The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-02-27
his wife wrote, imploring Harriet to come

to her aid.
1t was soon evident to the sister that
her presence in her brothers. house would
be great comfort, if not necessity, and
she yielded to the ensreaties poured out
upon her, gave up herschool and remained
in B.
Maude Farquar was beauty andbelle
Her childlike, winning manners, a..
clinglug ,affectionate disposition made her
very sun beam, and the idol of her hus-
bands heart, but she was as idle, too, as
the sunbeam to which I have compared
her. The petted darling of wealthy par
ents she had never known care IN her
life. A favorite in society, her husbands
indulgence allowed all her gay desires full
scope, and her home became a mere sleep
ing and boarding house, where the serv.
ants ruled, aud the mistress was sort Of
transient inhabitaut. ......
Into this confused household Hattie
came with her quiet, orderly habits, ,and 1t
was not long before the whole housekeeping
cares glided into her hands. Maude was
only too glad to be relieved ofsuch drudgery
and gradually nursery as we'll as house,
bold duties became Harriet's charge while
the mistress of the house led the life OF a
careless, fashionable belle.
UpcD ber marriage Maude Farqar had
placed the whole of her patrimony in the
purchase of a handsome house, which
Wilfred had settled upon herself. Of
course the young husbands first outlay of
furniture was heavy one, and he soon
to support his wife's extravagances in
dress, Jewels, and the thousand expenses
of belle. Weakly fond of her, looking
upon her as a mere child, he said no word
of caution or warning until his affairs be-
came SO embarrassed that ruin stared him
| in the face. Then, too late, he made a
! few faint remonstrances that fell upon idle
needless ears.
Softly, like a blessing, Hattie's hand
fell upon her brothers bowed head as he
sat before the fire musing Of the past, and
the dark future.
"Wilfred, are you i'll 2"
He looked a moment into the kindly
face and said
"Hattie, / am almost ruined ~
~ feared So" she said gently, taking a
seat by his side; "this Wasteful eztraVa-
gance"
II nave been wrong, he answered, ,"not
to trust more to Maude. She has been
always petted plaything,and now" he
gave low moan of pain, thinking Of de-
nying his darling any joy.
"Now she must learn to bear what many
another as gay and careless has borne be-
fore 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
again into the same error Let Maude
know all, or she will but 90 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 gayety. Give it a chance to
work"
"Tell Maude all ?" be mused and then
there fell long silence. The sweep of a
silken skirt rushed across the hall, land he
said suddenly, "Hattie, how can | tell
Maude that her extravaganza has beggared
me z"
A low cry of pain caused brother and
sister to lock 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 husband s
words
For an instant no one spoke. Then with
quick, impulsive movement,all her own
the young wife sped across the room, to
knecl with uplifted face at her husband s
feet 1t was favorite attitude with her
when she wanted petting, but now as she
crossed her hands upon his knee, and raised
her white face, there was no thought of
childish coaxiug in her mind. The sting
of his words had gone straight as az arrow
to rouse the woman in her heart
"Wilfred," she said, her stiff pallid
lips almost refusing to form the word.
"Dd you say I had beggared you?"
mo, darling, no my own folly my
own blindness, that would not trust your
love Maude, darling, you are blaueless. .
HTell me all, she insisted. "While l
have been wasting money in thousand
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 SO.
| tell you it is my fault, mine only"
"But ruin d, Wilfred, do you mean that
you are actually ruined?'
"In a few days must declare myself
bankrupt, unless - but never mind
that"
"Unless what z"