The Democratic advocate., 1871-08-10

so piteously afflicted by Providence; so
| told Mr.. Lscombe that poor Giles
could have it for the former rent niue
hundred"
Then you did a foolish thing" said
Mr.. Melton, rising aud beginning to
pace the room in evident annoyance,
"a very foolish and III considered thing
indeed. | must send my clerk round
to Llscombe's the first thing tomorrow
morning can't afford to make pre-.
sent Of three hundred dollars year to
Giles Liscombe just because he's Grip
pie. | pay my taxes, l contribute to
the charity funds of the church, aud |
cant and won't do any more -
Nina listened in silence to her it
seemed as if some strange translorma.
tiou had come unexpectedly over the
whole spirit aud temperament of the
mau she called husband. Presently she
rose up.
Il will put little Mary to bed" she
said quietly, and stole away up stairs
with the other children silently follow.
ing her.
Papa isn't nice tonight" said
Johnny, as he took his spelling book to
the nursery table. Mamma, what
makes him so cross 7"
Hush, Johnny" said Mrs. Melton,
whose wifely loyalty admitted of no
doubt or question; papa is tired"
Johnny was not altogether satisfied
with this version of affairs, but he fell
back on words of six syllubles," with.
out asking any more questions aud
Nina returned down stairs, taking up
her needle work, aud quietly seating
herself by the shaded gas burner, as
she saw that Harry lay on the sofa, ap
parently asleep, with the newspaper
over his face.
Once or twice, as the clock licked
softly on 10 the Stiffness, aud the indis.
tinct hum from the street below foated
10 through the half open window, Nina
let the work fall to her lap, and uncon.
sciOusly drifted away upon the tide of
grave aud troubled thoughts which
seemed to eddy around her heart.
They were making money, the firm of
Melton & Chisdale. She had people
say SO time and again she had been
congratulated upon the success of her
husbands business, aud had smiled
back pleased response. Old uncle Oar
win Fleld@hen he had made his week S
visit in the city tive years ago, had con.
templated Harry Melton's luxurious
home with grave wistfullness, aud said
to her:
" Remember, Nina, my gal, that
ritches have wings, aud dou't get too
sot on sich things"
She had thought the old man inter.
fering, almost pertinent, at the time
now his words came to her like ahalf
forgotten phrop1ecy.
" Can it be possible" she thought, as
her sad eyes gazed out into the starry
firmament Of the summer night, shat
he too has caught the worst infection of
money making-that he is growing avar.
icious aud mean and graspingy Oh, no,
no; Harry never could be that p
The work Inv unbseded on ha, Ian
She had no heart to sew now IT.
the present moment Nina Msl,on,.f fIss
had been one Of un;n,errun,aJ smao,h
ness and sunshine CouId !. ba ,ha,
shadows, so long withheld that she had
SO far as she was concernsd wers com
ing at lastP w. '
Suddenlv Harry Mo,,o, .,,u,., g.,
b;s sInmhora ~ oa ~ -:L. osa.''u run
with bewiIdered air round sbs ,dSn, ss
"Nina, wife are Won there 2" he sa;a
in n strange bnsL . ,ona ~ H' 'a'u'
II am here Harry
"Thauk goodness ! Than !, w,s o,,v
a dream" Wy
"What was only . dre,m pr
"Come here and 7 will ,si, vou w;s.
Here. close to INV side He.ysos =" ="
muttered beneath his hrsa,h ~ 70 nc
sed his hand uneas;lv over H. -. ~ pas
head .how real II seams % va, @ wv Wha.e ,u,o
are the children ?" ''' "A0''
uIIn s,a;rs M.ru a., NJ;
asleen and Jobnny 4: :, h;s ,a'.aa,
al have h,d ,ho s,.ass. s '.soou' ai -
n dream YOU aror ha..a soSs s "eui.y Vi
q Nina i tb;nt !. mns, h.n. m w." w Gu' ~
tendea for . warn;na g.. ' y1eu ,u
ed to me as ;fI were as,d IhsS I'sm un,
nassod ,hronah W ~ o, aoau' naa not
solution and vet was ssand;ae % - ~.
gloom and mystery of ,ba. o,hs, worIS I
that lies before ms all w, rnda,s..nS %
me Nina m '"u
II understand W, Harry II. :,
swered her soft wondsr;nn n,os s"1 ssas a
upon his face '''' AA'u
Ana un.. - -, an,