Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-08-24
ROMANCE OF AIRED CLOAK
Two Misfortunes Make One Good
Fortune.

WAS that the postmau's knock
Grace 2"
eyes, dear, and here is a letter for yol
from the firm, know by the envelope"
And answering her husbands quicl
glance Of interest, the young wife place.
the letter in his eagerly extended hand
adding, with smile; " IL | did not know
that it is business, Philip, think shoul'
claim my privilege and peep over you
shoulder while you read"
You are welcome to do 1t, my darling
You know have no secrets from you.
"very we'll, sir, | will consent to stay
here until you have read your letter II
has lust occurred to me that you might
want my advice about something, for you
know that am your better half"
More than half, little woman; you ART
nearer the whole. don't know what
should do without you, Grace. Manned
helpless, where should be but for youl
tender nursing, which is doing more than
anything to make me we'll"
A. he spoke, Philip Holt looked will
so,rowful significance at Ills bandaged
leg, which was supported on a chair. lie
had been for some weeks suffering from II
compound fracture, and other injuries sus-
fained IN fall from dog.cart. PhiliI
was clerk in marchantile housc' in the
small town of Oldingham. lie had been
about two years hurried to Grace Howard
a. young nursery goycrncss, and the or
phan daughter of a country surgeon
she had brought him no other marriage
dowry than her far face and true hcaIt.
The young pair had begun life with love
as their chief worldly capital and All .nks
TO their united eiloIts-tO the wile's talent
and for domestic management and the
husbands habits of industry and rcono-
my-Rll had gone well with them up tu
the date of his unfortunate accident. I'm
Ill then there had been no shadow OF care
IN the little home, which had been theil
earthly paradise, though ii consisted only
Of two plainly furnished rooms, the see
ond hoor of IL small house in the suburbs
vi the town; but us Philip fnndly said
Grace had such IL harry way Of making
everything look bright about her.
The young wife understood her hus'
bands sorrow full glance, hut she tried u
divert his thoughts, saying playtully,
"Come, Philip, your letters ! thought
you were in hurry to read IL 5 now am
getting impatient to hear what the firm
has to say perhaps they have written to
tell you that they cannot do without YOU
any longer"
Was il foreboding Of coming III tha
made Philip hesitate before he opened tit
envelope, conscious of vague feeling o
uneasness as he glanced at the bright face
that WAS smiling over his shoulder ! Sh,
seemed 50 full OF hopeful anticipation, Il
which he was unable to RESPOND, for HI
could not dlyest himself of a strange, in
deanable fear connected with the letter.
"What is the matter, Philips are yOt
M"
This was the young wife's anxious qucs
ton, as she saw her husband suddenl
drop the letter aud heard his half stlle
cry When she cnught sight Of his ghasi
ly paleness and altered manner, she hasti
ly picked up the letter, eyclaiming, "ul
Philip what Is iti"
That something In the letter was th
cause of his agt stiOn, she now felt sure
Her frst care was to sOothe him. aud sh
did ii in the tender, wOmanly fashion tina
eeldom fails of its power over the sex q
sterner mould.
"Is 1t bad news tell me, Philip, is
bad newsi Don't try to keep it back Wit
the thought of sparng me Your troubl
is mine, and whatever ii is | must bear m
part"
In reply, the poor fellow wound h
arm about her slight figure, and, IN h
heart, blessed her for the comfort whic
her loving, courageous had given him.
"Comc," she urged, with fond persi'
tence that was not to Ice turned aside, "te
me the worst il cannot be very dreadful
The doctor says you are getting bette
aud while you are spared to me, Philip,
think | could bear anything"
He tried to smile, but ii faded from Ii
lips us he pushed the letter, which she Il,
placed ON the table, toward her, filterin
"Read for yourself, darling 1t is fro
the firm they sent me notice Of dismI
SAL"
Il was true. Philips employers, Mcssi
Hardman " Joyce, had written fc
cold, curt words to applise their clei
that his continued absence had caused
convenience which had made il necessa
toappoint another to supply his placc,a
as this arrangement had proved satsfl
tory to them, they begged to inform Phi
Holt that his services were dispensed wi
from that date
IL.
The husband and wife looked at ea
other In silence. 1t WIS a cruel blow Will
was thus dealt him; both could real
what II was to be cast ont of empoym,
during time of commercial drprcssi,
and knew all that it would involve, if
coming winter days found him still
the folorn list of the unemployed. Lu,
ing at his thin face, her heart ached
him In the trouble which had come uI
them, for he was yet far from strong, ,
the little home comforts had become
most necessities of life to him. What
to be donei The expenses, entailed by
accident, had already made serious lnro
upon the slender sum which they
managed to save. This was the quest
that presented itself to Philip, as his
caught and retained the shadow wi
had passed over that of Grace.
81 never thought they would have
cd like this, Grace, after the years b