The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-05
mercantile world, and his house was one
the first 10 feel IL.


the iirst to feel it.
r There is no chance to sail clear of thi
0 that sec,' murmured the young man,
0 he struck his forehead. a few weeks an
We must all sink. shall be a ruined mar
and Elsie" his face worked .fearfully
I moment, and then ho resumed, "therc Is n
way to raise the money, unless-'ho look
ed anxlously all about him, us though h
feared the terrible secret which lay behin'
that unless" might have revealed itseli
though it had never crossed his lips an
for the first time in his life, his face wore
look of cowardice and guilt. "Yes, ! coul'
get it so, he said, leaning his head on hi
hands "and flour affairs should happe'
to take a favorable turn, could repay tn
note before anybody was the wiser; If not,
and his voice grew hoarse," tho river or
pistol shot could settle it all. "
"Elsie's little property's all swallowed
up, too. God knows ! meant to secur'
it to her, but there was no help for it
and were she to know this, she'd hat
me worse than ever and maybe 1 can wiz
back one Of the old love smiles to her swcc
lips if" he did not finish the sentence. I
"Elsic, you can give out the invitations
for your party next week. There is thC
money which will delray the expenses, and
Mr.. Raymond placed q note for thousand
dollars in the lap of his wife.
II was dinner time, and Elsie had had al
the morning to reflect on her conduct al
breakfast, and bitterly had the young wifi
roproached herself for the unkind words she
had spoken. But her will was unsubduel
still, and when the footsteps OF her husband
rang through the hall, the old pride came
back to her heart, the morning curl to hei
rosy lip, and she thought to herself, "Aldcr
shall speak first" "..
And he did; and that generous deed o
his, overcame at once, all the pride and self
will of the really loving wife. 4
She spang mp quickly, und wound heI
white arms around her husbands neck, while
tears of remorsc and tenderness swept down
her face. "Oh, Alden" she said, "iorgiy'
mo for the cruel words said this morning
have been SO sorry for them | do love
you better than all the world beside, and )
would not leave you for u thousand grand
mothers. Say just once to me, Elsie, for
give you,' and | shall be SO happy"
lie drew her bright head to his bosom ant
he rained down kisses ON her sweet brow, n
he said, Elsie, once and forever | forgive
you, but have been very weak, and | have
suffered much this morning. Let me lay
my head in your lap, and see ifl shall no
feel better while you talk to mo"
And Elsie sat there long time, running
hOr little dmplcd fingers through the thick
brown curls of her husbands hair, and lay
Ing her cool lips every few moments to hi'
lsyerod forehead, chittins to him in he
sweet humming. bird style, of her party and
what delightful affair 1t would be; dream
ing little of the darkness. and sin, and shame
that was drawing closer and closer to thcil
threshold.
1t was late the morning aftor the party.
had been as the young wife had predicted
ga brilliant Affair.""
And now she walked through the clegan
confusion of her parlors, and thought wha
slances Of admirntion had followed her dur
ing the evening, and how proud Alden woul
be when she recOuntcd to him the compli
ments which the guests had bestowed upor
their +" beautiful hostess" and now she lia
inadvertently heard Mayor Hamlin, VIII
was pronounced the most artistic judge j
the city, call her Z" the rare blossom Of tn
festival" But these pleasant dreaming
) experienced rude interruption.
Two rough looking men entered the parlol
and inquired If Mr.. Raymond was in.
"No," answered his wife, surprised an
startled. "lIc went to the store this morn
ing" ..
One of them replied, with signiGcar
look around the room, that he was not thcr'
they had just come from his store.
~ have not seen him SINCE" was Mr.
Raymond's laconic reioinder; and after col
ierring together moment, the two men lc
the room.
The lady sank down upon sofa, and co
| cred her face with her hands, They WEI
policemen, she could not disguise from he
self this fact, and vague, terrible fear toe
possession of her soul.
A few moments later, and her husbar
stood before her, wild, pale, haSgard.
"Elsie," he asked hurriedly, shave thel
: been to policemen here after me?"
"Ycs, and told them you were at Il
: store. Oh, Alden''-she could not fnji
tho sentence, for he rushed frotn her, o'
into the hall, and up the stairs like a ma
man. ...........
Elsie's heart died within her, and it vi
only by srasping the cushions OF the sol
she prevented herself from sinking to Il
floor. She Ceared-she knew not what; b.
the next moment the woman's heart of Els
Raymond awokc within her. Alden, h
; husband, was suffering, it might BIO he WI
in disgrace and shame, and who shoa
stand by him, and where should hc find con
fort and strength but in her? te4
She sprang up, and though her linn
shook Ike reed beneath her, and her ia
: would not oc whittier when it lay under Il
coffin plaits, she went straight out into Il
! hall, and up the long stair to his room.
The door was not locked, and size opcn'