Year: 1868

certainly, Will.


Chapter II.


Several years sped on, and Dame For
tune still prospered young Nixon and the
Altons; but the heavy cloud of war was
gathering over the country and soon burst
upon it with all its horrors. Albert Nixon
closed his Office and joined the army.
Ella was now fifteen, and perhaps our
readers expect us to depict love scene at
the parting; but this is real life, the par
ties yet live only under different names
from those here given, and truth forbids it..
We do not even know if they corresponded
during the war, but We do know that six
months after the war found Albert Nixon
a happy husband and that Ella was not his
wife.


The war has been over two years and
there is another family group in yonder low
ly cottage. The rooms are large, but only
three in number, but their Immaculate
neatness and their vine clad porch might
well lure the world weary to seek rest
within their inviting retirement; but judg-
ing from the care-wern face of the mother
and the fathers haggard features, which,
though furrowed and scanned by cares and
heartaches, wears the impress OF true no.
bility, too deeply stamped upon every
line to be dashed out by human woe; and
the anxious, pale face of the fair young
girl who seats herself beneath the vines
aud picks the strings of her guitar, deli
cately, softly in tune with sweet, musical
voice, you would say that the gentle spirit
Of rest, reposing so gracefully and beauti-
fully upon the humble home, had failed to
10 IT its soothing balm within their hearts.


my dear child, no music tonight; am
too restless, too wretched for that. | must
walk, so if it is late ere come in you and
your mother must not sit up"


Turning quickly first to one and then
the other, he pressed kiss passionately
upon their quivering lips, forced himself
from the elinging arms of his wife, and
with her whispered words of love and COM
fort lashing his heart to farther madness,
strobe rapidly out Of the gate. There was
that in his manner betokening desperate
mind, which brought the young girl quickly
to her feet, and bent her steps forward to
oVertake him.


MY daughter, do not follow your father.
Such mood as his tonight can lily bear
even the gentlest words; it must have its
cou! Sc Ihave been hiswife twenty-five years,
and never before saw him as he is; nor is it
a sudden attack, but has been growing
upon him fer weeks. l fear there is some
dreadful cause which he conceals from us,
and that my delicately-reared children will
soon be called upon to endure greater
hardships than any we have yet known;
but your fathers condition is my first far.
Let us retire to the sanctuary of our
closets, and seek for him the shielding,
guiding hand of our Heavenly Father.
This blessed privilege is vast comfort in
such hours as this"


Observe yon high bridge reared fifty
feet above the rolling river; but yet closer,
note that aged form standing erect upon
Its very ledge, looking down into the deep
waters; how his haggard eyes peer into
their dark depths, as if seeking to solve
seme troubled mystery held within
their strong carTent-the mystery
Of death. Now he leans far forward,
reaches out his long gaunt arms to heaven,
while burning words of woe burst forth
from white Fixed lips. 90 God / can not
bear to see them suffer this too. Father
in heaven forgive the deed and accept my
suneIluS eoul'


The dread leap was taken, but the
prayers of those two women assembled to
Jehovah, and a boat which had been ap-
preaching from behind him dashed out
from beneath the bridge just as the body
sank; In moment one of the men was in
tne water, and as the body arose succeeded
In rescuing it, and placing the old man
within the boat. Finding that they knew
him well they bore him in safety to his
own door, and after few whispered words
to his wife saw him enter the house beside
the trembling woman.


AS they reached their room he dropped
into a chair, his arms hanging loosely by
his side, aud his eyes pcering into vacancy
as if every sense and feeling were dead.
The wife sank upon her knees beside him
wound an arm about him, softly glided her