The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-09-27

COLUMBIA, IEl
found Georgie with the same brighten
ed eyes and heightened color as the
night before.
That was the beginning of John RIM
dall's trouble.
It was not so much common jeal.
Ousy-a mans instinct of revolt at
another mans admiration of his hand
some vife-as 1t was fear-a desperate
death-like fear-that George needed
something he could not give to make
her happy. He could never give her
luxuries. He could never say such
things as he faucied Stephen Halibur-
| ton must be able to say to woman. But
he loved her 50! o, heaven he loved
her so! How could he endure that any
thing should come between them'
won't wrong her and tease her
| with suspicious" he said to himself,
in the depth O! the night. "I'll just
fight my way the best can against it.
I'll keep on steady Perhaps she'll See
it right by and-by."
Poor fellow he did not reatize how
his own determination implied the
! dreary thought that her heart was
turned from him. He raised himself
on his arms to look at her as she slept;
and all through what followed he re-
tanned the pure, calm face, as it pressed
the pillow, whiteped by the moonlight
that glinted the frost on the window
panes and flooded the room.
She seemed colder to him after this,
and he kept silent.
He knew that she met Halliburton at
her aunt's; he knew that she went to
the seaside the ensuing summer, for q
weeks visit to Mrs. Paul Appleton,
there he was also. He knew that she
seemed to be living life apart from
him; aud once-that was when the
iron entered his soul, when he went to
her little desk, present he had made
her during their engagement-for
sheet of note paper, and found it lock-
ed, and asked her carelessly enough for
the key, she flushed and said she would
get the paper for him.
But he Kept true to the promise he
made himself. He kept on fighting
his way against it as best he could,
hoping, with sick heart, that she
Knight see it right by>and-by."
The months wore away. The second
year of their marriage was nearly COM
pleted. John had been very careful
as careful as George herself-that there
should be no outward and visible sign
of misunderstanding or co.dness be-
tween them. No suspicion had come
to any that the second year Of their
married life had been less happy than
the first. Nor had he ever omitted to
give her any little indulgence within
his power. He had prepared a surprise
for her Oh the coming anniversary of
their wedding during the year.
The anniversary fell upon Sunday
and so their little cOmmemOratiOn 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
resolved to attempt some explanation
of their enlargement. Anything, he
thought, would be better than this
chilling reserve. With his mind di.
vided between the anticipation of re-
lief and jealous dread, he went to the
counting hOure that Saturday night to
receive his money. The cashier look
ed up with certain embarrassment at
his approach.
"Ah, Mr.. Randall-the accumula-
ton you have left in my hands ? To
be sure! And, by the way, Mr.. Hall
burton spoke to me that there were to
be some changes made, and-and-but
there he is himself, sir. I"
John Randall turned, with feeling
akin to desperation, to meet his en-
ployer. 1t has gone through him like
q thuuderboIt, as the cashier spoke,
that he was to be displaced. Stephen
Halliburton simply said, as John faced
him; "I'll not detain you now, Mr.
Randall. 1 shall csH this evening to
let you know of the changes l feel
obliged to make.
And the owner bowed and left him.
With the money in his nerveless
hands, John Randall walked home
ward like 3 man dazed. Re was to
lose his place. For what reason, he
could net conjecture. But to lose it,
was to lose reputation, courage-every-
thing. He had never imagined such al
possibility as that. The money that he
carried-he should not dare to make a
present of it now. He might have to
wait for other employment. II might
be needed for their bare everyday need
before he got work again. A chill like
death struck to his soul.
George, evidently, had not overlook
ed the recurrence of their wedding day.
The cosy rooms of the cottage all wore
q little air of festivity. Some slender
vases held the gleanings of the flow
er beds; chrysanthemums- -bloOd-red,
white and purple-verbenas, and scar
let geraniums.
she came to the door that night to
meet him-one of her company u
dresses on, some knots of velvet fast
ening her collar, and seeming to give
glow and brightness 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 years before. She
was coming back to him again. That
was the thought that thrilled him. Hell
infatuatation-if such it had been
was at end. She was his once more
And then close upon his new happiness
came the dreary recollection of his lost
situation. He thrust the money in his
pocket. By-and-by he would tell hel
all.
"You won't mind waiting supper fol
an hour, will you, John ?" she asked
as she led him in. am going te
give YOU something nice, by.and-by
apd-I think Mr.. Halliburton will be
Ia"
John Randall's blood froze once
more. 1t was not for him, then, thai
all these preparations were made
George had never spoken Mr.. Hall
burtOn's name to him before. He
could feel that she was embarrassed a
she lid SO.
81 want you to dress, JOHN" she
added, coaxingly. have laid every
thing out for you.
1t seemed to him that he would have
turned upon her but that he felt sc
broken by thought of losing his place
and resented her gayety, her indiffer,
ence, her secrecies-sll that made him
30 miserable through this long year
But he had not the spiIit.
He went to dress as she had asked
him, When he returned to the parlol
Stephen Halliburton and his wife sa'
upon the sofa side by side. 1t was rare
, indeed to see Georges fair face so lllu
minated. Her cheeks were glowing
, her eyes were sparkling.
AS for Mr.. Halliburton he was always
the quiet gentleman, with no sense o
being cut of his place, no apparent sus
. | piciOn of what was ranking in thu
heart of his emplOyee.