The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-23

the grievance of years would not down.
"At Pete's," Mahaffy had said. He
would go to the cabin first and rest
and consider. His haste had changed
to nervous timidity. The shaded
windows still gave a hint of light
within, but he did not notice it. He
flung open the the door and as it clos
ed behind him staggered against it.
What dream, what vision of a mad
dened brain was this? The hovel
which he had left, dark and mean and
desolate, was changed into home.
The blazing logs in the fireplace sent
out a glow that frightened every cor
ner of the room. The bits of crimson
color, the books, the comfort, the
Christmas greens, and, ah, the little
figure i'm the red armchair by the fire
that starts up in alarm and then
springs toward him with arms out
stretehed-it is not a dream.
She can not speak at first. She waits
to hear his voice, but his look chills
her, and her arms drop.
Jack" she murmured at last des-
perately, "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 huskily, yet with a chilling inilec-
ton. at has taken you long time to
make up your mind that was fit for
you TO associate with"
She Troubles so that she can not
stand and sinks back into the chair
He comes nearer, his eyes devouring
her like n flame, his face working con-
vulsively, but she does not know that
he is fighting with all his pitiful pride
the mad desire to clasp her in his arms
Her voice is cold and controlled when
she speaks.
"This is indeed fit welcome to the
wife you deserted, and yet she has
been only true to you. never doubt
ed your innocence, 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 re
ward
Her quiet words, her listless attitude,
bore conviction TO him, and self re-
proach swelled up in his heart.
Margaret" he said more pleading
ly, "why didn't you write to NE? 1t
would have made so much difference
when was wild with misery and
begged Of you to believe me, and | had
never word from you. Maybe was
a coward to run away-but | couldn't
stay and be dragged through the mire
of a scandal"
"No," 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, al did not accuse you and hate
you, as you have done by me. l 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 clew, and
have journeyed in search Of you ever
since. | could not start sooner; l had
no money and-there were other rea-
sons.n
Her face flushed a little here, but her
tone and attitude were still wearily in
different. She felt as if her heart
strings had broken. Even il he believ-
ed her now she could not be happy.
The strain and disappointment had
been too great.
81 will go back again." she eontin-
ued. But she did not know herself.
The next instant there was wildly re-
pentant man at her feet. Overwhelm-
ed by the sin of his previous injustice
to her and ny his great unwOrthiness,
he abased himself to the depths. He
poured out his love, his misery, his re
morse, with sobs that he could not
control. The revulsiOn OF feeling was
like flood, sweeping everything be-
fore it. He dared not even touch her
with his unworthy hands, but he kiss
ed her feet And her heart was not
broken. 1t was giving great throbs of
Joy. What did anything matter if he
still loved her? She raised his bowed
head and pressed it 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
to moment of peaceful silence drop
ped little sleepy, piping voice from
the bed:
Mamma, div boy some schicken
now"
Jack Allison started to his feet.
Something choked him so that he
could not speak. His wife ran to the
bed, where the baby was sitting up,
blinking sleepily, his yellow hair all
in a fuzz about his head.
"Come here, jack" she said shyly.
"Oh, Margaret, | didn't known was
all he could say as he knelt by the bed
and gazed reverently on the chubby
face of his firstborn.
"Unto US" murmured Margaret ten
derby, "a son is given"
So Christmas found Silent BILL
Mrs. Paxton Duard in Romance.
Tbs Keystone State.