Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-02-20
Continued.

IL o stopped snort HdIl-"dg uoNi
stat s.
There. you see, Wolf. that is just
my luck | make a mess of it, even
when / risk my life for another"
Sir" screamed the woman, when
she perceived Leo, Il would have
thanked you on my knees If you had
only let him drown! 1t would have
been the best thing that could happen
TO him. and-I-I might have had a
few years Of comfort still. Oh, don't
laugh" she continued, as Leo gave a
short laugh. you don't any Of you
here know what 1t is to be chained to
a drunken sot from the time you Were
eighteen, You don't know what
misery 1t 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 1t squandered
liz bad company; nor what 1t is to give
blindness and get blows in return
always a blow and abuse-and to be
told that you are the curse of a man,
when you would have been ready 20
lie down and let him walk over you!
You don't know how awful 1t is, If
you have known better days, and yet
you 20 sinking deeper and deeper in
Wleness 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 scene like
this, you most amiable of wives?
Take yourself off!-ah! yes" he broke
off. suddenly; Il forgot"
The woman threw her torn shawl
over her head, with a dull groan.
"Ah, sir" she sobbed, 81 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 It 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 1t would
vex him, and he was the master, and
so | 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.
Maiberg fastened to put few
silver pieces into her trembling hand.
There. now CO." he said, leading
her toward the door; "by and by
will come and talk to you"
God reward you! God reward
youi" 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
ished TO so and procure for the miser
able wretch whom she loved. the
cordial for which he longed.
Ante 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 womans words, and understood
that Leo had saved man from
drowning; her heart beat violently at
tho thought that he himself might 50
easily have been drowned. and she
felt that this act of her husbands was
like 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 Maiherg, Jussnitz. and
man from the counting-house were
now talking together. Ante saw the
later hand y letter and telegram tC
Leo; she saw him put them both into
his pocket with an effort at careless
ness and heard him say:
Il will send you my address in {
few days"
Then he and Maiherg moved towart
the door.
Thu young wife leaned against tn,
door post; her eyes were strang Al,
wide and fixed. When two peopl,
separate like this they do not So,
farewell; II could not be borne. Sh,
saw the door open; she felt the cold
damp air blowing in saw the doc
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 san
upon her knees,
Ii was all over now--all over,
She felt nothing but q duh ache {
her heart and in her head. She uev,
knew how long she lay there.
length she sat up and dragged he
self over 20 the writing.table m
laid her head down on the balz
covered surface.
She kept thinking. thinking d
manner OF confused thoughts-th
she envied the woman who could ri