The record-union., 1894-12-25
WITHIN A YEAR.
A Christmas Story.

Written for the RECORD-UNION by Bese-
lena.
1t was Christmas Eve. The wind whis-
tied drearlly through the leadess branches
of the swaying trees, making weird, Sob
bing sounds like that of some poor crea-
ture IN distress. The rain descended in
torrents from out bleak, gray, forbid
ding sky, which gave no hope of a clear
up that night. In spite of the dreary
weather the streets were fairly alive with
people, good natured, pushing, crowd
ing, scram bling people. who did not seem
to mind the inclemency of the weather,
but had come out to see the sights and do
little shopping before the stores closed.
Down the gaily lighted street a man
came, his hands thrust deep into his coat
pockets, his collar turned up to protect
him from the piercing wind and his
slouch hat pulled well down over his
eyes. He did not seem to mind the rain.
which ran from him in little rivulets. but
walked along the busy streets with IN
seeing eyes, hearing nothing of the merry
laughter and chatter which was going on
around him. Suddenly, with 3 h2ll-smoth-
cred, impatient exclamation. he turned
down side street. He wanted to get
away from the gay crowd; from the
lighted shop windows with their tempt
ing displays. The sights and sounds of
the approaching Christmas maddened
him. He wanted to be away from it ali
with only his own sad thoughts for COM
pany. He hated the sound Of Christmas:
it brought too viyidly back to his mind
the miserable time in his lie which he
would like to forget ii he could.
AS he walked down the quiet, deserted
ct ho his mind NVanFor
strained over that unhappy past. lust
one year ago tonight he considered HIM
self the happiest man alive-happy! AS
the thought came into his mind "a bitter,
mocking laugh escaped him, a laugh
which echoed down the deserted street
and was caught up by the howling,
shrieking wind and carried away with it
to mix and mingle with it, and in time
become part OF its now mad demoniac
self.
Yes, he was happy, for he had all NOR
tai man could expect or wish on earth.
He was married 10 one of the best and
dearest women i'll the world and nothing
seemed wanting to make their JOY and
gladness complete, until one day there
came to their earthy Eden a bold, black
eyed woman, with a loud voice and an
assertiye manner, who said she was the
legal mistress OF his heart and home, and
that she, the woman whom he loved bet
ter than life itself, was nothing but his
-. He shudders now as he thinks OF
that hateful word, aud digs his hands
down deeper into his coat pockets in inn
patient despair as the memory OF that
past again sweeps over him. He could
not deny tue woman's claim; it was,
alas too true.
In moment of boyish infatuation he
had married her, but no sooner had the
ceremony been completed than he re-
pented of his folly and left her. He
heard from her from time to time through
his lawyers, who sent her certain al
lowance each month; and then one day
the glad news came that he was free
man; that the bonds which bound him
had been snapped asunder; that death
ah, kindly death! you are sometimes not
such grim tyrant after all-had stepped
In and released him; that the ship on
which his wife was going to Europe mad
sunk in mid-ocean and not a soul had
been saved. Then be had met and wooed
and won the only woman he had ever
loved, and they were happy-ah, plying
heaven! how happy had they been until
the serpent appeared and destroyed their
earthly paradise.
He well remembered the day this had
occurred, the surprise which seemed TO
numb his heart with an icy grasp and
freeze the words which his lips could not
utter; of the bitter reproaches of the
woman he loved, whose life he had
ruined; of the triumphant look OF her.
who in the eyes of the law, was his true
and legal wife, and then all at once while