The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-02-22

thinking of denying his darling any
Now she must learn to bear what
many another as gay and careless has
borne before her time"
The house is hers and the furniture,
so she will not have to give those up,
though how all this style can be kept
up"
:" It cannot! Oh, Wilfred, do not fall
know all, or she will but go on in the
same path. Tell her frankly that you
cannot afford this lavish expenditure
There is a tender, true heart under all
this careless gaiety. Give it a chance to
work"
"Tell Maude all !" he unused, and then
there fell a long silence. The sweep OF.
a siIken skirt rushed across the hall and
he said suddenly, Hattie, how can
tell Maude that her extravaganza has
beggared me:'
A low cry of pain caused brother and
sister to look up. Standing in the door,
in all the glitter and beauty of her rich
dress, but with (; face pale as ashes,
Maude Farquar stood stunned by her
husbands words.
For an instant no one spoke. Then
with a quick, impulsive movement, all
her own, the young wife sped across the
room, to kneel with uplifted face at her
husbands feet. 1t was avorlte atti-
tude with her when she wanted petting,
but now as she crossed her hands upon
his knee and raised her white face, there
her mind. The sting of his words had
gone straight as an arrow to rouse the
woman in her heart.
Wilfred," she said, her stiff palIid
lips almost refusing to form the VOID.
"Did you say Ihad beggared you: ?"
No, darling, no! my own folly! my
own blindness, that would uot trust
your love! Maude, darling, you are
blameless. p"
"Tell me all," she insisted. "While
have been wasting money in thous-
and useless follies, have you been staring
ruin in the face? Oh, Wilfred, it seems
like dancing over. your grave"
Hush. Maude, you shall not talk
50. / tell you it is my fault, mine on
:" But rui,ea, Wilfred, do you mean
that you arc actually ruined %
q In 4 few days must declare myself
bankrupt, unless - but never mind
that
:" Unless what:"
COAttN NOiiiIidiiu u SuIIt 0i iiOiipN
now utterly out of my reaeh.N
" No, the house and furniture are
yours, settled upon you when we were
married. No one can touch them"
6 Mine! all my own? And my Jew
els ?''
All your own, too.o
g ana glad OF that she said earnest
:" Yes. After all my affairs are SET
tied | can still take !. eierkship, and
keep you and the children above want"
There was a long silence. Unheeding
her rich dress, Maude came To her hus-
band Is arms, pilowing her head upon
his shoulder, and whispering low, low
ing words Of comfort, caressing him
with her little soft hands, and laVisning
Upon hin eEery word in ihc vocabulary
OF affection; While Hattie, in her gen
l., tender voice, offered heg consolation
and love as freely ifnot With such eager
demonstrations.
1t WAS nearly day dawn before they
left the room. At the door, Maudc
suddenly stopped.
WiIl'red," She said eagerly, "you
said 4 sum, more than you could com
mand, would save you now, What
sum-"
eff l had thirteen thousand dollars
before this day Il week, could go on.-
OF course we should have to live very
economically for a long time before !
could entirely recover my position, but
could meet present liabilities and start
anew. But what's the use Of discussing
it ~
No use at ALL" said Hattie decided
ly. "GoOd-night."
Sc No use at ALL" said Maude down in
her heart. I" Wen see, Miss Hattie
| am to live in this big house, with all
this expensive furniture and keep ali |
my jewels and finery, and my husband |
is to work himself into his grave earn
ing a salary t. keep 1t all up"
The next day, with a grave face, yet
in his heart the warm appreciation OF
his wife's repentant love, WilfIcd Far
quar- went to his contingencies, while |
Maude, to Hattie's infinite astonish-
ment, left Willie, still frettul andailing,
for morning drive. She was gone
several hours, and finally came in RAJ
diant with beauty and in high spirits.
Day after day these long morning drives
were taken, Willie recovering by Hat