the main trail
when a two-horse wagon came dashine
up, the mana stranger, but God bless
him, for ne saved my life-jumped out
and snatched 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 Mt last
just before its fury broke, and
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. Aun,
has never heard all the story; Icouldn',
talk OF some things"
Il thought you dead" said Charlie
"I-if you could know how ! have suf
fered. Oh, Clare, / don't suppose you
could forgive"
II forgave you long ago. was some
to blame. ough: to have tried to have