The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-07-12
WHOLE NUMBER 223

took possession of Rachel, and rendered
her speechless.
Mrs. Gray was the first to break the
silence.
"This is my husband, Rachel; will
you speak to him :"
Mrs. Lane now observed for the first
time, man partly screened by the bed
curtains, sitting in an armchair; looking
very pale and sick.
And so you broke your promise to
us, Harry, and brought your wife to our
poor lodging, in spite of u.s." said Mr..
Gay, extending his thin hand to Rachel
as she spoke. +" I am glad to see you,
notwithstanding. tits long time since
I have met you, but you are not chang
ed, which speaks well for your hap
piness."
CT could not keep my foolish promise
to you longer without bringing about
serious consequences" said Harry
" here is this little woman, actually
made herself sick, moping about my
absence, and I reached home this very
. day, just in time to save her from a
, broken head caught her just as she
: was fainting."
Rachel blushed' and felt like guilty
G woman.
e every well" said Mr.. Gay, attempt
ing laugh to revenge myself, l
5 shall tell Mrs. Lane the whole story"
, Pray don't exert yourself to talk it
over now; you are weak yet" said
Harry.
at never tires me to talk about you,
. Harry, and 1 shall have my own way
about it, returned Mr. Gay.
"I will step into the street, and fill
this bottle with wine; l see it is
empty"
"Run off, if you will, but return
soon"
"You are no doubt surprised to find
MS living here, in these reduced crcum-
stances,' said Mrs. Gay.
Indeed l am, said Rachel e" when
| last saw you, you and Lizzy were living
so handsomely in New York. 1 have
thought much of that pleasant visit to
your beautiful home"
"Yes, | was at that time partner of
a fourishing firm, and doing, as we sup
posed, a very prosperous business. For
time we were singulary fortunate;
but change came One morning we
rejoicsd in the thought that we were
wealthy merchants next day found
US bankrupt.
"Six months before this, had loaned
Harry sum Of money, to the amount
} of thousand dollars. 1t was private
|, loan, and | was all to happy to be Of
, service TO my old friend. You were
. then about commencing housekeeping,
"After our failure, l began to look
around for employment. l wrote to
Harry of our loss, and asked him to
look for situation for me in Boston,
on even small salary. Harry wrote
me Immediately to come to this city,
and regretted that it was out of his
power to repay me the favor l had
granted him.
"We came; Harry wished us to 90
to his house, but we would not consent.
l was proud, and knew that at your
home We should meet all our mutual
friends, besides being dependent on
Harry, who, knew would not take re-
muneration of us.
Harry assisted us in finding these
rooms, and advanced money to furnish
themi This pretty carpet and comfort
able lounge were of his own selecting.
He insisted on the purchase, although
we had expected no such luxury in this
dark gloomy place. We had made up
our minds to dispense with all but tho
actual ne cessaries Of life, until we could
again regain the position We had so
suddenly lost. With Harry's assistance
l was fortunate in finding employment,
with tolerablc salary. We could
hardly have lived on it, however, had
not Harry from time. to time paid me
portions of the loan.
"Thus we struggled on for a time,
when was attacked with fever. For
few weeks my life was in great danger.
Harry vas With US every evening, oh