Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-28

And this was the anniversary of her
wedding day. Six years ago, and she was
happy bride. Five years she had been a
heartbroken widow. Her boy slept in his
little bed, and she sat there, thinking,
thinking, and gazing out at the low,
leaden sky and the wind tossed trees. The
night was closing rapidly-a night OF
storm and darkness. The rain came down
in great smoking sheets, and tho wild,
wailing winds rushed round the gables
and went shrieking over the hills like hu
man souls in agony. Her heart ached with
desolation that seemed almost insupport-
able. Life was so hard, yet for the boys
sake she must endure and live on.
She looked down at her sable garments
with hot, binding tears. Six years ago.
and she was robed in gems and blossoms
His face, his very voice, seemed to come
back to her, and she fancied that his spirit
must be near her. No matter how high
above her, how happy, she knew that he
loved her still, and his glorifled spirit may
have left its home of bliss to keep with
her that sacred anniversary. The fancy
consoled her beyond expression. She
glanced ovcr at the sleeping boy, with a
dim hope that his father loved and watch
ed over him. Then sudden impulse shot
across her mind. She would not keep the
anniversary of her wedding day in the gar
ments of widowhood; she would put on
the robe he loved. If he knew aught of
her poor, sad life, he should see how sacred
ly she remembered and observed his sim
| plest wishes
Stealing up to her chamber, she took
| out the mauve silk and the dainty 1aces
| growing yellow and timeworn, and
| pretty jet and gold ornament and ar
| rayod herself as in days gone by, and the
| old bloom came back to her checks and
| the brightness to her eyes, and she seemed
| to drop her years and her widowhood and
| to spring out afresh into the rare beauty
| of her carly naidenhood. Thus arrayed
| sho went down softly and seated herself
| before the blazing fire. her face fearful
| and expcctaLt. If his soul were near, and
| she chung to the hope that it was as SHIT
| chung to life, he should see how tenderly
| she remembered him.
Tho anniversary night wore on, wild
| and dark with storm, and still the poor
wife, half dazed by her terrible sorrow,
sat by her lonely hearthstone, robed i'll her
| festive garments. AT last there came
step without. a sharp, Impatient step on
| the gravel, but she did not hear it. a
| weary, travel worn man, bronzed by OK
| posurc and pale with long endured grief,
| came up to the front entrance and pause
| beneath the low window. Through the
| parted curtains shono the ruddy freight,
| revealing the warm, attractive room-thc
| old familiar room, with his hat upon the
wall and his books and meerschaum on
tho mantel, unmoved, as he had left them.
Revealed the kitten purring on the rug,
and the little curtained bed in the els
lance, and the dear, sweet face, wot With
tears, and the dress he loved in happy
days, that seemed too far back to the poor
wanderer to be real.
Was it all dream2 Was that the wife
from whom he had SO long been parted,
whose face had been present with him
through all his lonely hours Of peril and
imprisonment Was she waiting and
watching and keeping his home bright
for his return?
He left tho window, stolo softly to the
porch and approached the side door. He
raised the latch. 1t opened, and he stood
upon the threshold.
Intent upon her musings, her own sweet
memories and sad reflections, Maud heard
no sound Her heart was far back with
|
dress had revived old associations, and his
very presence seemed around and about
her. She looked up, with clasped hands
and streaming eyes.
"Oh, Harry oh, my husband" she
murmured, IF you knew how l love you,
how / mourn your loss, surely your soul
might speak to mine and tell me that you
| are near mel
| MAUD, my wife, my darling!
She started to her feet, with a wonder
ing, startled face. There he stood, worn
and weary, changed from the man he had
been, but the wife recognized him in an
instant. For moment a solemn awe
filled her eyes, and her love hesitated and
troubled in the presence of spirit from
the other world, but the next instant she
held him in her arms with a wild cry
"Oh, Harry, my husbandl You are not
dead; you have come back to me''
His passionate kisses ON her face, his
strong arms and throbbing heart answer
| ed her as no words could have done. He
had come back to her from imprisonment
amid the wild western mountains, from
perils and dangers and death itself
| For awhile, after she had heard his
story and fully assured herself that he was
really flesh and blood, and not spirit, as
she had first believed him, she lay quietly
weeping on his bosom. Then she arose.
with solemn tenderness in her eyes, and
| leading him to the little couch drew aside
| the curtains, revealing the little face,
| flushed and dimpled, in slumber, and the
small chubby fists fast clinched together
Harry Merline looked on without q
| word; then, bending down, he kissed the
| little sleeper with JOY and thankfulness