CHAPTER V.
HOME.
"What a dear, considerate, good-natured husband I have, to be sure! Theproudest lady in the land can't be happier than I am in my humblehouse," said Polly, as she bustled about to prepare for Tom's cominghome, having been informed by Bryan that she was to expect him. "Poorfellow! he may well be tired and weary. I must get his bit of supperready. Hush! that's his footstep," she continued. But something smoteher as she noticed the fact, that he was silent. There was no cheeringsong bursting from his throat--no glad word of greeting; but he enteredthe door, moody and noiseless. Another glance. Did not her eye deceiveher? No! The fatal demon of Liquor had imprinted his awful mark uponhis brow. She went up to him, and, in a voice of affection, asked whatwas the matter.
"Matter? What should be the matter?" he answered, peevishly.
"Don't speak so crossly, Thomas," said she, in a subdued voice; "youknow I did not mean any harm."
"Bless your little soul! I know you didn't," he exclaimed, giving her ahearty embrace. "It's me that's the brute."
"Indeed, Thomas, you are nothing of the kind," she went on, thecheerful smile once more on her lip.
"I am, Polly; I insist upon being a brute. Ah! you don't know all."
"All what? you alarm me!"
"I wish I dared tell her," thought Bobolink; "I will! I've found ajolly lot of money to-day, Polly."
"How much, Thomas?"
"Shall I tell her? I've a great mind to astonish her weak nerves. Howmuch do you think?" cried he, with a singular expression, which Pollyattributed but to one terrible cause, and she turned sadly away. Thatangered him--for men in such moods are captious about trifles. "I won'ttell her," said he; "she doesn't deserve it. Well, then, I've earned a_dollar_."
"Only a dollar?" replied Polly. "Well, never mind, dear Thomas, we mustmake it do; and better a dollar earnt, as you have earnt yours, by yourown honest industry, than thousands got in any other way."
Somehow Tom fancied that everything she said was meant as so many digsat him, forgetting, in his insane drunkenness, that she must have beenignorant of what had passed. The consequence was, that he becamecrosser than ever.
"Why do you keep saying savage things, that you know must aggravateme?" he cried. "I can't eat. Have you any brandy in the house? I have apain here!" and he clasped his hands upon his breast, where thepocket-book lay concealed. "I think the brandy would relieve me."
"My poor Thomas," replied his wife, affectionately; "something musthave happened to annoy you! I never saw you thus before; but you are soseldom the worse for drink, that I will not upbraid you. The best ofmen are subject to temptation."
At that word Bobolink started from his seat, and gazing intently in herface, exclaimed--
"What do you mean by that?"
"Why, even you, Thomas, have been tempted to forget yourself," shereplied.
"How do you know?" he thundered, his face now sickly pale.
"I can see it in every feature, my poor husband!" said she,sorrowfully, as she quitted the room to get the brandy he required.
"I suppose you can," muttered Bobolink to himself, as he fell into thechair, utterly distracted and unhappy; "everybody can. I'm a marked,miserable man! and for what? I'll take it back; no, no! I can't now,for I've denied it!"
"Something has happened to vex you terribly, my dear husband!" criedPolly, as she returned with a small bottle of brandy.
"Well, suppose there has," replied he, in a loud and angry tone, "is aman accountable to his wife for every moment of his life? Go to bed!Where's the use in whimpering about it? You've had such a smooth roadall your life, that the first rut breaks your axle. Come, don't mindme, Polly!" he went on, suddenly changing to a joyous laugh, and yetsomewhat subdued by the tears that now flowed down his wife's palecheeks; "I don't mean to worry you, but--but you see that I'm a littlesprung. Leave me to myself, there's a good girl! Come, kiss me beforeyou go. Ha! ha! I'll make a lady of you yet, Pol! see if I don't.Didn't you hear me tell you to go to bed?"
"Yes, Thomas, but"----
"But what?"
"Pray, drink no more."
"I'll drink just as much as I please; and, moreover, I won't bedictated to by you, when I can buy your whole stock out, root andbranch. I've stood your nonsense long enough, so take my advice andstart."
"Oh! Thomas--Thomas!" cried his weeping wife, as she hurried to herlittle bedroom; "never did I expect this, and you'll be sorry for it inthe morning."
"Damn it! I am an unfeeling savage. Don't cry, Pol!" he shouted afterher, as she quitted the room; "I didn't intend to hurt your feelings,and I won't drink any more, there. Say God bless you before you go in,won't you?"
"God bless you, dear husband!" said the loving wife.
"That's right, Pol!"
As soon as Tom found himself quite alone, he looked carefully at thefastenings of the doors and windows, and having cleared the littletable of its contents, proceeded to examine the interior of thepocket-book. With a tremulous hand and a quick-beating heart, he drewit forth, starting at the slightest sound; tearing it open, he spreadthe thick bundle of notes before him; the sight seemed to dazzle hiseye-sight; his breath became heavy and suffocating; there was more,vastly more, than he had ever dreamed of.
"What do I see?" he cried, while his eyes sparkled with the fire ofsuddenly-awakened avarice, "tens--fifties-hundreds--I dobelieve--thousands! I never saw such a sight before. What sound wasthat? I could have sworn I heard a small voice call out my name. Forthe first time in my life, I feel like a coward. I never yet feared tostand before a giant! now, a boy might cow me down. Pshaw! it's becauseI'm not used to handling money."
Again and again, he tried to count up how much the amount was, but grewconfused, and had to give it up.
"Never mind how much there is," he cried, at last; "it's mine--allmine! nobody saw me; nobody knows it: nobody--but one--but one!" hecontinued, looking upward for an instant, and then, clasping his handstogether, and leaning his head over the money, he wept bitter tearsover his great _Piece of Luck_.