Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-12-27

Nan had always been little jealous Of
Sarah, and this remark had famed her
anger to white. determinations and re-
proachos followed, and the quarrel had
ended in his leaving the little house
which he had bought on their marriage,
vowing never to enter it again until Nan
apologizcd.
The next day he had sent messenger
for his clothes, half hoping the apology
would come instead. But it hadn't. He
had felt angry at himself for searching all
the pockets for note, only to BIO dis
appointed and he had sworn to make
Nan sick of her "blasted PRIDE"
He had left his place in Heinekle's
store in Bridge City, where he had been
employed since boyhood, and had gone
to l., to take a place in the iron
works, And not word had ever come
from Nan,
A bitter loneliness filled bis heart as
he entered his cheerless room with its
carpetless floor and curtainless window
The fire in the rusty little stove had
gone out, and the cheap kerosene lamp
on the wooden mantel gave only sickly
light.
Heyser shivered and flung out of the
room, muttering something between his
teeth. 1t was too early to go to bed
and he had lived so entirely to himsel
during the past year that he bad NJ
friends in the tenement house upon whom
he could drop in for an hours talk. =
What was he to do with himself ? Walk
up and down Main street, he supposed
and see people stare at him because he
had no bundles
AS he went down stairs he heard the
Payne children laughing, and through
door that stood little ajar saw them
hanging up their stockings.
Heyser's heart swelled with self-pity
and he tugged at the muller about bis
throat as if it were choking him as he
went stamping down the bare. dark
stairway. In all this Christmas fcstiv-
ity he had no share. There was no one
to give a thought to him, no one OF
whom he must think. And it was all
Mans fault She had ruined his life
How could he help hating her? Why
had she never sent that apologyY Evil
IDENTIFY she had never repented her share
of their quarrel.
Reaching Main street again Heyser
hesitated, gave quick glance around
him to see if any one we're looking who
might suspect his purpose, and then
turned abruptly down street that led
directly to the river. He walked rapidly
with his head down. the collar of his
coat high above his ears, and his SLOUGH
hat pulled down over his scowling brow
1t wouldn't do any harm to go and give
look at his old home--that pretty brown
cottage in which he and Nan had lived
tor four short months. He had nothing
else to do---and he needed the exercise
The wind blew stiflly NJ he crossed
the bridge. On the other side woman
was crossing in the opposite direction
She had shawl about her shoulders and
wore white hood Heyser remembered
that Nan had worn white hood on
Christmas Eve just year ago. The
keen air had made her cheeks rosy, and
given sparkle to her black eyes, Poo.
pie had turned to look at her on the
street, and he had felt proud of his pref
ty wife, lie had not dreamed thea that
in less than three months from that time
he and Nan would have gone separate
ways.
II was only q short walk from the
bridge to the heart of Bridge City, and
the little brown cottage Heyser had
bought stood on one of tho steep, un-
graded streets He felt chill sense Of
disappointment when be reached it and
saw that it was dark and all the blinds
were closed.
He stood at the little gate and stared
at the cottage for long time. Nan had
deserted it, of course, and it had stood
empty all these months He ought to
have known she wouldn't stay there
alone, and yet-somehow no had always
thought Of her as keeping home there.
waiting for him to come back.
He was stiff and chilled when ut last
he turned from the gate and went slowly
up the hill, with vague idea Of walk
ing through tho village before returning
to l.. Not that he expected to meet
Nan-that was most unlikely. In all
probability she had left Bridge City and
was following her trade of dressmaking
in some larger place
AS he reached the top Of the hill he
saw sudden tongue Of flame shoot up
from the roof of an old house which
stood back from the street at some dis
lance from any other. 1t was the home
Of old Mrs Wisk and her weak-minded
daughter, and Hoyser sprang forward as
electrified, wondering If any one were
inside.
AS he approached tho gate he saw the
imbecile girl run out from the front door,
and at the same moment the flames burst
from half dozen places in the roof.
as any one in there p shouted Hey
ser, Selling the girl by the shoulder.
She only whimpered and smiled in
reply, and Ucyser released her, and
With one bound was at the door and had
dashed it open
Before the wide, open hearth was
wickerwork carriage, and in it, staring
up with bright black eyes, lay a baby
Of perhaps two months of age Heyser
seized it in rough but careful grasp
and rushed out-just in time, for the old
roof fell with crash behind him, send
ing the sparks flying over him and his
precious charge.
The yard was full of people now who
had come running from every direction,
and as Heyser staggered forward with
bis burden be heard loud, piercing
cry, and young woman in big shawl
and white hood sprang through the
gateway and tore the baby from his
arms. She waa weak and almost breath
lesg from fright and her run IN the hill