Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-20
Continued.

money to buy his gin, too, for h
can't live without it,"
Leo stopped short halfway down
stairs.
There, you see, Wolf, that is jus
my luck | make a mess of it, ever
when | risk my life for another"
Sir" screamed the woman, wheI
she perceived Leo, Il would have
thanked you On my knees if you ha(
only let him drown! 1t would have
been the best thing that could harper
to him. and-I-I might have had a
few years Of comfort still. Oh, dom
laugh" she continued, as Leo gave a
short laugh you don't any Of you
here know what it is to be chained to
a drunken sot from the time you Were
eighteen You don't know what a
misery it is to see a person you are
fond Of going down into shame and
degradation, you don't know what it
is to have to give up all your hard,
earned money and see it squanderod
in bad company; nor what it is to give
kindness and get blows in return
always a blow and abuse-and to be
told that you are the curse of a man,
when y0u would have been ready to
he down and let him walk over you!
You don't know how awful it is, if
you have known better days, and Yet
you go sinking deeper and deeper in
vileness and misery, and you have
children, too, that you can't save!"
And she covered her face with her
clenhed fists.
"And why said Leo's voice, with a
sneer, do you treat us to a scene like
this, you most amiable of wives
Take yourself off!-ah! yes he broke
off, suddenly; 81 forgot"
The woman threw her torn shawl
ever her head. with dull groan
"Ah, sir" she sobbed, Il ought to
thank you for risking your life for
the miserable wretch, but | cant,
Don't thing me a wicked woman; |
was too good to him-I was too fond
of him. 1t Is no use to pardon every
thing out of pure love, even wrong
things. If | had only scolded him in
the first place-if | had threatened
to leave hint would have been
much better. But thought it would
yex him, and he was the master, and
so l only cried to myself, though il
was my duty to keep him in the
straight path"
The poor woman's self-accusation
sounded so true and so sad that no
one present felt like turning her out
forcibly.
Maberg fastened to put a few
silver pieces into her trembling hand.
There, now 60 he said, leading
her toward the door; "by and by l
will come and talk to you
God reward you! God reward
you!" cried the poor creature, and
when she reached the outer door she
turned round and nodded gratefully
with her haggard, yellow face to the
young physician. Then she was sud
denly swallowed up in the darkness
outside, as If she feared her treasure
would be taken from her. She van
fshed to go and procure for the misev-
able wretch whom she loved, the
cordial for which he lOnged.
Antje stood, forgotten by every one.
on the threshold of the little study
the door OF which was hidden by the
staircase. Her eyes were fixed on the
man. who at this moment, was about
to leave her forever She had heard
the Woman's words, and understood
that Leo had saved a man from
browning: her heart beat violently at
the thought that he himself might SO
easily have been drowned, and she
felt that this act of her husbands was
hike balm to the wound which he had
inflicted upon her.
He moved forward into the hall:
the funeral guests, who had risen
from the supper-table when they
heard the noise, the serVant-maids,
the porter, and coachman had gone
away, and only Maiberg, Jussnitz, and
a man from the counting house were
ROW talking together. Antje saw the
natter hand a letter and telegram tC
Leo; she saw him put them both into
his pocket with an effort at careless
ness, and heard him say:
I will send you my address in 8
few days"
Then he and Maiberg moved toward
the door
The young wife leaned against the
door-post; her eyes we're strangely
wide and fixed. When two people
separate like this they do not So!
farewell; it could not be borne She
saw the door open; she felt the cold
damp air blowing in, saw the door
shut behind him-and he was gone.
Suddenly her limbs failed her: sh
staggered back into the little room
and shutting the door with all tn
strength she could summon, she sanl
upon her knees.
1t was all over now-all over!
She felt nothing but a dull ache a
her heart and in her head. She neve
knew how long she lay there. A
length she sat up and dragged hel
self over to the writing-table an
laid her head down on the baize
covered surface
She kept thinking, thinking a
manner of confused thoughts-ths
she envied the woman who could Civ
poisonous cordial to the man sh
loved; that Leo might have bee
drowned in his work Of mercy, an
she could not have borne it to stan
beside his dead body without eve
having spoken a word of reconcil