The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-07-18


we'd mercy" said the penitent wife, hel
self kneeling by her husbands couch.
He looked sadly, yet gently, in her pale
face.
"Poor girl-poor girl Your punish
ment will be, | fear, far heavier thar
your offense. What will you do, my
poor wife Would that I had never seer
you ~
"No--no - no !" she exclaimed feryent.
ly. "At least, not for me-not for me-
Darcy but for you, my husband But
ii Heaven help me, | will-yes will
atone for the past Only, alas alas |
| cannot redeem the wrong I have done
you."
The husband looked down upon the up
turned, earnest eyes of the being he had
once loved so dearly, and his heart melt.
ed at their rcmorseful pleading.
"Netta, We may yet be happier than
success might have made us. 1t is not
money that gives comfort to a home, but
io'O, anu ptdCt.
Weeks and months passed away, and
the couple were, indeed, sorely tried.
Darcy's illness was long and expensive
and though, thanks to the great redeem
ing point in his position, his sickness did
not either lose him his situation, nor dim
inish his income, it yet proved severe
and almost hopeless drawback to their re-
sources.
But yet they were happy. Meta g
whole energies were thrown into the
scale and if Darcy was forced to wear
mended linen and darned stockings, they
were at least neatly repaired. IfNetta' S
dress was of the simplest material, her
rich hair was arranged as gracefully as
that of an incipient duchess and if their
furniture could not be replaced, it was
clean and embellished by
the taousand-and.one arts of delicate
taste.
Meta had vowed that she would never
open her piano, or touch her pencil or
her embroidery frame, till every trace of
past disorder was removed, every stitch
put neatly in, and the lessons of the cook
cry book as familiar to her as Czerny's
Exercises Of Rodner's Instructions. And
she kept her word Not the keen eyes
of Mrs. Grundy herself could have quar-
relied with the spotless apartments, the
cookery, or discovered one ten
minutes employment in the wardrobe of
the now united pair.
Still it was not quite healed, that deep
wound. She could not look on her hus.
bands rusty coat and seedy hat, or see
his still thin features, without remember
ing that, but for her wilful and culpable
neglect, they might have been in affluence
and ease. The golden moment had es.
capped her would it ever return
She was sitting at the piano, her fingers
idly wandering in plaintive melody,
over the keys, and some unbdden tears
falling on her hands, when she was reused
by the opening of the door of the setting
room, and, ere she had time to rise from
The instrument, her uncIc's wife was at
ler side
she u laia aT gIa4 gsIba4y: !: find nay '"d DO not NsfnH
from me, my dear. am not surely such
an ogress, am |, as to hiring 'hose drops
"No, no, no AN glad--very glad
only" And again she fairly broke
lown in suppressed sobs.
"Only you were rather tardy, and |,
perhaps, rather hasty," said Mrs. Gerard,
with n sweet bright smile "But I am
not going to be in a hurry to-day, if you
will give me slice Of your mutton, for
your uncle is away,and am very lonely"
A momentary embarrassment dyed
Nettas checks then she said frankly
'How can | be so silly? You know that
We are poor, and will kindly excuse our
plain table. We shall be very-very
pleased to have you
Mrs. Gerard certainly did not seem to
think the fare needed excuse, She par
took with relish of the mutton, cooked to
A turn, the Aoury potatoes, aud the deli.
cate pudding; and yet more did she ap.
pear to enjoy and appreciate the sweet
voice and the refined converse OF the ac-
niece of her husband.
1t was about two months after this
visit, and poor Netta's hope of recon.
ciliation with her uncle, through the
mediation of his wife, had died away,
when letter was put in her hand by her
husband, who had just received it from
the postman.
at is-yes surely it is my uncle's
she exclaimed, flushing and
in moment the envelope was lying in
nultilated fragments on the floor. There
was but few lines, but they were worth
4 volume
Dear Niece AS understand you
can now manage household, and have
begun to comprehend that time is precious
enough not to be wasted, think your
abilities should have still more employ
ment in more extended sphere. Unfor-
my poor influence was exhausted
some time ago but luckily, my means
have not been so recklessly wasted, and l
have ordered deed of settlement to be
made out, of which l believe you to be
far more worthy than at the date when
such things are usually executed. 1t will
be 9200 per annum. Your affectionate
uncle, PAUL GERARD.
Meta cast herself into her husbands
arms in a passion of joyful tears, as she
'obbed out darcy, my beloved gracious
husband you have long since forgiven
ne the blight | brought on your prospects
but now, for the first time, can forgive
nyselfw
The Childless Home.