The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-24
ACHRISTMASEVEVIS VISION


wearing tho Same expression had often
seen upon my husbands face. How
changed he looked from the hopeful, man
ly Charles Gordon who had stood before
me In the moonlight. He had been q
grave and silent man ever since his boy
died, but there was now some fresh trou-
BILE eating away his life.
What has brought this about?" l
asked
In moment my question was answered.
Into the magic picture came shadowy
finger which pointed to the paper strewn
table at which my husband sat. | gazed
and beheld revelation, and mechanical
ly my eye ran over every paper he opened.
The catalogue was fearful long array
of bills--plate. furniture, statues, jewels,
silks, long array of which recognized
distinctly my own agency. And, balance
ing this catalogue, stood tangled trade,
empty Golfers. with the word Panic
written us with pen OF fire. While ne BAT
and unfolded each paper and laid II aside
stole nearer and gazed upon the one he
had Just taken. 1t was my latest DILL the
bill for my ball dress. made move
ment 10 snatch 1t from MIN and the spell
was broken.
what is 1t, Daisy? You asleep here.
and dreaming?' | started and to ind my
self seated in the great velvet chair, and
my husband standing beside me.
4
Charles, you have not slept" ! said, for
Just then / noticed that he was In his coat
and full dress.
Il have been up late, looking over soine
papers brought from the store. But |
was just going up stairs. You should be
asleep before this" he added, half re-
provingly, his eye wandering with a sort
of panied look over my toilette
! why do you not speak to me, Charles?
/
Charles, | have had dream this evening
that has shown me myself in my true
! light am nothing more than no.hng
/ am Il drag instead Of helpmeet. Speak
TO me, Charles, and tell me that you do nor
/ hate me"
Can you bear the worst, Daley?" he
asked hoarsely lifting his eyes to mine
Anything, anything, my dear husband
/ have been blind but the scales have
fallen now. Tell me everything. Are we
runed?"
I'VE are" he whispered in a thick. un-
steady tone. The crisis has carried me
down. ! have dragged away the long
hours of this night trying to devise some
! loophole of escape, but all In vain. do
not care for myself but for you--you,
! Dasy." aud he groaned In bitterness of
spirit.
could not bear 1t without a burst o,
/ tears; he so thoughtful l so selfish.
pressed my lips to his burning forehead,
and said amid my sobs, mo Charles, not
ruined, for We have saved our love from
the wreck"
Charles looked at me steadily. and "A
weight seemed to have been lifted eff his
head. His lips lost their grim expression
and there was ripple OF tears in his
voice
'paisy you have saved me-" he said
Maddcned by tho thought of the morrow
| know not hut the result might have
heen this-see!" and he drew forth a
little vial Labeled "lardanum" from his
vest pocket But you have saved me,
darling
Charles, we have both been mad" I
said, with pallld lips and striving for his
sake to sub6ue the terror that begrt my
whole being when | realized how nigh my
husband had stood to the wretched guilt
of suicide. And God forgive me for my
want of sympathy in all your troubles
and help me from this hour to be your
faithful wife,
And, sitting there lntc In the night, my
husband bneeling beside me. and with his
head upon my lap bent my cheek to his
and the tears, bapiizing our reunion, fell
upon The sllen folds of my last folly, my
bah dress