Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-12-24

Al Pete'S. Mahafry had said. III
would 80 10 the cabin ttrsg and rest an,
consider. His haste had changed to
nervous timidity, The shaded window
stu save \ hint Of light within. but h,
Gid not notice it, He flung open tn,
door and as Il closed behind him stag
gerN UP against IT, What dream
what vision Of maddened brain wa,
this, The howell which he had left
dark and mean and desolate, wa>
changed into home. The blagius
loss in the fireplace sent out glow
that Frightened every corner OF tn,
room, The hits Of crimson color, tn,
books he comfort. the Christmas
greens, and, ah, the figure in the RID
armShatr by the fire starts up in alarm,
and then springs toward him with arms
outsta~tched--it is not dream
She cannot speak at first. She waits
to hear his voice, but his look chills her
and her arms drop,
Jack, She murmured at hast desper-
atetT, aren't YOU glad to see me-
Don't YOU care for me any more?
He takes step toward her.
This is an unexpected pleasure" he
says husktly, yet with chilling In
Election 1T has taken YOU long time
to make dp your mind that wis ut
for You 10 associate with"
She tremhles 50 that she cannot stand
and sinks back into the chair lie
comes nearer, his eyes devouring her
like flame. his face working cnnvul-
sively, but she does not know that
he is lighting With all the pitjful pride,
the mad desire to clasp her in his arms,
Her voice Is cold and controlled when
she speaks.
This is fit welcome to the wife You
deserted, and yet she has been ON y true
to You, | never doubted your inno-
cencc never rested till your name was
cleared Of all stain. | have suffered and
toiled and sought for YOU all these
years, and this Is my reward"
Her quiet words. her listloss attitude.
bore conviction to him, and self re.
praoch wcllcd up in his heart
Margaret" he said more pleadingly
why didn't YOU write to me? 1t would
have made SO much difference when
| was wild with misery and begged OF
YOU to believe me, aud had never n
word from YOU Maybe | was coward
to rum away-but couldn't stay and be
dragged through the mtre Of scandal. 4"
mo" she said bitterly, "but you
could leave me to be dragged through
it. And wrote to you, Jack, several
times and got no reply" Yet, more
kindly. Il did not accuse you and hate
You as YOU have done NY me. have
worked hard to support myself, to clear
your name, to find you; for believed
in YOU still Only three months ago my
detective found the right clcw, and
have sojourncd in search OF you ever
since, | could not start sooner, had
no money and there were other reas-
onS."
Her face flushed little here, but her
tone and attitude were still YEARLY in
different. She felt as If her heartStrings
har broken Even If he believed her
now she could not be happy The strain
and dsappoin mcnt had been too Z eat.
II will so back again." she contin-
ued. But she did not know herself
The next instant there was wildly re-
pentant man AZ her feet Overwhelmed
by the sin of his previous injustice to
her and by his great unworthiness, he
abased himself to the depths. He
poured out his love, his misery, his re-
morse with sohs that he could not com
troll The rcyultion of feeling was like
"A flood sweeping everything before
it, He dared not even touch her with
his unworthy hands. but he kissed her
feet. And her heart was not broken.
| was giving great sobs Of Joy. What
did anything matter if he still loved
her? She raised his bowed head and
pressed 1t against her breast
A few moments later, as the stroke
Of the little clock on the chimney shelf
had just ushered In Christmas day, in
10 moment Of peaceful silence Dir tpped
a little sleepy. piping voice from the
bed
Mamma. div boy some schiken
now"
Jack Allison started 10 his feet.
choked him so that he could
not speak. His wife ran to the bed.
where the baby was sitting up. blink
ing sleeply his yellow hair all in a
fllzZ about his head
Come Jack" she said shyly.
OH Margaret, ! didn't know" WAS
All he could say as he knelt by the bed
and gazed reverently ON the chubby
face of his first born.
Unto us. murtnured Margaret ten
ierly, "a son Is given"
SO Christmas found Silent Bill
Mrs. Paxton Duard in Romance.
lips TAINTED WITH CIGARETTES