The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-04-13

upon your face again"
His arms are folded now. and the
smile fades from his dark eyes.
why, then, are you here?' he de
mards. 4s
I tell my story and as finish he
bursts out hcarsely:
"GCOd God, child! You have suffered!
You are thinner and paler than you
used to be, and you are not, he
brushes a corner of my shawl in his
hand. You, my wife, out in this
storm with no better protection than
this flimsy sbawl!'' .-.-'...s
in his eyes.
One would almost believe that he
loved me. l.5-
draw myself up in proud anger.
AT least what I have is honestly
earned, and little Bess has never
suffered!' e.
Little Bess!' ...... ~.
His face lights into the dark beauty
which won my heart so long ago.
He turns to the child, who is regard
ing him with serious eyes.
Come here, my darling, you are
miEe! ..
And greatest of wonders! Bess goes
J to him, allows him to take her in his
arms, and even smooths his dark cheek
with her THY hand, and essays to wipe
away his tears with an ininitesimal
handkerchief
I watch him bitterly, reviewing my
| past life.
How happy I had been with him for
few short months!
How doubly happy when knew that
some time would become a mother.
Then an ofticious friend began to
| poison my mind with stories against
! my husbands truth and honor
! He was Il travelling agent, and by
| degrees 1 became convinced that
| during his frequent absences from
home he spent much Of his time with
another woman.
! This was unexpectedly confirmed By
a second acquaintance, who, OH returu-
ing from a visit to distant city, laugh
lngly spoke of having seen them to-
| gether there.
Always on returning from these trips
he was gloomy and sorrowful
think I must have brooded over
these things until became haf-insane.
There came time when I felt I
could not bear to look upon his face
| again, and during his absence I left the
home where had been so happy, and
| so miserable.
In note to my husband explained
my reasons for leaving him, and then
| followed q long, hard struggle with the
| world.
My little girl was born in a hospital
l was fortunate in making a friend
of one of the nurses, who procured
light needle-work for me until was
able to go into a store.
L had managed, by strictest economy,
to support myself and child, but it had
been hard, wearisome battle.
"Why do you cry" asks little Bess,
gazing into the dark eyes so like her
own. "Whc are your
Garde looks at me almost sternly.
Tell her, Elizabeth" he commands.
HE is your father, Bcss," say I,
falteringly; and then, all in a moment,
l break into passion of weeping.
! All the heartache, the bitterness, the
WEAKNESS of the past years, are IN this
storm of tears
But Garde's arms are about me. his
hands gently remove my bonnet and
shawl, and his voice, tender and loving
as in the old days, pleads to be heard.
My wife, he says, you wronged
me. 1t was weak of me. perhaps, to
shrink from telling you the truth, but
you We're such proud creature that
l was ashamed to own to you that my
sister whom you supposed dead was q
disgraced woman
Her lover betrayed and deserted
her, and in her despair she took to
drink.
II tried to keep her from the streets,
and succeeded, but lost my wife.
Il nearly went mad, Elizabeth, after
you left me. could find no trace OF
you; and knowing your condition. ]
used to imagine the most dreadful
things about you.
1.-Two years ago I went to England
, IN pursuit Of a woman who, answered
your description, but found myself mis-
taken.
: Il met there an old man-an Amer
lcan like nyself-who conceived a VIC
J lent fancy for me. 5@'.
. He was an invalid. and I was able
to serve him in many little ways.
He had no relatives, and we became
very friendly, until at last I told hin
my story, in which he was warmly
interested.
J when he died shortly after founf
that he had willed me this place. to
: gether with snug little fortune. ~
7 And now, my wife, my one love
: that God has brought you back to me
i. now that you have heard my story
f you will abide once more in your nus
| bands heart" ~ - ~ =
l He is kneeling by my side, and Bess
2 who has been an interested listener
unoeremoniously bumps our heads to
9 gether. -
Say yes, mamma He is nv dea
} papa, and love him.
| What is there left for me, but t.
: enter once more into blessed Iaye1
Of peace and rest thanking God fo
s his goodness?
Mans lngratitude.
' Trainp-I'm not an idler, mum: II,
Nf<r, to Be