The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-08-31


any thing should come between them
) II won't wrong her and tease her will
suspicious, he said to himself, in the
depth Of the night. ''I1l just fight my
way the beSt can against it, I'll keep OF
steady. Perhaps shell see it right by
} and-by."
Poor fellow he did not realize how hil
own determination implied the drearJ
thought that her heart was turned from
him. He raised himself on his arm Il
look At her as she slept; and all through
what followed he retained the pure, calm
face, as it pressed the pillow, whiteI.ed
by the moonlight that glinted the frost
ON the window-psnes and flooded the
room.
She seemed colder to him after this, and
he kept silent
He knew that she met Halliburton at her
sunt's he knew that she went TO the ses-
side the ensuing Summer, fr a weeks
visit to Mrj Paul Appleton, there he was
also. He knew that she seemed TO be iv-
ing life apart from him and once that
was when the iron entered his soul, when
he went to her little desk, a present he
had made her during their engagement
for a sheet of note paper, and found it
locked. 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, F" hoping, with
a sick heart, that she might see it right
byand-by."
The months wore away The second
year Of their marriage was nearly com
pletcd. John had been very careful-as
careful rs George herself-that there
should be no outward and visible sign Of
misunderstanding or coldness between
them. No suspicion had come to any that
the second year of their married life had
been less happy than the hrst. Nor had
he ever omitted to give her any little in
dul-ence within his power He had pre-
pared a surprise for her on the coming
anniversary Of their wedding during the
year
The anniversary fell upon Sunday and
50 their little commemOratiom of the day
must come the proceeding evening No
allusion had been made to any celebra-
tion by either uf 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 explanation Of their estrangement.
Any thing, he thought would he better
han this chilling reserve. With his mind
| divided between the anticipation of relief
and Jealous dread he went to the count
\ ing house that Saturday night to receive
I his money. The cashier looked up with
certain embarrassment at his approach.
All, Mr. Randall-the accumulation
you have left in my hands To be sure
Ard, by the way, Mr.. Halliburton spoke
t. me that there were t. 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 thunder
bolt, as the cashier spoke, that he was to
be displaced. Stephen Halliburton simply
said, as John faced him I'm not de
tain you now, Mr.. Randall I shall call
this evening to let you know Of the changes
| feel Obliged to make.
And the owner bowed and left him.
! With the money III his nerveless hands,
John Randall walked homeward like a
man dazed. He was to lose his place
For what reason, he could not conjecture
J Dul w lOoC H. WnS W ipSC ECYub8thvAly
courage He had never i'm
agined such possibility As that. The
money that he carried-he should not
dare to make present Of it to GeOrgis
now. He might have to wait for other
employment II might he needed for
their bare everyday need. before he got
work again. A chill like death struck
his soul
George. evidently, had not overlooked
the recurrence Of their wedding day. The
cosy rooms Of the cottage all wore little
air Of festivity. Some slender vaces held
the gleanings Of the tiower-beds chrysan-
themums bloOd-red, white and purple
verbenas. and scarlet geraniums.
She came to the door that night to
meet him-one Of her g company" dresses
on, some knots Of velvet fastening her
color, and seeming to give a glow and
brightness to her whith skin. He took
her hand she raised her face, and with
wild Il artbound he kissed it, as he had
not for years before. She was coming
back to him again. That was the thought
that thrilled him. Her infatuation-ifs if such
it had been--was at an end. She was his
once more And then, close upon his
new happiness, came the dreary recollec-
ton of his lost situation. He thrust the
money in his pocket. ByAand-by he
would tell her all.
" You won't mind waiting supper for an
hour, will you, John r she asked, as she
led him in. I am going to give you
somsthing nice by-and-by, and-I think
Mr. Halliburton will be in
John Randalrs blood froze once more
1t was not for him, then, that all These
preparations were made. George had
never spoken Mr. Haliburton's name tn
him before. He could feel that she was
embarrassed a. she did 80.
n want you TO dress John, she added.
cosxingly. 81 have laid everything out
for you"
1t seemed TO him that he would have
turned upon her but that he felt so broken
by the thought Of losing his place, and
resented her gayety, her indifference, her
secrecies-all that made him % 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 upon the sofa
side by side. 1t was rare indeed to see
Georges fair face so Illuminated. Her
cheeks were glowing, her eyes were spark.
ling.
As for Mr. Halliburton he was ALWAYS
the quiet gentleman, with no sense of be-
ing out Of his place, no apparent suspicion
of what was ranking in the heart of his
employee.
What nice little supper George had
ready. Yet nobody ate
Finally the supper was over, and they
went back to the parlor.
George disappeared for moment, and,
returning, approached her husband, glanc.
ing shyly at the same time to her guest,
whose face frightened beyond its wont, a.
he cought her eye.
I'VE meant TO make it all very formal
John but I see Mr.. Halliburton thinks
might ~ well tell it in my own way"
She named and a aOher nallor ,va~