The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-11

fixed on her despairingIy. Go where
she would 10 the room they over
took her and asked her why she had dis
honOred her God and her husband.
For time she fought them with the iron
strength of her will, but they were
stronger; one by one they broke down
her defenseS and left her shuddering-
Yet it was night before she gave way al
together. The girl had gone downstairs,
the man was sleeping when she fell upon
he knees by the bedside and cried out
piteOusly: -Gh, God. don't curse me any
more! He shall come back tO-morro " :"
Was it fancy that the eyes which held
hers brightened} For moment she
thought so, and vet TO her own ears to-
morrow sounded like a mockery. Wild
dreams of flying to fetch him were IN her
brain when a voice speaking TO the girl
below, a step on the creaking stair, made
her heart stand still, for step and voice
were her husbands. She sprang to her
feet and shrank back, her thin hands
nervously grasping each other. and as she
was in the shadow he did not at first dis
tinguish her. But as his eyes realized
who it was he stopped in sheer amaze
ment.
"Louisa2"
She came out trembling and grasped his
his arm ''Oh, John ~ she sobbed.
What brought you} l thought you
were at bennington"
"Youu never forgive me" she said,
disregarding. They sent for you TO
come here this morning and was afraid
to tell YOU
"Atraid2n
Because of the infection and the chill
deren. l said you were away. and then
then / grew so miserable, thinking what
they might say of you if they found out
that it was lie, that couldn't rest. l
fancied ! might come and do something 10
make up by nursing her, but haven I.
John, don't be too angry! I'll never be SO
He made DO answer to her appeal, but
put her gently TO one side and stepped
forward to the sick woman, who lay more
quiet. When he knelt and prayed there
was a new fervor, new tenderness IN MS
dry voice. The girl had come up, the
man rolled of the bed and stood with his
eyes fixed on his wires ashen lace, Inc
other wife had her face buried III her
hands Presently her husband touched
her on the shoulder.
60 down. he said; ~ will come pres
emily"
Never before had she been afraid of
him but his voice sounded like the voice
of Judge and she said to herself that he
could not forgive her for having kept him
away until it was too late, and she dld
not dare disobey. She stood miserably at
the open door looking out into the lane
and at the light swaying OF the trees
against a wlnd-swept sky, and 1t seemed
hours before he Joined her there.
''She is gone, he said, quietly.
Good forgive mep' she returned, with
shudder
Don't you think you had better go and
see if there is anything you can do for
them?"
"Oh, I can't! :" she cried involuntarily,
but the next minute she had left his side
and was climbing the stairs. When she
came down again the two went silently
out into the lane. 1t was she who spoke
first:
Il shall never forgive myself" Then,
as he did not answer, she put question:
John how did you heari"
They told me in the village this morn
ing that there was serious illness at Al
lington"
Yes; but, Of course, if had let you
know that messenger had come to fetch
you, you would not have waited"
Il came pretty soon"
This evening, l know, but too late for
that poor soul to say what was wanted.
Oh, it was dreadful of me! Nothing that
you can say is too bad."'
ut was not like you, but, happily, it
did not matter to her, for l walked here
directly after dinner. ] did not tell you
where / was going, because you are so
easily frightened ABOUT infection"
She stopped and held him from her
with both hands You have been here
before to-davI'
"Why, did you not knowl Did they not
tell you2" he asked in surprise.
Not a word But, John, l thought it
was you'll don't Observation-Disclosures was
someone she was hungering to see?"
"Ah, yes, poor woman! They had but
one other lad, and he has gone TO sea. l
suppose she knew more about tie death
of the two younger boys than they
fancied, for she has been calling out for
him all day. But there was no possibility
of getting at him"
She drew long breath of relief.
"And this was what you meant when
you SAID you had some distance TO walkl''
And what you meant when you
started for Donningtonl'
"Ycs-don't talk of it. I am so
ashamed"
She was silent then, cried out sud
denly, THE children! I am sure you did
not even change your clothes when you
got home Oh, John, how could you, how
could you! And not there to see after
themp'