The National tribune., 1895-04-25
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON D. O.
COLLINS NIGHT
OF TRIAL.

Colin Stone sat on the front porch with
his chair tipped back against the railing
| He was smoking and watching in happy,
| contemplative way, the wreaths that curled
up from the bowl of his long-stemmed pipe.
Lucy, his wife, came to the door and stood
there with a hand on each side of the frame
work, shifting idly from one foot to the other.
| Her slim figure lent itself pliantly to atti-
tudes of careless ease that would have looked
slouchy and awkward in most people. She
had a clear, fowerlike face, with small, ir-
regular features; clear blHe eyes, and hair
of light red-gold, lying upon her head in
loose, short curls. The color in her lips was
deep and rich, and there was fresh tinge
of red in her cheeks, with here and there o
freckle.
"Colin," she said, "you ought to have
seen Jacky chasing his little turkeys; he
tried so hard to catch them, and he tripped
and fell down, and he didn't cry bit"
"Ob, he's a wonderful boy" said Colin,
removing his pipe to laugh.
A little curly head was thrust between the
mothers skirts and the door frame, and
Jacky sent up lament about the turkeys
that had eluded him.
"No, no; you can't have them," said Lu-
cy; but come with mamma, and we'll put
the turkeys TO bed"
Collins eyes followed the slender figure of
his wife with the two-year-old boy trotting
beside her, clutching her finger, the little
feet stamping earnestly along the garden
path.
where.
1t was day of hope. A thrill of Joy and
pain passed through the mans heart 1t was
oil co hao fu1- hoonfifu1 Tho V0lnne of
his wife and child. prattling together in the
sweet language of babyhood, came to him
where he sat. Sometimes he caught
glimpse of Lucy's bright hair between the
screen of leaves. He thought of the dark
days when his life had been so intolerable
that he had come near to ending it with his
own hand.
Suppose" he unused, that had done it,
and it had been my punishment to look out
of hell upon this"
The thought made his heart tremble. He
felt that be must thank God for his deliv-
grange.
Colin" called Lucy, "are you going for
the mail this EVENING""
"WhY, yes; had almost forgotten it."
"Well. don't forget to take my letter to
Cousin Sabina. 1t is on the mantelpiece
behind the blue vase"
1t did not take Colin long to kiss Lucy
and Jaclsy and get out on the road. 1t
stretched before him, seeming endless, with
a fiat monotony that would have been mad
dening to an adventurous spirit; but TO Co
lin il seemed the embodiment of placidlty
and sweet content.
Through the dusty cloud made by the
broad-tired wheels he saw the figure of
woman approaching from the direction of
the village, and it was not long before they
met. She walked heavily, and her dress,
once handsome, was shabby and powdered
with dust. She paused, as if glad of an ex-
cuse to halt.
Can you tell me how far am from Colin
Stones house?" she asked in hoarse,
broken voice.
They looked at each other as they spoke,
and he saw face that had once been beauti-
hundred vicious lines, the complexion coarse
and muddled.
In moment she said: "oh, it's youi"
His lips refused TO answer her.
This was the wife he had believed dead for
IL years; the woman who had ruined his
home and happiness, and. growing tired
of him, had left him. When she crept back
again i'll and broken, he had given her
shelter; loveless, but merciful. 1t had not
been long before she wearied anew of her tame
life and left him again; and this time she
did not return. After year or two of
silence he had received letter from the
West, telling him OF her death. And now
she had come back TO blast bis life.
AT the sight of the pallor upon his face,
she broke into discordant laugh.
How scared you look" she cried.
why have you come back, Annette?" ne
asked.
"Do you think don't know all about you,
child? Oh! there amt much you can tell
me about yourself that don't know already.
Why have / come back?" she pursued,
inoclsingly-" why, because I'm tired of
rowing life. want to settle down in peace
and quietness under my own roof-tree, in
the afternoon of my days, as the books say"
annette" said Colin, trying TO clear the
husky sound from bis voice. "what good will
it do you to upset my whole life? If you
will go quietly away will send you money
so that You can live comfortably
mo-" she retorted impatiently, want
the moral support of husband want
some one to work for me. What's the use
of bandying words?"
But why did you make me believe you
dead?n
"Ohl it struck me it would be good
plan. was afraid you might find out where
/ was-you were such an elevated character
in those days.
She made few steps forward, but he put
himself in front of her.
Where are you going?" he asked.
Pm going TO have look at your house
and your new wife"
Woman" said Colin, did ever lay the
weight of my hand upon you in all the years
you made my home hell? But now
tell YOU that if you take another step I'll
strike You dead"
She looked at the white face out of which
the eyes burned black, and the tense hand
clutching the knotty stick, and shrank back,
daunted, but half admiring.
Il tell you Pm tired of being cuffed about
the world" she replied, guerulously. g"
want TO settle down. | don't mean that
want to stay here. If you will come away
with me III go quietly. If not"-
Silence followed her unspoken threat.
Colin stood with eyes fixed upon the
ground. There arose in his mind picture
of his own youth, full Of brightness and
promise; how he had risen rapidly in his pro-
fession, and how this woman had disgraced
him, SO that he had longed to hide himself
from the world. When he looked at her he
cursed the forbearance that had given her
shelter.
Then, believing her dead, he left his
Northern home and came TO the South,
where no one knew his history. To break