Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-11-21

Sia9e that Has b convey her IN large % !,
cial gathering 1t fashionable friend's.-I
She vas dressed in costly lace. over rich |
silss, snd e>esy detail Of her costume was
faulsless in finish, and Of choicest quality !
Her face was Pale. and her eyes very sad.
She looked mp - the door opened. hop
ing to ses Wilton. though il ves long
sisse he had spent aa evening in her %
eic<y. lnssrsa ef his tall. grsesfsl 6gsrs.
the portly fOra Of her ssep.fasher entered
the room. .-
Miriam spsasg forward With . glad
smile.
81 su 90 glad to sec you" she said.
warmly.
bet yoa were going out 81
"Only to get rid Of my lonclines and
myself. ! shall be happier here with
you"
Truly. Miriam? Will you treat me
.s yeur father tonight? ] have come
here upon . painful and delicate errand.
and want yeur confidence"
She vas silent moment. and then said.
"You shall have it,"
"You love your husband. Miriam: :"
Great tears answered him.
"Do you love society. dress AMI excite
met: better thar you do Wil:cn."
NO, no. A thousand times. no -
"Could You give these all up for his
saker'
you have no motive for asking this -
81 have. indeed. love your husband
also, Miriam. I have learned to respect
him, 20 trust him. and 10 believe that you
were right. and was wrong. when you
decided to trust your life's happiness in
his hands"
"But father. some great change has
come over Wilton. lie seems absorbed
in money making
"Oue year ago your husband asked me
to keep secret from you, believing he
was increasing your happiness by doing
so. consented. but l an convinced now
that the deceit is wrong He has assum-
cd burden that is too heavy for him to
bear. and you are not happier than you
were year ago"
"Happer I" cried Miriam. imrulsively;
II am wi etched. Wrctchcd in losing my
husbands society and confidence ~
"You shall not complain Of that again.
| am breaking my promise, hut you will
soon understand ny mc.ive. A year
ago, the bank in which every guirt- O.
your private fortune was invested failed
and everything was lost. This house, and
the money Wilton had paid to secure his
-.s~:.-a,, --e-s ~ .t-t --.s i"r. ~
ury. society and extravaganza were ueces-
sary for your happiness. Wilton implorcd
me to keep the fact secret from you, and
braced himself for tusscl With fortune.
resolved to regain, by his own exertions.
What was swep. away By the failure, be-
fore YOU could discover the loss. But,
Miriam, he is everlasting his strength !;
and you are becoming butt for severe
censurcs on your extravacants. Ny Sc
cret has burdcned me too long. and you
must now yourself be the judge Of the
right course to pursue
Miriam vas weeping. but the tears were
not all bitter. She gave its full need o.
gratitude to the love that would have
shielded her from the knowlcdgc Of pov.
erty and pain and yet she could scarce
ly forgive the want Of confiicuce in hcl
: own ability to bear the sacrifice that th,
deceit implied.
1t was long before she spoke. but whcr
, she did. her eyes we're bright snl her 9oict
= clear aud firm.
$ ..Thc house is mine - she asked.
"Certainly. But i. needs such larg
e income to sustain such an establish
ment."
r Tell me what style Of house docs vii
: toms income warrant. mean the incom
he had two years ago"
"A smaller house dear-no carriage
n no housckecper; two servants. bu. Ger
!. sainly DO foo,nan in livery; no conserva
= tory
4 stop. stop. understand you. Yo
IS will see. father. If am made unhapn
c by your kind frnrkness. Wilton is in th
: library, absorbed in business. Will yo
9 wait here while speak to him -
Il Il will come again" he said kindly
j. GOOD night, Miriam. Heaven grant
), have Judged your heart rightly"
G But Miriam did not seek her husban
at once. l, seemed mockery TO 60
= him with diamonds flashing from her ric
is dress: so she sought her own room. az
/, putting aside her evening toilette. dresse
2 herself plainly. but carefully, and thet
y knecling down. prayed with earnest fc
N vor before she left the apartment.
,t Wilton
e The harrassed, weary man looked NJ
J. Wilton. you should have trusted me
'e Give me your heart, your confidence. In
ls husband ~
Hebowed his hesd upon her outstrctche
lg hands.
rs Can you bear it. Miriam"
Ii Il can bear anything. if you are besi.
In me-if you love. aud :ras: me. What
10 cannot bear is to believe my husband loy
e. money better than his wife. ~
nj mo, no.
IL Il understand that now. But the
IL mus, be confidence between US. Wiltos
eu | mu.t he your tue wife. bearing 20
nj sorrows and your rcverscs."
- My own brave darling "
er He was standing beside her now al
for the srst time in that long. weary ye:
K the old Lrigh, look VIZ. on his bandso'
lo, face, aud the old clear ring in his voit
Ice His arm vas around her, and she lean
,e- upon his breast.
si. .Fcr2iyc nc. be said. earnestly. 81
nd doubling yeur o0urase-Dsvsr your io'
nd Miriam"
Ely She laughed merry. brish. laugh. a
then plsyfully closing his desk. she dr.
-. hin 70 seat beside her. and skctchcd
~ burie.9ue Iiesurs Of their fsuss h0u