[Illustration: FLIGHT OF THE DOCTOR.] "After night fell I left the woods, and took to the highway. To go home I was afraid. O, had I but braved the doctors, and defied the lawyers, all would have been well," he told me afterwards. "But I had received such ill treatment, been scandalized so severely, that I was cowed to the earth. I knew not if my life, my Angie, had also turned against me, when the news was spread that I had tacitly admitted my crime by fleeing. "I went to W., hundreds of miles away. I took a new name, and put out my shingle. I was at once patronized, and soon extensively; but I was morose and unhappy. I was offered a home and a wife. I had as good as a wife away in my far-off home; I was bound to her, and I _loved_ her as I _hated my own soul_! I dared not write to her, nor go to her. 'O, my God, what shall I do?' I cried, in my misery. He did not hear me, and I came to believe that _He was not_! "Thus a whole year wore away, and I had not heard from home. Finally, I determined to make an attempt to see my Angie. I had, after going to W., allowed my heavy beard to go uncropped, which I had never done at home. I wore no clothes that I brought away with me from home. I purchased a few knickknacks, put on a slouched hat, and appeared in my native village as a peddler. Unless my voice betrayed me, I had no fears of detection. To prevent this mishap I kept a silver coin in my mouth when talking. "I had called at several houses, but could learn nothing of my betrothed, without fear of exciting suspicion by too close inquiries. I therefore, unable longer to stand the suspense, entered her father's house. She and her mother only were at home. I could scarcely suppress my feelings as I beheld her, the idol of my heart. When I spoke, she started to her feet, and with staring countenance gazed fixedly upon me. Then she fell back into her chair. [Illustration: FLIGHT OF THE LOVERS.] [Illustration: THE LOVER AS A PEDDLER.] "My God, she did not know me. "The mother noticed how pale the girl looked, and proposed to get her a drink of water from the porch. "'No, no, I am not faint.' "'Yes, yes,' I articulated, with the coin in my mouth; 'get her some water.' "Away went the old lady, and, dropping my basket and spitting out the coin, I cried, 'Angie, Angie, bless you, my darling,' and fell kneeling at her feet. "'O, Charley, it is you,--the Lord be praised!--come at last.' "I sprang to my feet. There was time to say no more. The mother returned and looked wistfully about. "'I thought I heard some one saying, "Charley, Charley,"' she said, presenting the water to Angie, who was now flushed and excited. I was searching for my coin. "'O, the water is warm. Mother, dear, do go to the well in the yard, and get some fresh; and look to see if there is anybody outside calling.' And away went the old lady. "'Now, Charley, what brought you back? And why did you stay? And--'