Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-12-28
WHEN THE OLD YEAR DIED.

Christmas had come and gone. There
were few evidences of the visit Of Santa
Claus, but they were very few. The
toys were cheap. but The little one who
nestled in his crib in the corner of the
poorly furnished room thought they were
of the finest, and the mothers eyes light
ed up with a glad light as she saw the
little fellow gloating over his treasures.
She sat now at the table, still Uttered
with the supper dishes Her hands, once
white and soft, were rough and chapped.
Her hair streaked with gray was drawn
plainly back from a high, broad forehead
on which sickness and care had left in
delible marks.
The face in another setting would have
been declared handsome. As it was it
bore all the marks of refined, high
strung nature. A washtub in one corner
betrayed the reason for the roughness of
the hands, but it formed no part of her
vision now. She looked out and beyond
her cralnped quarters. In the whirling
snow falling so softly without there APP
peared a picture of large and brilliantly
lighted room thronged with men and
its seat. She was among them Along
side of her walked q man who. whispering
in her ear, drew her aside and out into
the conservatory.
1t was the old. old story so often and
tening yielded A glittering ring was
later placed upon her finger and her fate
was sealed. She was his through veal OF
he al, l.
but comfortable home, and she sat by
the table rocking with her foot a cradle
While she awaited his home coming The
old light of laughter had left her face
and in its stead there was an expression
of anxious apprehension.
step was heard on the stairs. 1t
was as she feared. For a second her
head was in her hands Then she
brushed aside the tears and raised her
face to brdvely face the ordeal. The
step came nearer, and it was very un-
steady. John entered the room. but saw
her not, and made his way to his room,
where she later found him, still dressed.
lying upon the bed in drunken stupor.
Sadly she went to her own bed. but
not to sleep She had reasoned with
him, pleaded with him. She had begged
liquor alone, and he had promised. but
had broken the promise almost as soon
as made, time and time again.
All this passed in review before her
row. Then came the successive steps
eaca on the downward path. A bitter
quarrel with her parents because she
would not leave him; the loss of his
position and the ensuing struggle for
h,.oH 4 ill., oh, H. I, Il
part. Afterward came the breaking out
OF the war and the sight of his name. at
one time an honOred one, among the en-
listed men who We're to face sickness in
southern camps, and later the chances of
ambush warfare in the Philippines. The
months OF anxious waiting for news fol
lowed by the receipt of a brief letter tell
ing her that he was well and would re-
turn to her a new man; all these forced
themselves OH her memory.
Then came months of silence and as
she sat there by her lonely table with
the God bless papa" of the little one
still ringing in her ears, feeling of desc
lation almost like despair came over her.
1t was well that the little life was dearer
thar her own. 1t was her salvation in
her extremity. She had left the town of
her birtn and marriage, and was now !,
stranger IN 81 strange city She found
1t easier to fight the hard battle of life
away from the plying looks of her
former friends
Where was he tonight? IT was hard
Tor her to tell whether she hated him
or not. For some reason her trials and
hardsh1ps seemed to fade, and in her
loneliness she only recollected the kind
affection he had always shown in his
sober moments. Even on the fateful
| night when he failed to come home he
had no hard words for her He looked
at her, then silently left the house. The
hook haunted her many times 1t was
/ Lou q glance OF reproach, it seemed only
to express sorowful despair
\ As she brOOded the night wore on and
she broke down under the lonely silence.
Tired physically and mentally, her head
| sank to the table and a tear glistered
| upon her eyelash. She dreamed she
heard the old familiar step 1t was no
longer unsteady but firm and heavy.
her name was whispered in her ear,
;''ad IN ner sleep she murmured his name
and begged him to come back. She
started. There was a breath of cold air
and as she raised her head from the table
IN beWildermen she found herself looking
INTO his knees beside her. His arms wcre
around her. Again she looked into his
eyes They were clear and in them was
the old love light.
A pair of soft white arms crept I'D
about his neck and her head in which
the silver was mixing with the gold.
sank upon his shoulder.
The mellow tone of the city clock rang
out on the wintry air with a new sound
to the tlreu woman as it struck the hour
OF Paul Leake in Detroit Tribune.