Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-05-24
PART OF A LIFE.

wife, do you?"
The speaker, from a glance at his
snowy hair and mustache and sorroWful
dark eyes, ono would suppose to have
been man well along in years, but on
looking more closely at the well knit,
supple form reclining at ease in the
study chair it was discovered to be an
''old head on young shoulders I"
His deep, musical voice was half sad,
half tender as he continued to address
the young man, who, standing before
him, was nervously toying with book
that lay on the table at his right.
perhaps Pm not quite as surprised
as you thought would be. You have
played together as little children, as
boy and girl you We're companions, and
now that you are man and Maud is a
woman your hearts naturally turn to
each other, and 1 will see my dearest
wish realized. The friendship that has
existed between your father and myself
for 16 years will be augmented by the
union of our only children. You are a
good, manly fellow, Hugh, but trifle
hot headed and impulsive. Learn to CON
troll yourself, boy; learn to control your
self.
'You have much of my disposition,
and would save you from the rocks
on which my happiness was wrecked
you and my little girl.
sit down, Hugh, here, near me, and
| will tell you a story-an answer to
the question you have so often had on
the tip Of your tongue to ask me, What
was it that turned the hair Of such a
comparatively young man white? Tush,
boy, don't look confused-you couldn' t
help wondering.
"Well, to begin with, 20 years ago l
married one Of the fairest, sweetest lit
tie women that ever won the love Of
man. was reporter on an evening
paper, ambitious and struggling to rise
in my profession. We rented a little
house in the suburbs, and although we
had not much of this worlds goods our
home was a very happy one for the first
six or eight months. Then little bicker-
ings and fault finding began. Bitter
quarrels finally grew out of the most
trivial things, and scarcely day passed
that there had not been angry words
spoken by one or the other.
we loved each OUnor dearly, and we
tried hard to avoid all this. We had re-
solved again and again in our moments
of repentance that we would treat each
other with more consideration, be more
forbearing but it seemed useless-our
troubles increased.
So it went on for several months
had become morose and gloomy, and
Nora's poor little face had grown SO
pale and sad that the sight of it made
my heart ache.
'tOne lovely morning in early sum-
mer, when the roses that clambered over
our cottage walls were in bloom and
nodding their pretty heads at us through
the windows, when the birds, newly
mated, were singing their joy and the
air was heavy with the perfume of flow
ers and breathed only love and peace,
the crisis came.
"While was hurriedly getting ready
to go to the Office something occurred to
detain me. was annoyed and spoke
sharply to Nora. She answered me in
an insolent, taunting manner that al
ways enraged me. Our words grew hot
ter and hotter and more extravagant. In
my anger applied shameful epithet
to her.
i" Coward she almost shrieked as
she sprang toward me, her face distort-
ed with rage and defiance.
"What devil possessed me do not
know, but quick as flash raised my
hand and struck her in the face with all
the force could summon.
"She was such a slender little woman
that she had not the strength to with
stand my powerful blow. With low,
heartrending cry she sank to the floor.
Almost before she fell my senses re-
turned. I realized what had done, and
falling OH my knees beside her took he1
in my arms, kissed the poor bleeding
lips had SO brutally lacerated, and with
my tears dropping on her face implored
her forgiveness. She seemed completely
broken Her anger was all gone, and
there was a startled, grieved look il
her eyes that cut me to the heart.
'sShe lay motionless in my arms while
l begged her to forgive me. Then she
said softly:
1T doesn't matter, dear. 1t was my
fault as much as yours. We will never
let it happen again. Now go to work.
you are late already.
"She said it so strangely, with such
a queer look in her eyes, that I would
not consent to leave her. But she in
sisted, and when she bade me goodby
she said, taking my face between her
hands and drawing 1t toward her: ]
love you with all my heart, my darling
husband will love you for ever and
ever. Now goodby
''What a long, long day that wasl II
seemed as If my work never would be
finished My heart was SO full Of love
for Nora
Il bought bunch of Jack roses Oh
my way home to remind her of ou1
courtship, when they were the flowers
always brought her. I did not enter the
house by the front door, as usual, be-
cause wanted to slip up behind her