Year: 1874

| CJ GU AlduJ Will nAo AAGO anu Gao
Western bearing refined by Eastern
culture (for he had completed hi;
studies at the East). He certainly
petted her to her hearts content
But tonight he seemed a little pre-
occupied and excited. After the
meal was over he Immediately ex
cused himself


"Must you go out again this eve
ming, Vinton?" asked his wife plead
ingly.


Indeed I must, Nellie. It's court
week, You know. There are so many
lawyers in town, and l have much on
hand


sat with her till ten O'Clock. We
spoke only at intervals, for we had
attained that true com mpanionshir
that does not require constant talk
ing. l saw a dreamy, far-away look
come into the young Wife's eyes
She was building bright castles in
the future, when her prospects OF
maternity would be realized in the
supreme joy of mother love and her
home be complete.


I did not offer to stay later than
ten, for by so doing / might betray
somewhat of the anxiety and boding
of i'll that oppressed me. 1 do not
often have such feelings, but 1 am
always in terror when l do, for trou-
BILE has soon followed. My sitting
room was opposite her parlor, where
| knew she would wait and watch.
After lighting the gas ] did not draw
the curtains, but sat down with my
knitting where she could see me,snd
so practically waited and watched
with her.


When from city steeple eleven
was tolled out, my neighbor grew
restless. When with solemn meas
ured stroke midnight was announced
/ heard her side door open and her
quick steps on the gravel. / met
her at the door.


Dear Mrs M she exclaimed
breathlessly, How good of you to be
upi l half believe you have been
watching with me. Vinton has not
come home yet. What does it mean
He never stayed out so late before.


She was shivering as with cold, but
it was the chill of fear. 1 put my arm
around her and said:


Let us hope for the best, my dear.
If you wish I will come and stay with
you


please do,' she half sobbed, and
then hastened back, as if unwilling
to be absent from her post a moment
l was soon at her side, and with her
hand (which trembled like fright
ened bird in mine, we sat silently
through another hour.


Like knell one sounded from the
steeple. Her hand closed convulsive-
ly on mine, and with an ashen face
she turned and gasped:


oh, if anything should happen
if 1 shouldn't see him again.


Don't fear that l said hastily,
Pm sure you need not. If he had
been injured or sick, you would have
been sent for long before this


what then can keep HIM? she
asked, with wild questioning look


WELL answered evasively, look.
ing away from her, when lawyers
get together they have great deal
to say, and time passes more quickly
than they think. They may have q
had a little supper or something ol
the kind


She shook her head decisively.


Nothing of that kind would keeI
Vinton away flom me, especially
now,' she said with emphasis.


Another hour passed, and she
sprang up with such a frightened
look as hope never to see in hel
sweet blue eyes again.


Come, she said hoarsely, we mus
find him. shall go mad if l wal
here in uncertainty


l saw that she would go, and pre-
pared to follow; but before we coo
assume some hssty wraps, the door
bell rang. She flew to open it.


Her husband stumbled in, and hC
would have fallen had she not caugh
him. 1t was a pitiable sight to set
him leaning upon and clinging to he
frail and trembling form, as if sht
were. a lamp post. AS the light strea
med through the door, l caught /;
glimpse of the glitter of a policeman
star, and then heard his gruff voice


Glad you're up, madam. He needs
looking after sure enough. If i
hadn't been for me, he might havt
met foul death, for l found him il
the gutter this raw night
! True enough, he was reeking will
1.-The filth of the street, and besmear
ing the delicate fabric of his wife
dress as he clung to her; but tha
wife would soon be in agony owe
deeper and more loathsome stain:


'It's a id lie hiccoughed he
husband, in tones so different iron
his usual clear, manly voice, 4 wa
in feather bed


o, God! what is the matter wit
him? gasped the wife.
well, ms'am, you are innocent
said the policeman, in a not unkind
ly tone; I'm sorry for you; but d
you really mean to say that yo
don't know he's drunk? I'll stay
bit and help you with him, if 20


wish


At the word drunk, she tottered
t moment. as if she would fall, then, b
7 a great effort recovering herself sal
t hoarsely:


) No, no; go away; will take cal
: of him. Stay; let me thank you fC


bringing him home, but in the nam
$ of mercy don't tell any one what yo
e have SEEN


: The man made no promise as /
l departed, and I shut the door.
s Mrs NJ, I am even sorry you a
d here. / would hide this from Il
It world. Would that could hide