Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-02-23
T'HE Red CLOAK.


from the firm, J. know by the envelope"
And answering her husbands quick
| glance of interest, the young wife placed
the letter in his eagerly extended hand, adj
ding with a smile, - if did not know that
it is business, Philip, think should claim
my privilege and peep over your shoulder
While you read"
! "You are welcome to do it, my darling;
| you know l have no secrets from you"
Very well, sir, will consent to stay
| here until you have read your letter it
has just occurred to me that you might
want my advice about something, for you
| know that am your better half"
g More than half, little woman you are
nearer the whole. l don't know what l
Should do without you, Grace. Manned,
helpless, where should l be but for your
tender nursing, which is doing more than
| anything to make me WE'LL
As he spoke Philip Holt looked with sor-
rowful significance at his bandaged leg,
| which was supported on a chair. He had
| been for some weeks suffering from COM
| pound fracture and other injuries sustained
in fall from a dOg-cart. Philip was a
clerk in mercantile house in the small
town OF Oldingham. He had been about
| two years married to Grace Howard a
| young nursery governess, and the orphan
daughter OF country surgeon; she had
| brought him no other marriage doWry than
her fair face and true heart.
The young pair had begun life with love
as their chief worldly capital; and thanks
to their united efforts-to the wife's talent
| Tor domestic management and the hus-
| bands habits Of industry and economy
all had gone well with them up to the date
| of his unfortunate accident. Until then
| there had been no shadow of care in the
little home, which had been their earthly
| paradise, though it consisted only Of two
! plainly furnished rooms, the second floor
OF small house in the suburb of the town;
but, as Philip fondly said, Grace had such
happy way of making everything look
bright about her.
The young wife understood her hus-
| bands sOrroWful glances, but she tried to
divert his thoughts, saying playfully, = Come,
Philip, your letter; thought you were in
hurry to read it; now [ am getting impa-
tient to hear what the firm have to say
| perhaps they have written to tell you that
they cannot do without you any longer"
| Was it fOreboding Of coming evil that
made Philip hesitate before he opened the
envelope, conscious of vague feeling of
uneaslnesS as he glanced at the bright
face that was smiling over his shoulder? =?
She seemed SO full OF hopeful anticipation,
to Which he was unable to respond, for he
could not divest himself of strange, unde-
| finable fear connected with the letter.
''What is the matter, Philip? Are you
| i'll"
This was the young wife's anxious ques-
! ton as she saw her husband suddenly
| drop the letter and heard his half-stifed
cry. When she caught sight of his CHASTITY
paleness and altered manner she hastily
picked up the letter, exclaiming:
| ooh, Philip, what is it ?"
| cause of his agitation she now felt sure
| Her first care was to soothe him, and she
| was to soothe him, and she did it in the
tender, womanly fashion that seldom fails
| Of its power over the sex of sterner mould.
"Is it bad news ? Tell me, Philip, is it
bad news ? Don't try to keep it back with
the thought of sparing me. Your trouble
is mine, and whatever it is, must bear my
part"
In reply the poor fellow wound his arm
about her slight figure, and in bis heart
blessed her for the comfort which her low
ing, courageous words had given him.
Come" she urged, with fond persis-
tence that was not to be turned aside, "tell
me the worst it cannot be anything very
dreadful. The doctor says you are getting
better, and while you are spared to me,
Philip, [ think | could bear anything"
lie tried to smile, but it faded from his
| lips as he pushed the letter, which she had
placed on the table, towards her, faltering
Read for yourself, darling. 1t is from
the firm they send me notice of dismis-
SAL"
1t was true. Philips employers, Messrs.
Hardman 81 Joyce, had written few cold,
curt words to apprise their clerk that his
continued absence had caused inconve-
nience, which had made it necessary to ap-
point another to supply his place, and as
this arrangement had proved satisfactory to
them, they begged to inform Phillip Holt
that his services were dispensed with from
that date.
The husband and wife looked at each
other in silence. 1t was a cruel blow which
was thus unexpectedly dealt him both
could realize what it was to be cast out of
employment during time of commercial
depression, and winter days found him
still on the forlorn list of the unemployed.
Looking at his thin face her heart ached
for him in the trouble which had come up-
on them, for he was far from strong, and
the little comforts had become almost ne
ceSsities of life to him. What was to be
done? The expense entailed by his acci-
dent had already made serious inroads up
OH the slender sum which they had man
aged to save. This was the question that
presented itself to Philip as his face caught
and retained the shadow which had passed
over that of Grace.
81 never thought they would have acted
like this, Grace, after the years have been
in their employ. 1t is hard that aman's
misfortune should be visited against him as
fault, but I know who l have to thank
for it. With all his oddities, Mr.. Hardman
would not have done such thing.'
''Would it do any good to apply to him,
Philip"
''NO," returned the husband, gloomily ;
sit would be useless. Mr.. Hardman leaves
all to his son-in-law, Mr.. Joyce, who mana
ges everything, the partner included.''
"Could not go to Mr.. Hardman, Philip,
and explain it to him ?'
''No, Grace; I don't think he would act
against Mr.. Joyce, for he almost believes
he cannot do wrong"
'sNever mind, Philip; don't grieve; some
thing else will be sure to turn up; you are
so very clever, aud your leg will be we'll in
a few weeks"
E'You forget, Grace, that all our savings
are nearly spent, and that may find some
difficulty in getting another situation
The halfirritable tone of his voice hurt
the young wife, who had struggled so hard
to hide from him her own feeling. She
burst into tears, murmuring, reproachfully,
Il forgot-I forgot. Philip! oh how L wish
l could! 1 cannot forget. dear; but can
pray that we may be spared such trials"
"My dear, dear wife, forgive me; am SO
miserable that hardly know what said
Oh! if it had come at any other time"
!
Showing still, as it had showed for hours.
The air was full of bli1ding mist from
thickly-falling fakes which the wind drifted
into masses through the cold white streets.
| The office clock pointed to a quarter past