Year: 1876

that she has left him, and all restraint is
removed, he'll go the rest Of the down
ward way in no time"


"l'll give him just one year to be bur
led"


"Pshaw Half that time will finish
him."


"Well, l pity him too, but pity her
more. He brought the misery on both"


Such was the gossip of half dozen
villagers, who stood in front of one of the
principal stores one Summer evening,
while the subject of their remarks went
staggering along on the other side of the
street.


1t was evident that he was trying to
walk straight, but such endeavors seem
to make drunken man walk more crook
cd. However, il proved no was not lost to
all sense of shame, and still retained an
aversion to be ridiculed and despised.


But Harry Rogers had carried on at
fearful rate for year or two past. Ho
had just one vice-drink but that was
enough. He had married worthy farm
er's daughter, Nettie Ray, only few
years previous, but such had been his
conduct during more than year past
that she had been obliged to cut him loose
to pursue his pro1gat course alone, and
legal separation had just been effected.


Harry's home was on little farm, u
mile from town. He owned it. but then
it was heavily mortgaged, and in anoth-
er year foreclosure was certain. 1t was
! not likely his creditors would spare him
when he made no effort to meet his obli-
cations.


A week passed after that summer ev-
ening on which all had agreed on pre-
dieting his early ruin--two weeks-a
month or two. What mystery is here ?
To the utter bcwilderment of the prophe-
sying sages, Harry discontinued visiting
the taverns, and was rarely seen in the
village. When no did come to the store
he speedily transacted his business and
then went home-sober.


Wonders never cease when they get q
start. He was next reported as actually
ut work on his farm. Had but one man
told this in the village, no would have
been marked as lacking veracity : hut as
several ladies vouched for the fact 1t was
worthy OF credence.


The little farm began to look healthier
rs tho Summer wore on. The fences
Strengthened up, the weeds disappeared /;
the animals looked fatter and happier,
and the little cottage looked neater.


Time wore on, and the great change
was more remarkable every day. Har-
ry's charitable creditors called and told
him he might have ais own time to pay
off the mortgage.


The fall came and the farm yielded
an abundance of crops, and Harry found
himself beginning TO drift along with the
tide Of prosperity.


And Nettie had begun to live her girl
hood over again, as it we're under her
fathers roof but somehow 1t was not like
the happy joyous grhood OF memory
1t was sober and quiet now. and she fell
into the train Of musing and every now
and then there passed through her mind
IA certain thought-she was neither maid
nor wife.


She avoided the vicinity Of her late
home, nor had she once seen Harry since
the separation ; but she had heard of him
occasionally knew that no was chang
cd man. Still this knowledge brought
but melancholy satisfaction. Tho re-
form had come too late There was a
wide gulf between them now.


But one evening in the golden October,
Nettie felt herself obliged to pass Harry's
farm. 1t lay between her fathers house
and the village. Blu: she had before taxi
en- a roundabout way to go TO and from
the village. On the evening in question,
however, she had been detained in tho
village until it was nearly dark, and she
determined to hazard the nearest road
home. 1t would be fully dark when she
would pass his house, and the chances
were that he would not SEQ her. She
wouldn't have him see her for the world


When she arrived opposite the house
she perceived a light in the sitting room.
Her first impulse was to hurry by but
some powerful influence prompted her To
stop. She did so, and stood timidly at
the further side Of the road, gazing long
ingly at the house that had once been the
home to her-frst of happiness, then OF
misery. By-and-by she felt an irresisti-
BILE yearning TO look into the interior once
more. lie was evidently within, and
there was no danger that he would see
her. SO she walked hurriedly across the
road, opened the gate, and softly stepped
into the lawn. Another minute she was
at the window, looking in. What sing
ular behavior. But she could not help
it.


! The little room was as neat as when
she herself had watched over it. A
cheerful fire was burning in the CRATE,
although the night was not cold and q
lighted lamp stood on the table. II was
there that Harry was sitting. Her heart
bounded as she caught sight of him. He
held in his hand book from his scanty
librury.


She recognized it at once; but he was
not reading now. Was he asleep-or
was he buried in sad reveIie Nettie
thought the latter was the case, and her
heart was touched.


81 wish / had borne with him." she
said, but moment later her heart was
touched, when she saw a tear roll down
III ohaaI, aud fall ,,n,n fho hook Tho