The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-11-08

iands life rs his dinner and the cigars
tho evenings paper, and the quiet rubber
Of whist with few cronies, that followed
it.
The lonely evening Mrs. Durand spent
az sho did her lonely days, reclining in
her chair or on a lounge-her thin, white
hands shaded by exquisite and costly lace,
folded and lying idly in her lap. whie
with half shut eyes she gave herself up to
sad reycries.
Il seems almost like dream to ioos,
back, US she often did, to the time wher,
a rosy, plump and joyous country maiden.
size had raked hay, made butter and
cheese, washed dishes, and even scrubbed
the white floor of her aunt's neat kitchen.
Her small hands, now SO white and sof
had been red aud hard once; her transpa
rent cheek had been sunburnt and brown,
but her rustic beauty had won the heart
Of the rich city merchant, whom business
brought for q few weeks to the ncighbor.
hood Of MaPlatop, .agd no. "WsiGy ms fllsTs, *aa
entirely new to Maria Durand, and for
few seasons she enjoyed it to tho full. -.
Parties the opera, and all sorts Of gaye-
ties succeeded each other, until suddenly
her hcalth failed. And now, so young,
while i!rc held out to her cup overflow
ing with delicious and Intoxicating
draught, ono drop of bitterness had pois
oned it all It was hard, indeed and
poor Maria Daranl shed many scalding
tears, g: in the solitude Of her own room
she conrastei the present with tie past.
She had plenty Of time for such refcc-
tioUs, for tho calls Of hel many friends.
and the inquiries for the health of "dear
Mrs. Durand," had grown less and less
frequent, until they had almost entirely
ceased, and she who had been at one time
reigning belle, admired, fattere! and
envied, was now forgotten.
The circle in which Mrs. Durand had
moved was not unusually heart!ess but
sitlire ess is II test which never fails TO dis
tinguish the counterfeit from the genuine
friendship, and it must be confessed that
few human beings have founraiu Of sym:
pathy which will sustain d'ain Of four
or five years in one direction without at
times running dry.
AS if conscious of this, inyaiis are very
apt to make up for tho deficiencies Of 9TH
ers by bcstowing all their own sympathis
on themselves. Absorbed in their own
suilelings, they forgot all others. Mrs.
Durand was no exception to this general
rule, or she would have observed that her
husband was growing pale, thin, wrinkled
a-d care.worn. He was strangely absent.
minded; he came up to her room after
dinner several times, and sat there silent
and moody; il she addressed him, he re.
piled at random and made no attempt at
conversation.
She was lying on her couch one evening
when Mr puranl entered the room. She
did not lool: up--she hardly spoke, for
she had felt unusually i'll ali day, and her
head was still throbbing painfully. Her
husband approached and stood BY her
side.
"Mmia," said lie, 81 should like to talk
with YOU u little, if you arc able to hear
it,"
Something in lis voice startled her. she
looked up aud for the first time saw how
haega'd and changed he had grown.
"What is it:' she cried, starting up.
chow fea,fnlly palo YOU look--the chill
drcn p
"Arc perfectly wclI,' he replied.
Has anything h1ppenel to you, Rob
cit ~ she a,ked.
Maria" ho sail, hardly needing her
words, 81 am ruiucd-bankrupt."
He buried his face in his hands, and his
whole frame shook with emotion. In an
instant his wile's arms were around his
neck, her kisses on his brow, aud her voice
whispered words Of comfort.
'Sut you, dear t,ara," he said, 'f,o.
bIn ~ YOU are, what is to become Of youl
| coud bear it myself but to think OF you
and the children, it almost unmans me-"
as all lost:' she asked.
81 fear so. Nv honor, thank God, will
remain unstsincd; but nothing vii! be left
after the payment Of my debts"
"And how did it happ,n?'
Her husband briefly told her lis nis;or.
tunes, which were mainly owing to losses
at sea, for he was largely engaged in navi
cation. lie rchearsed his struggles, told
Of his sleepless nights and anxious DAYS.
and Maria listened with mostened eyes
""N ''iNNt u
"AIy own dear husband" sho said, q,
last, kissing him fondly, what aro ycur
plans for the future"
Il have made none rs yet. I have
been overwhelmed in the present trouble
The fIturo looks dark, indeed. When
think Of you in i'll health, requiring every
comfort, and yet feel that l shall be una
bic to supply your wants" He stopped,
for his voice was choking with emotion.
'Do not speak 50 sadly. Robert. The
future to me does not look dark. You
made your own fortune; you can do it
again; and as for me, if have lived iu
luxury for many years, 90 not forget that
was once poor country lassie, and livel
very happy without the many appliance
Of weal.il that you have bestowed on me.
Dear Robert, let us submit with good
grace 10 our present troubles"
Mr.. Duranl hook his cad sadly.
"You speak lightly, Maria, Of giving
up luxures, forgetting that they have
grown to be recessaries to you. IL you
were strong and WELL it would be differ.
ent; and even then it would be bard to
exchange this house for one suited to OUT
income, or rather lack Of income, and, in
stead of having servants to do our bidding,
,n,,solf hat ~, ,,,b