Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-09-09

op0HO ds sHo ulu Her louclJ udys, Tc
Ginning in her chair or on a lounge
her thin, white hands, shaded by exqui-
site and costly lace, folded and lying
idle in her lap, while with half-shut eyes
she gave herself up to sad reveries.
1t seemed almost like dream to her
to look back, as she often did, to the
time when, rosy, plump and joyous
country maiden, she had raked hay,
made butter and cheese, washed dishes,
and even scrubbed the white floor of her
aunt's neat kitchen. Her small white
hands, now so white and soft, had been
red and hard once; her transparent check
had been sun-burned and brown, but hel
rustic beauty had won the heart of the
rich merchant, whom business brought
for few weeks to the neighborhood Of
Mapleton, and not many months later
she became his wife. City life was en-
tirely new to Maria Durand, and for a
few seasons she had enjoyed it to the full
Parties. the opera, and all sorts of gave
ties succeeded each other, until sudden
ly her health failed And now, so young
while life held out to her cup overflow.
ing with delicious and intoxicating
draugbt, one drop of bitterness had poi
soned it all. 1t was hard, indeed, and
poor Maria Durand shed many scaldine
tears, as in the solitude of her own room
she contrasted the present with the past
She had plenty of time for such re-
Elections, for the calls of her many friends
and the inquiries for the health of Mrs
Durand, had grown less and less fire.
quent, until they had almost entirely
ceased, and she who had been at one
time reigning belle-admired, fattered
aud envied--was now forgotten.
The circle in which Mrs. Durand had
moved was not unusually heartless ; but
sickness is test which never fails to dis.
tinguish the counterfeit from the genu.
inc friendship, and it must be confessed
that few human beings have fountain
of sympathy which will sustain a drair
of four or five years in one direction
without at times running dry.
AS if conscious of this, invalids arc
very apt to make up for the Deficiencies
of others by bestowing all their owl
sympathies on themselves absorbed il
their own sufferings, they forget al
others. Mrs. Durand was no exception
to this general rule, or she would have
observed that her husband was growing
pale, thin, wrinkled and care-worn. II,
was strangely absent-minded-he cam,
up to her room after dinner several times
and sat there silent and moody; if sht
addressed him, he replied at random
and she made no attempt at converse
ton.
She was lying on her couch one even
ing, when Mr. Durand entered the room
She did not look up; she hardly spoke
for she had felt unusually i'll all day, anC
her head was still throbbing painfully
Her husband approached and stood BY
her side
"Maria," said he, 81 should like t.
talk with you little, if you are able to
hear it."
Something in his voice startled her
she looked up, and for the first time saw
how haggard and changed he had grown
What is 2" she cried, starting up
GLOW fcarfully pale you look. The
children? p
care perfectly WE'LL" he replied.
Has anything happened to you, Ro'
bert?' she asked.
Maria" he said, hardly needing her
words, II am ruined-bankrupt."
lie buried his face in his hands, and
his whole frame shook with emotion. In
an instant his wifcs arms we're around
his neck, her kisses on his brow, and hcr
voice whispering words of comfort.
+" But you, dear Maria" he said
"feeble as you are, what is to become Of
you? / could bear it myself; but to
think Of you and the children-it almost
humans me-"
"Is all LOST" she asked.
81 fear so. My honor, thank God,
will remain unstained but nothing will
be lost after the payment of my debts. "
"Aud how did it happen ?"
Her husband briefly told Of his mis-
fortunes, which were mainly owing to
losses at sea-for he was largely engaged
in commerce; he rehearsed his strug-
giles; told Of his sleepless nights and
anxious days, and Maria listened with
moistened eyes and parted lips.
my own dear husband, " she said, at
last, kissing him fondly, "and what arc
your plans for the future p
II have made none as yet. / have
been overwhelmed in the present trouble
The future looks dark, indeed When
| think of you, in i'll health, requiring
every comfort, and yet feel that / shall
be unable to supply your wants"
lie stopped, for his voice was choked
with emotion.
"Do not speak so 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
in luxury for many years, ] do not for
get that / was once poor lassie, and
lived very happy without the many ap-
planes Of wealth that you bestowed on
me. Dear Robert, let us submit with a
good grace to our present troubles"
Mr.. Durand shook bis head sadly
"You speak lightly, Maria, of giving
up Injuries, forgetting that they have
grown to be necessaries to you. If you
were strong and well, it would be differ
ent; even then it would be hard to ex.
change this house for ono suited to our