The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-01-13

n ~ SS1os ~ ooPP0S W. uut9Do90S
I could not est A strange. terrible op-
preston was creeping over me. Md.
night had long struck. and still / wss
alone Baby had awakened and been
hushed TO sleep again. Icould not read.
1 could not work. I could only pace
wesrily 70 and fro, and watch and wai&
At laat, ~ the dawn was breaking. the
distant sound of horses hoofs broke
the stiffness; but when. . few moments
later. my husband entered the room. l
started back. So changed was he
scarcely could have recognized him. To
night he uttered no word Of reproach
at finding me waiting, but threw him.
self down with groan.
"What 10 II, Will?" questioned. Tell
me. dear. 10 not your trouble miner
Then he told me how the money l had
given him that morning had been lost
not dollar saved. Mayne Perrin had
met him, tempted him as he had been
tempted 20 times before. and as before
he had yielded, playing on and on with
the gamblers vain hope Of redeeming
what he had lost, until nothing was left.
Our nest egg, baby's dover was gone.
Icould not reproach him. could only
soothe and comfort, praying with him
that the lesson might be one he never
would forget
Spite Of our loss the next few weeks
were happier, for viii was more Mt
home. and seemed relieved to have made
full confession. In March we went over
to his fathers. whose farm lay distant
from ours some seven miles. to spend
the anniversary Of our wedding. We
had bright, happy dinner, baby-now
six months old--the honored guest.
The next afternoon viii rode into
town, promising tc return early. as the
next day we were to start for home. We
waited supper q full hour, then sat
down without him. His mothers anx-
ious questionings. his fathers wonder
ment as the evening wore away. drove
me almost wild. and was glad to say
goodnight and seek the rest and quiet
Of my room. Slowly the long hours
wore away. while wrestled on my
knees In agony for full we'll now knew
what this absence meant. Once more
the tempter had been At work. Tho
sentence had once uttered: II would
rather see myself In my grave than .
gamblers wife," rang In my ears, and
my heart grew hard and bitter.
"He has been detained" I said a
bravely ss I could. when We met At
breakfast. Al noon the sky grew
threatening, and & severe snowstorm
was predicted, and when the hrst hakes
were falling one by one. Will burst In
upon ".
"Are you ready p was al his greeting.
I'VE will have to hurry to reach home
before the storm" In vain they urged
him to wait. II am going" he an
swered. "Nsnnie con do a. she likes"
" am ready. Win." I replied. and with
baby In my arms took my place by his
side. For an hour he was silent, the
snow falling faster and thicker. Then
be burst out abruptly:
"You think you arc going homo. Do
you know that you are homeless. house
less. penniiess, and your husband Is q
thief? Mamie, Mamie. would that !
could die!"
The reins fell from his hands. In the
keen, biting air and the clouds Of snow.
his head fe.l forward on his breast and
sob after sob rent his frame. For mo-
ment I was appalled,. Then 1t seemed as
though I had known always this must
come. as though all my life had been
looking forward to this moment.
"How did It happen. WHIP" ques-
toned.
1T was my first loss," he answered.
shat Of your money. that troubled me.
and when Mayne met me yesterday and
asked me II I would not win 1t back.
something said try Iplayed all night.
Mamie. alone with him, and when he
had won everything from me he
laughed In my face and told me to tell
my wife that he had made good his
word; that with him she would mt least
have had home"
sought not the house to be in sight p
I questioned. reused into action by the
growing cold and darkness tho present
engrossing the future. Will started to
his feet and looked anxiously about.
then fell back with groan. Fool that
I ami" he muttered. II have lost the
road"
Colder and darker II grew every mo
ment. Ihushcd baby's faint cries on my
breast, though my heart sank with ter
ror. Could she survive this exposure?
1T is just as WE'LL" I said, bitterly.
"since we are homeless. that the end
should be here, only do not dare kill my
baby unless you kill me too"
but just then something glimmered
in the darkness. 1t was the light from
our own hearthstone. which ere long
we had reached in safety, but when
had laid my sleeping child in her warm
nest, the ice about my heart melted, tho
bitterness fed. and I crept sobbing to
my husbands breast, murmuring
words Of forgiveness and love. For
we'll knew. whatever i'll the future
held in store for US, the tempter would
hereafter tempt In vain. But the next
day we waited in vain for Mayne Per.