The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-05-22

ofcousin Sally Gruy. and the purchase o
these absorbed the remainder Of Mr.. Cart,
wright's carefully boarded sixty dollars.
Unfortunately for the comfortable condi.
ton of Mrs. Cartwright's mind. the new
carpet, with its Haunting eolors, put wholly
out Of counienancc the cane.seat chairs and
modest pier.table, ind gave to the dull pa
per on the wall duller aspect. Before
she had scarcely noticed the hangings on
the venilian blinds; now It seemed us il
they had lost their freshness in day and
the places where they were broken and
had been sewed again, were singnlarly
apparent, every time her eye rested upon
them.
"These blinds do look dreadful 7" she
said to her husband, OF tho day after the
carpet wen. down. "Cau you remember
what they cost :"
Eight dollars, replied Mr.. Cartwright.
$50 much" The wife sighed us she
spoke.
Yes, tia, was the price. ] remember II
very WE'LL"
81 wonder what new llnngings would
eost?" Mrs. Carwright's manner grew
suddenly more cheerful, as the suggestion
ofa cheaper way to improve the windows
came into her mind.
mo, much, I presume,' answered her
husband.
"Don't you think we'd better have it
done ~
yes" wus the answer.
"Will YOU stop at the blind.nakers, as
YOU go to the store, and tell him to send
up for them to-day. ], must be attended
to u, once, you know, for cousin Sally will
be here on next Wednesday"
Mr.. Cartwright called at the b'ind.inak-
cr's. as requested, and the blin,l.muker
promised tn send for the blinds. From
thence he continued on to the store in
which he was employed. There he found
note OIL his desk. from the friend to whom
he was indebted for the one hundred dol.
lars.
"Dear Cartwright" so the note ran. "lf
II is possible for you TO let me have the one
hundred dollars loaned you, its return 10.
morrow will he particular favor. as
have large payment 10 make, and have
heen disappointed in the receipt Of sum
Of money confidently expected"
A very sudden change Of feeling did Mr..
Cartwright experience. lie had, in do.
gree. pariakcn of his wiie's pleasure in oh.
serving the improved appearance Of their
little parlor; but this pleasure was now
succeeded by sense orpalnfdl regret and
modification. II was nearly two hours be.
foro Mr.. Cartwright returned an answer TO
his friends note. Most Of that time had
been spent in the vain effort to discover
some way out Of the difficulty in which he
found hi,nsclfplaced. lie would have ask
cd an advance of one hundred dollars on
his salary, but he did not deem that Pru.
dent step, and for two reasons. One was,
the known character Of his employers; and
the other was involved in the question Of
how hc was to support his family for the
time he was working out this advance. Al
last, in sadness and humiliation, he wrote
brief reply, rcGretting his inability TO re-
place tho loan now, but promising to do Il
in very short time. Not very long after
this answer was sent, there came another
note from his friend, written in evident
haste, and under the influence OF angry
feelings. II was in these words:
81 enclose your due hill, which J., yester.
day thought good for its face. hut, ns II Is
worthless, I send it back. The man who
buys new carpets and new furniture, in.
dead of paying his honest debts can be no
friend of mine. am sorry to have been
mistaken in Henry Cartwright"
Twice did the unhappy man read this
cutting letter then folding it up closely,
he concealed il in one Of his pockets. Moth
;ng was said about it to his wife, whose
Sor,ly admiration Of the new carpet, at
morning, noon and night. for the next two
r three days, was continual reproof of
hi $ weakness for having yielded 10 her
wishes in matter where calm judgment
nd principle Of right, should have pro-
yailed. But she could not help noticing
hat hc was less cheerful and once or twice
&c spoke to- her in n way that shc thought
,os,ivcly in nn,urcd. Something was wrong
with him: but what that something was, she
lii not for an instant imagine.
AT last the day arrived for cousin Sally
Trays visit. Unfortunately, the Vsnitiall
,linLs were still at the blind.maker's, where
hey were likely to remain for week long.
v, ms il was discovered, on tho previous
afternoon, that he lad never touched them
since they came into his shop. Without
hem the little parIor had terribly bare
ook the strong light coming in, md con.
ras,inr, harshly, the new, guudy carpet,
with the old worn, and faded furniture
Mrs. Cartwright fairly cred with vexa,ion.
awe must have something for tho win
,lows, Henry she said rs she stood, dis.
'onsola,c, in the parlor. after tea. 1t will
,eyer do in the world to let cousin Sally
ind us in this trim.''
cousin Sally will find n welcome IN our
hearts," replied her husband, in a sober
voice, 'sand tia, am sure will be more
yra,eful to her than new carpets and win
w.blinds.' ......
The way in which this was spoken rn,h.
rsurprised Mrs Cartwright and she ielt
rst little rebukcd. g' ...l'r...
"Don't you ,hink," ," sha SAID, utter few
moments Of silence on both sides, ''thut we
might afford to buy = few yarls OF lace,
To put up to the windows, lust for decen.