The Republican journal., 1871-03-09

to himself, lie kept on "hghtlng his way
against it as best he could" hoping with
a sick heart that she might see it right
by and by
The mon;hs wore away. The second
year of their marriage was nearly compile
ted. John had been very careful. as Geor-
Ola herself, that there should be no out
ward and visible sign of misunderstand
ing or coldhess between them. No suspi-
clon had come to any, that the second year
of their married life had been less happy
than the first Nor had he omitted to
give her any little Indulgence within his
power.
He had prepared a surprise for her up
on the coming anniversary of their we'd
ding-day,la present of twelve guineas, his
savings during the year.
The anniversary fell upon Sunday, and
so their little commemoratiop of the day
must come the preceding evening. No
allusion had been made to any celebration
by either Of them; but John felt sure,
some way, that she could not let the time
pass without some sign. For his own part
he had half resolved to attempt some ex-
planation OF their estrangement. Any
thing, he thought, would be better than
this chilling reserve, With his mind di
vided between anticipation Of relief and
jealous dread, he went to the counting
house that Saturday night to receive his
money. The cashier looked up, with a
certain embarrassment at his approach.
"Ah, Mr.. Randall, the accumulation you
left in my hands? To be sure And,
by the way, Mr.. Halliburton spoke to me
to mention to you, that there were to be
some changes made, and-and- but there
he is himself, sir.'
John Randall turned with feeling akin
to desperation, to meet his employer. 1t
had gone through him like thunderbolt,
as the cashier spoke, that he was to be dis
placed. Stephen Halliburton simply said,
as John faced him, "rll not detain you
now, Mr. Randall, shall call this even
ing to let you know of the changes If feel
obliged to make"
And the owner bowed and left him.
With the money in his nerveless hands,
John Randall walked homeward like u
man dazed He was to lose his place !!
For what reason he found it impossible
to conjecture. But to lose it, was to lose
reputation, courage, everything. He had
never imagined such a possibility as that
The money that he carried he should not
dare to make q present of it to Georgia
now. He might have to wait for other
employment. It might be needed for their
bare every day needs, before he got work
again A death-like chill struck to his
soul.
! Georgia evidently had not overlooked
the recurrence of their wedding day. The
cosy rooms of the little cottage all Wore
little air of festivity. Some slender vas
es held the gleanings of the tlower-beds,
! chrysanthemums, blood-red, white, and
purple-verbenas and scarlet geranum.
She came to the door that night to meet
him, one of her company" dresses on,
some knots Of velvet fastening her collar.
and seeming to give glow and bright
ness TO her white skin He took her hand,
she raised her face. and with q wild heart
bound, he kissed it, as he had not for a
year before. She was coming back to
him Her intatuation, if such it had been,
was at an end She was his own once
more. And then, close upon this new hap
piness, came the dreary recollection of his
lost situation. He thrust the money in
his pocket, BY and by he would tell her
all
You will not mind waiting supper for
/ for an hour, will you .|ohn?" she asked,
as she led him in. II am going to give
you something nice, by and by, and-l
think Mr.. Halliburton will be in"
| John Randall's blood froze once more.
| 1t was not for him, then, that all these
| preparations were made Georgia had
never spoken Mr.. Haliburton's name to
| him before. He could feel that she was
embarrassed, as she did 50.
Il want you to dress, john" she added
coaNingly. II have laid everything out
for you"
1t seemed to him that he would have
turned upon her, but that he felt so bro
ken by the thought of losing his place,
and resented her gaity her Indifference,
her secreccs-all that had made him so
miserable through this long year. But he
had not the spirit.
He went to dress, as she had asked him.
When he returned to the parlor Stephen
Halliburton and his wife sat side by side
1t was rare indeed to see Georgy's fair
face so Illuminated. Her cheeks were
glowing, her eyes sparkling.
AS for Mr. Halliburton, he was always
the quiet gentleman, with no sense of be-
ing out Of his place, no apparent suspi-
cion of what was ranking in the heart of
his employee.
What a nice little supper Georgia had
ready yet nobody ate.
Finally it was over. They went back to
the parlor.
Georgia disappeared for a moment, and
returning, approachedherhu husband, glanc
ing shyly at the same time a. her guest
whose face frightened beyond its wont us
he caught her eye.
eve mean to make it all very formal,
John, but | see Mr.. Halliburton thinks [
might as well tell it at once in my own
way
She paused, and sober pallor over
spread her husbands face.
"What was coming?" his eyes asked,
with no faith that it was anything to light
en- his burden.
Georgy folded and unfolded nervously
a slip Of paper she held.
'.That is for you, john" and she held
it shyly toward him. My anniversary gift!
| have been working for Mr.. Halibur-
ton, too, this last year, And I have thir
ty guineas here-the price of the designs
| have made for the calicoeS-"
''Georgia y
stYou never suspected it? [ did not
want you to, till knew whether | could
succeed"
John Randall had no voice in which to
word his gratitude gratitude for his re-
stored faith, which though his wife did
not suspect it, was by far her most pre-
cious anniversary gift.
She went on, 81 could always use my
pencil nimbly, you know, John, and 1t had
occurred to me one day, why couldn't
do something with it to profit? spoke
to Mr.. Halliburton, and he was so kind,
you must thank him John, he took so much
trouble with my crude attempts, he did
so much to encourage me. And now
am fairly in the way of work. l shall
work better now that you know Of it.
want to try design for carpets, by and by,
as well as prints; that pays SO well--a per-
centage on the sale"
She stopped short, suddenly conscious
of how much she was saying.
81 have my little surprise also, for you,
Mr.. Randall" added Stephen Halliburton,
quietly. "Ihope it, too, will prove agree
able. The universal testimony of the mill
officials as to your efficiency and trusti- !
ness makes me feel that am not showing