The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-31
le%yI4S e. SILVER e. WEDDING
Br HELENA DIXON.
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longer be closed to the fact that he1
idol was no longer worthy of the high
place to which her love had elevated
him. At the end of year his business
prosperous at the time Of his mar
riage-had suffered greatly through his
unsteady habits. In all this time Lou
lisa had not heard from home save in
al indirect way. and she often wept
over the thought that those whose
memory she cherished so fondly
neither knew nor seemed to care
whether she was numbered among the
! living or the dead.
Another year was nearly passed. with
no change in Vincent except for the
worse, when one day the postman
brought letter over which the poor
young wife wept scalding tears, and
the unconscious babe in her lap looked
up with wonderment in it's thin face
at her look of keen anguish. The letter
which caused Louisa so much sorrow
though under different circumstances
it would have yielded her only Joy and
delight-ran thus:
MY Dear Child-Mother and I, and
some Of the others are coming to see
you. 1t seems al age since you left
us. If all is with you as we hope, the
coming anniversary of your marriage
shall be kept at home as we promised
the fifth should be. That seems too
long to wait. Mother and your broth
ers and sisters send their best love.
Your loving father,
GILES NEWCOMBE."
Louisa had read this first letter from
| home till she knew it by heart, yet
she drew it forth once more as she sat
slowly rocking her babe to sleep. 1t
was 10 o'clock. her usual bedtime, but
Vincent had not yet come in, and she,
poor, patient soul, never thought Of
going to her rest, however weary she
might be, till he came. She heard his
footsteps soon, not walking lightly,
buoyantly, as in the days that seemed
to the heavy-hearted wife so far in
the past. but heavily, sluggishly.
He entered the room where, with the
letter in her hand, she sat. One glance
at the reelins form and she dropped
the letter in her pocke::.
In the morning she gave it to him.
"Well." he said, when he had finished
it, $50 they're coming to pass Judgment
upon me, are they? Better wait,
should think, till I ask them. I ask
no odds of anybody's relations, and I'll
not submit to this court-martial sort of
thing which these people propose"
"Oh. Vincentr'
That was all Louisa said, but the
tears which filled her eyes might have
spoken volumes to the erring husband
had he rightly interpreted them.
The girl-wife-for she was but girl
in years, though old in bitter expert
ence-turned away her face, and lean
ing against the mantel. sobbed and
cried till even Vincent Lenoir's dulled
sensibilities were stirred.
There, Louisa, don't be a baby. I
know I've disappointed you. and I'll
disappoint your euiks when they come
and see me-"
But. Vincent" bitterly sobbed Lou
lisa. "you needn't"
Needn't come home as I did last
night, you would say? Well, l will
not. Only let me know when they are
coming"
"But I cannot tel; you that, Vincent.
Father didn't state when they would
he here. Oh, 1 might have been so
proud of you. my husband, if you had
only"
Louisa broke down in a fresh burst
Of tears.
II know you'll be ashamed of me be-
fore them. Lou, and shall be ashamed
Of myself. But there's no use in my
trying to be anything more thaD the
miserable thing I am. Only I'll PROM
ise to keep straight while your rela-
tives are here. Will they come to-
day, do you Think"
"They may, Vincent; you'll not for
get?"
The young wife put her arms around
her miserable husbands neck and
kissed him. He returned the kiss, say
ing:
"No; I'll be sure to remember"
He left the house for his place of
business.
That afternoon, while Louisa, almost
happy in her husbands promise, was
busy with her little one, the doorbell
rang. and a troop of smiling-faced
country people. headed by the good old
deacon, were ushered in. Tears were
shed, as they always are at such meet
ings. Greetings were exchanged and
the baby was duly kissed and admired.
Tea was postponed that Vincent
| might share it with them. Louisa cast
uneasy glances ever and anon down the
street. but Vincent did not come.
"Is he generally so late, my darling?"
| asked the kind-faced mother.
And Louisa colored and stammered,
and only made out to say:
| sometimes"
The deacon and some of the brothers