The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-04-16

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the day before L was burnt to ashes in
the Chicago fire. Fancy tue irony OF
thatl The day before! Why didn't
the news reach me? I'd IA fino fund OF
selfishhess about me then.
"And Louise was right after all. Il
was her duty to urge me to business.
l was as lazy rs the day was long then ;
and she told me OF it, and | hated her
for speaking. I've thought since over
that letter, and the pain it must have
caused her TO write.
'Eh, well. that's all past and done
with. | died. / was full of conceit
IL myself, and thought an American
fortune was easily made, even If it was
sometimes lost with suddenness. Pah !
| never reached the first rung OF the
ladder. I never rose above laboring
with my hands at unskilled trades
and it was being constantly shown me
how | was an Indifferent laborer at
that.
"No, I've missed it, badly, and all
through my own shortsIghted fault. |
might have had wife, children and a
stately home. What | do have is nv
share of the Queens wet highway, aud
weary aches to lie down upon. OF
myself | shall never now he more than
what | ana broken waster. But
there is one thing I won't do, and
that's ask help from her. She'd give
it, if | sought for it; she'd call me
buck as her husband if she knew me
to he alive; she'd share with me will
inSiy what is, perhaps, alter all,
legally mine to share. But no. She's
Il cool woman, and I'm what they call
in the States mean man. Yes.
mighty mean, and down Mt heel, not
ut all white; but I've made my bed,
and | won't remakc it even if | have
the chance. Things are urcomforta.
BILE, but ] guess they won't drag out
much longer"
He sat heavily down on the wet
wayside turf, his legs dang ding over
the ditch. Ten years; ter terrors
for me. Ten years for her thinking
herself my widow. She's had the
chance to marry again; heard all
about it. Leslie asked her, the only
man | was jealous of before i won her
Tor myself. She likes him l know :;
she always did and for him she's the
only woman III the world. But she
wouldn't marry him for all that,
though he could have given her love,
title, more wealth, yes, everything q
woman could want"
A crunching noise made the tramp
turn his glance. A smart carriage
with pair of ponies was coming MP
round turn OF the west road A wo-
man was driving; man in livery sat
behind. The tramp gazed for n min
ute with starting eyes; then turned
away and with bowed head faced the
ditch. "Oh, my God" lie murmured,
and clinched his hands till the nails
drew blood.
The noise OF the wheels ceased and
there was the sound of rustling skirts.
The tramp also noticed the faint smell
of sealskin, but he kept his back reso-
lutely immovabIc.
George"
The tramp did not stir. a trem-
bling hand was piacel Oh his wet
shoulder.
George, look M. 1 know it is
you"
woman, so away. You are max
ing u mistake.
look me i'll the face and repeat
that"
IL will not. [ can't"
She slipped down to seat beside
him on the soddcn turf, and the groom
MT the ponies head felt his jaw drop
down through wonder.
ooh, Louise, why can't you pass mo
y2 / only came for u neon
didn't intend you to see me-God
knows [ didn't. It's all yours now,
and I'll not take fraction away from
you. | have chosen my path like the
scouudrei that l was, and must keep
along it. 1t isn't fit that | should
turn back now"
"Yct you must stay, now that l have
found you.
| tell you ] cannot. You would not
ask me if you knev what / have been,
how vllely have sinnel against You.
Done snake your head; it is true. II
you won't credit that, listen
She threw her arms about his shout
ders, pressing him fercely to her
breast.
'Denr, she said, "you have como
back to me. i know that; l do not
want to know any moro.
The tramp tried to pluck himself
from the embrace, without avail.
Then he lay against her furs and
shudderod, bat made no more resist
ance.
Louise Carr hal taken back her
husband. Black an White.