The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-07-25
She s; emed colder to him after
this, and lie kept silent.

TINS, ana he kept silent.
He knew that she met Halihur-
ton at her aunt s.; he knew that
she went to the seaside the ensuing
Summer, for weeks visit to Mrs.
Paul Appleton-there he was also,
lie knew that she seemed to be liv-
ing a life apart from him; and
olce-that was when the iron en-
tered his soul, when he went to her
little desk, present he had made
her during Their engagement--tor q
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
lighting his way against it as best
he could,' hoping, with q sick
heart, that "she might see it right
by-and-by.'
The months wore away. The
second year Of their marriage was
nearly completed. John had been
! very careiul-as careful as George
her>elt-tlat there should be no.
outward and visible sign Of misun-
derstanding or coldness between
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 indul,
gehce within his power. lie had
prepared surprise tor her on the
coming anniversary Of their wed.
ding during tie year.
The anniversary fell upon Sun
day and 70 their little commemor-
alton Of the day must come the
preceding evening. No aIlusion
had been made to any celebration
by either Of them; but John felt
sure, some way, that she could not
let the tlrae pass without some sign.
for his own part, he had halt re-.
SolveAto attempt some explanation
Of their estnngement Anything,
he thought, would be better than
this chilling reserve. With his
mind divided between the anticipa-
ton Of relief and jealous dread.
he went to the counting house that
Saturday night to receive his mon--
ey. The cashier looked up with a
certain embarrassment at his ap-
proach.
"Ah, Mr.. Randall-the accumu-
lation you have left in my hands?
10 be sure! And, BY the way, Mr..
Halliburton spoke to me that there
were to be some changes made, and
--aud--but there he is himself, sir"
John Randa | turned, with a
feeling akin to desperation, to meet
his employer. it had gone through
him like a thurderbolt, as the cash
Ter spoke, hat he was to be dis
placed. Stephen Halliburton sim
ply said as John faced him; "Pll
not detain you now, Mr.. Randall.
| shall call this evening to let you
know Of the changes feel obliged
10 make"
And the owner bowed and left
him.
With the money in his nerveless
hands, John Randall walked home
ward like a man dazed. He was
to lose his place, For what reason,
he could not conjecture. But to.
lose it, was to lose reputation, cour-
age-eyerything. lie had never
such possibility as that.
The money that he canied--he
should not dare to make present
Of it to George now, He might
have to wait for other employment.
1t might be needed for their bare
everyday need, before he got work
again. Achill like death struck to
his soul.
George, evidently, had not over
looked the recurrence Of their we'd
ling day. The cosy rooms Of the
cottage al. wore a little air Of &s-
tivity. Some slender vases held
he gleanings Of the fiower-beds;
,hrysanthemums- blood-red, white
md purplev-yerbenas, and scarlet
yesl,iurns>
She came to the door that night