Connecticut western news., 1906-12-13

sould see only the one way out of it. Late as was the hour when we got through. I went off to the house of the iceman to see if could not melt his cold heart found 1t of different ma- terial from his Ice. It grew colder all the time instead of melting. He ut. terly refused to recede from his posi- ton. When l said that the blow would kill Marie and me he offered to make the price of our ice 30 cents a hundred for the next season. but that was the best he would do.
 "'Base villainr hissed Mary.
 "'Soriid wretchr hlssed TfIlie.
 ''It was a terrific struggle between love and duty, but duty finally prs- vailed. Aftpr being in bed for . month with brain fever I sent for the iceman and agreed to his terms Ha brought hls daughter right over In his ice wagon and we were married. and the forged cheek was given to father to tear up.
 "'what a noble sonr whispered Mary.
 What a heroic sacrineer whisper ed Tinie.
 "A week later. when I was a little stronger. I wrote to Marie. There were 15o pages of foolscap, but I can recall every line and word. I hid noth- ing from her, but told her the solemn truth. I told her how 1t wrenched my heart. but that there was hope ahead. In hA sxf f rusty nails around where my wife must step on them and meet her death by lockjaw. and then I would fly to France and make my love my own. I received no reply to my letter-not from Marie. Her mother wrote that upon receiving my epistle the dear girl had started for America on a tramp steamer with the object of killing her self on my doorstep and that I should look out for her coming.
 "'T1llie. did we ever read anything Ike 1t in n novelg' asked Mary.
 "'No. dear. we never did replied Tfllie.
 For three long years I looked for the coming of sweet Marie. but she came not. I had an alarm bell at tached to the front steps, so that if she came in the night I would be awaken ed. But the bell never rang. hated the woman I had married. and she hated me. kept house In the hall and she In the parlor. and we never met when we could help 1t. realized that my life was wrecked, and father was broken and penniless man. Driven to desperation at last. I-I-
 "'Don't say that you murdered your wifer pleaded Mary.
 "'If he did aud did lt gently I for one will forgive him. answered Tiliie.
 No, l did not murder her. She was lying Ill with the humps when lightning struck the house and brought her end. What was left of 1t was seized next day by the sheriff for debt. my father was sent to Blackwells ls- land for six months for breaking a show window. and in my loneliness and desperation took to the road.
 "'And have you never found your Marle1 Didn't she come to American
 That Is why l grieve and grieve and refuse to be comforted. I learned that she did reach these shores and started for my home and then sud denly turned up missing. No one can tell me tonight where she is. She may be waitress In a summer hotel, or she may be wandering the highways and byways in the moonlight and call Ing my name. Some day I may meet her. Some night when the moon rides high and the whlppoorwills sing may clasp her to my breast again. It Is as Providence wills. I can only walt
 "The two old maids sighed and wiped the tears from their eyes and Insisted that I occupy the parlor bed room that night and sit with them at breakfast. thought I was in for a good thing for about week. but when went out to the barn the hired man. whose jealousy had been aroused. gave me humping and kicked me off the farm. and I have never seen those good ladies since"