The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-09-26
PART OF A LIFE.

The speaker, from glance at ms
snowy hair and mustache and SORROW
ful dark eyes, one would suppose to
have been man well along in years,
but on looking more closely at the well
knit. supple form reclining at ease "a
the study chair il was discovered TO be
Gan old head on young shoulders"
His deep, musical voice was half sad,
half tender a. he continued 10 address
the Young man, who, standing before
him, was nervously toying with book
that lay on the table.
Perhaps l am not quite as much
surprised a. YOU thought | would be.
You have played together as little
children, a. boy and girl you were conn
panions, and now that you are a man
and Maud a woman, your hearts nat
uraIly turn together, and / will see the
dearest wish of my heart realized.
The friendship that has existed between
your father and myself for l6 years viii
l,e augmented 10y the union of our only
children,
"You are a good, manly fellow,
Hugh. but a trifie hot-headed and inn
puisive. Learn TO control yourself, boy;
learn 10 control yourself
''You have much of my disposition,
and / would save you from the rocks on
which nay happiness was wrecked
you and my little girl.
''Sii down, Hugh, here, nearme, and
I viii tell you a stOry-an answer TO
the question y0a have - often had on
the tip Of yoIr tongue 10 ask me- What
was il that turned the hair of such a
comparatively young man white?'
"Tush, boy, don't look eonfused-you
couldn't help wondering.
"WeIl, 10 begin with, 20 years ago
married one of the fairest, sweetest lit
tie women that ever won the love of
man.
Il was reporter on an evening pa
per, ambitious and struggling 10 rise in
my profession.
I'VE rented little cottage in the sub
urbs, 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 chickering's
and fault findings began. Bitter guar
rels finally grew out of the most trivial
things, and scarcely day passed that
there had not been angry words spok-
en 10y one or the other.
I'VE loved each other dearly, and
we tried hard TO avoid all this. We had
resolved again and again in our mo
ments of repentance that We would
treat each other with more considera-
ton, he more forbearing, bat it seemed
uselesS-our troubles increased.
80 il 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 il made
my heart ache.
''One lovely morning in early sum-
mer, when the roses that clambered
over our cottage walls was in bloom
and nOdding their pretty heads at u
through the windows, when the birds,
newly mated, were singing their joy
and the air was heavy with the per-
fume of flowers and breathed only love
and peace, the crisis came.
''While / was hurriedly getting ready
to 20 10 the Office something occurred
10 detain me. I was annoyed and
spoke sharply to Nora. She answered
me in an insolent, taunting manner
that always enraged nae. Our words
grew hotter and hotter and more ex.
trayagant. In my anger j applied a
shameful epithet to her
" Coward she almost shrieked, a.
she sprang towards me, her face dis
torted with rage and defiance.
''What devil possessed me / do not
know, but quick rs flash raised my
hand and struck her in the face with
all the force / could summon.
She was such slender little woman
that she had not the strength to with
stand my powerful blow. Witha low,
heart-rending cry she sank 10 the floor.
Almost before she fell any senses return
ed. | realized what | had done, and
falling on my knees beside her took
her in my arms, kissed the poor bleed
ing lips had 50 brutalIy laeerated,
and with my tears dropping on her
face implOred her forgivness. She
seemed completely broken. Her anger
was all gone, and there was IA startled.
grieved look in her eyes that cut me to
the heart
''She lay motionless in my arms
while 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
Jet it happen again. Now 90 TO work
you are late already
''She said il 80 strangely, with such a
queer look in her eyes, that | would
not consent TO leave her But she in
sisted, and when she bade me good by
she said, taking my face between her
hands and drawing it towards her:
Il love you with all my heart, my
darling husband. l viii love you for
ever and ever. Now good by
''What long day that was, 1t SEEM
ed a. if my work never weuld he fin
ished. My heart was 80 full of love for
Nora
Il bought bunch of Jack roses on
my way home 10 remind her of our
oourtship, when they Were the flowers
alway brought her.
did not enter the house by the front
door, as usual, because | wanted "a
slip up behind her where she was at
work getting dinner and surprise her
with the flowers aud kiss.
softly ! opened the kitchen door.
There was no sign Of any preparation
for dinner-everything was in order.
Perhaps Nora has cried herself SICK
said 10 reasure myself | went to the
bedroOm-everything in order there,
bat the room was empty.
Nervously hurried through every
room, looked into every closet, went
down To the cellar, out to the coal she'd
and up 10 the attic. l didn't expect to