Middletown transcript., 1871-08-19

Uii ipsiHB 'uu ItHt VI tho iuTui just ptcause
she has taken childish notion that she
can't live anywhere else
" It's very little to you, Harry" softly
pleaded his wife, land great deal to
her.
Mr.. Melton bi, his lip. There" ho
said little petulantly. al might have
known it would have ended like this il !
tried to reason with you. Women can't
be logical il they try"
+" II this ia the way you are feeling,
Harry said Nina, /" I'm afraid you will
disnpprove Of what vcnturea to do to-day.
Mr. Liscouibc was here to ask about the
rent Of your little store on Sixth Avenue.
II was for that lame brother Of his, an
honest, hard working young shoemaker,
who was very ambitious 10 90 into busi-
ness for himself. lie has scrapcd togeth
er enough to pay nine hundred dollars,
the first years rent"
" But raised the rent to twelve hun
drcd :"
4" know you did. Harry, but ! knew
at least ] suppo.ed--you would be viii
ling to d. charitable nc,ion for one so
pteously afflicted by Proyidcncc so |
told Mr.. Liscomhc that poor Giles could
have it for the former rent nine hundred
dollars"
"fhcn you did foolish thing" said
Mr.. Melton, rising and beginning to pace
the room in esilun, annoyance, - very
foolish aud ill-consdered thing. indeed
| must send my clerk round to Lscombcs
the first thing tomorrow morning |
cant afford to make present Of three
! hundred dollars u year TO Giles Liscombc
jus, because he's cripple pay my
taxes. con,ritui. 70 the charity funds Of
the church, and can't and won, do any
moro
| Nina listened in silence: 10 her i,
seemed as ii some strange transformation
had cone unexpectedly over the whole
spirit and temperament Of the man she
calle'! her husband. Presently she rose
up
Z" will Put little Mary to bed" she
sai quietly, and stole away up stairs
with the other children silently following
! her.
. Papa i-n', nice tonight" said John
ny, as he took his spelling book to the
nur~ery table Mamma, what makes
| him - cross =
= Hush. Johnny" replied Mrs Melton,
whose wifciy loyalty admitted Of no donh,
or question; papa is tired" "
johnny was not altogether satisfied with
this version of affairs. tu, he fell hael. on
- words OF six syllaLlos," without asking
any mere questions; and Nina returned
down stairs, taking up her needle work.
aud quietly seated herself hy the shaded
gas burner, as she saw Harry lay on the
.oin, apparently asleep, with the newspa-
per over his face.
Once nr twice. ns thc clock tickcd soft
| Is on IN the stiffness. and the indistinct
hum from the street below noatcd in
through the half open window. Nina let
the work fall 10 her lap, and unconscious
Is iriftel away upon the tide Of grave aud
troubled thoughts which seemed to edd,
around her heart
They were making money, the firm Of
Melton y Chisdalc. She bad heard peo-
pie say 50 time and again she had bcsn
congratulated upon the success Of her
husbands business and had smiled back
pleased responses Old uncle Darwin
Field, when he had made his weeks visit
in the city two years ago, had contemplate
ed Harry Mclton's luxurious home with
grave wislfulncss aud said to her:
Remember, Nina, my gal, tina, ritch-
es have wings. and don't &c, too sot on
sich things
She had thought tho old man interfcr-
ing, almost pertinent, Mt the time; now
his words came to her like n half forgot.
ten prophecy.
"can it be possible she thought. n,
her sad eyes gazed out into the starry
armament of the summer night, THAT he
too has caught the worst infection Of mon.
cy.making that hc is growing avariciou,
and moan and grasping? oh, no; Harry
never could be that"
The work lay UNDECIDED on her lap She
had no heart TO sew now. Up to the
present moment. Nina Mcl,on's life had
been one Of uninterrupted smoothness and
sunshine Could it be that shadows, SC
long withheld ,hnt she had learned ,c
doubt their actual existence. 30 far ns sh,
was concerned, were coming at last?
Suddenly Harry Melton started from
his slumbers. and sat upright, gazing Will
bcwilacred air around the room.
Nina, wife. are you there T. he said
in strange. husky tone
Il am here, Harry"
Thank goodness Then it was only
n dream"
"Wha, was only a dream p
"Come here. and will tell you wife
Here, close to my side. Heavens" h,
muttcred beneath his breath, ms he pnssed
his hand uneasily over his wet forehead
'.how real it sosms yet! Where are the
! children ?"
ZIP stairs. Mary and Nina are a
sleep, aud Johnny is at his lessons"
II have had the strangsst medley Of I
, dream you ever heard" he vent on. mi
, na, think IL must have been intended fol
, . warning for me. II seemed to me as i
. were dead. had not passed through
, the mortal strife Of dissolution. and yet