The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-04-24

GleHIly waiting his return nut penn
| tent as he would appear on the fol
| lowing day, she soon found that her
influence was but as feathers weight
in opposing the fierce current.
Still he loved her, but his moods
were titful, his temper becoming more
and more violent, Day after day the
evil grew, and on her gentle head
curses were showered, because of her
evident efforts to avoid him, while the
tiend of jealousy whispered that
another had taken his place in her
heart. The worm will turn when
trod upon and on one occasion, when
in fit of rage, tainted her with IL
crime from the accusation of which
her pure soul revolted, she answered
him with contempt, he struck her.
With that cowardly blow all of
Ef1ie's love went out. She had felt for
months the shame and humiliation
ever filling the heart of the drunkard's
wife, but yet love, such as mother
feels for an erring child, still chung
around her heart for her fallen idol,
even after the wife's love was gone
forever. But that blow-it changed
her whole nature, and crushed the
last spark of affection which pity had
left burning.
One scene of violence followed an
other, and yet never to her best friends
never even to her mother, did she
breathe the tale of her wrongs.
Il made my own choice" was her
constant thought, land now it is my
duty to guard from reproach the name
| once felt proud and honored to
bear Mrs. Leslie saw the change in
her child, betrayed by the altered
tones of her letters. She looked
through the apparently calm surface
into the depths of the tired soul and
sought by loving counsel and tender
sympathy to bind up the wounds
which, though hidden, she knew were
deep and wide, bleeding, ever bleed
ing. And Effie longed to lay her tired
head on her mothers bosom, and sob
her life away; but she would not call
her to witness her humiliation. Two
years past YEARLY by, when the great
rupture between North and South
called all capable of bearing arms to
the field of battle; and Henry, possess
ed of any amount of brute courage,
was among the first to answer the call.
Effie reproached herself, because
no feeling of regret went with
him, as he bade her farewell. 1t was
a relief, such a blessed relief, to be
free from his violence, and from the
constant feeling of disgrace pressing
upon her in his presence.
Never again. no never again, would
her gentle spirit be crushed and
wounded by shame and i'll usage; for
on the field of battle the erring one
fell never to rise again. A few words |
of farewell, penned by a comrade i'll |
arms and prayer of forgiveness told |
the tale to Effie.
AT liberty now to act at her own |
pleasure, but unable, until the settle
ment of the estate to return to her |
childhood home, Effie wrote to her
mother to come to her.
Oh, that meeting of the long parted |
ones, what words can describe its |
bliss, Both had suffered. both were |
changed, but now they were reunited |
and all would be well.
The color came back to the cheek of |
Effie, the light to her eyes, making |
her lovelier than ever in the happi- |
ness of home frightened by Il mothers |
presence and love; and Mrs. Leslie, |
feeling that once more she couldclaim |
her child wholly, solely her own, for
got the sorrows of the past in the
joys of the present.
Effie was in her country home, when |
tidings came that the long struggle |
was over and that peace was declared. |
As they were rejoicing over the glad |
tidingS a company of armed men en- |
tered the avenue and rode toward the |
house.
Effie was terrified, for fearful tales !
of raiders had reached her ears.
licnalIaI hnNynUAr =. .
Mrs. Leslie, who with the blood of |
New England running in her veins, |
cried. 1T is our banner. the Stars and |
Stripes. Look, look. | seem to know |
the form of the commanding officer
He dismounted, and seeing the |
ladies, advanced, saying, May ! |
crave your hospitality for myself and |
my men ,"
Thus far had he spoken when, look |
ing into Mrs. Leslie's face, he stood |
transtixed, while she, springing for
ward, exclaimed, why, William, my |
dear boy, it is indeed your
Effie, meanwhile, had sunk tremb- |
ling into a seat, overcome with emo |
ton, and sat with her face bowed up |
pom her hands.
Gently drawing them away, Will |
liam said softly:
And have you no word OF welcome !
for me Effie? Cannot you give to he |
even Il sisters greeting?"
Shyly she raised to his her dOvelille |
eyes, and reading in them more than |
a sisters tenderness, he drew her un- |
to his arms.
Quietly releasing herself, she said : |
"Willy, am not worthy. | threw |
away the treasure of your affection |
for glittering bauble. | have suf
fered bitterly, and though felt that |
| had made Il mistake, when the |
scales fell from my eyes knew when |
too late it was but my fancy which |
was captivated by another
AT last at last ~ he cried. after |
long waiting the prize is won.
Escorted by William, Mrs. Leslie
and Ellie soon returned to their North |
ern home, and shortly after the dream
of the former was realized, and in her
warm corner in Williams home she
witnessed the happiness of her child |
rem and felt that the clouds which
had hung darllly over her life were
forever dispelled.