The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-05-03

poruy form OF her step-father entered the
room.
Miriam sprang forward with a joyful
smile.
IL am so glad to see you" she said.
But you were going out2"
Only to be rid of my loneliness and
myself. shall be far happier here with
you"
Truly, Miriam? viii you treat me
as your father to-night2 l have come
here upon painful and delicate errand,
and l want your confidence"
She was silent moment, and then said,
"You shall have it"
"You love your husband, Miriam ?"
Great tears answered him.
"Do you love society, dress and excite
ment better than you do Wilton ?"
"No, no A thousand times nc"
"Could you give these all up for his
sake2"
"You have some motive for asking
this"
II have, indeed. l love your husband
also, Miriam. have learned to respect
him, to trust him, and to 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. He seems absorbed
in money-making"
zone year ago your husband asked me
to keep a secret from you, believing he
was increasing your happiness by doing
so. / consented, but am convinced now
that the deceit is wrong. He has assumed
a burden that is too heavy for him to bear,
and you are not happier that you were
year ago"
"Happier !" cried Miriam, impulsiyely;
81 am wretched Wretched in losing my
husbands society and confidence ~
"You shall not complain of that again.
am breaking my promise, but you will
soon understand my motive A year ago,
the bank in which every guinea of your
private fortune was invested failed, and
everything was lost. This house, and the
money Wilton had paid to secure his busi-
ness position, were all that was left of your
fathers wealth. Convinced that luxury.
society, and extravagance were necessary
for your happiness, Wilton implOred me to
keep the fact secret from you, and braced
himself for tussle with fortune, resolved
to regain by his own exertions, what was
swept away by the failure, before you
could discover the loss. But Miriam, he
is everlasting his strength and you are
becoming a butt for severe censures on
your extravaganza. My secret has bur
dened me too long, and you must now
yourself be the judge of the right course
to pursue"
Miriam was weeping, but the tears were
not all bitter. She gave its full need of
gratitude to the love that would have
shielded her from the knowledge of pow
erty and pain and yet she could scarcely
forgive the want of confidence in her own
ability to bear the sacrifice that the deceit
implied.
1t was long before she spoke, but when
she did, her eyes were bright, and her
voice clear and firm.
"The house is mine ?" she asked.
Certainly. But it needs such large
income to sustain such an establishment"
"Tell me what style of house does Will
tons income warrant mean the income
he had two years ago."
"a smaller house, dear--no carriage; no
housekeeper two servants, but certainly
no footman in livery; no conservatory
-
"Stop, stop l understand you. You
will see, father, if / am made unhappy by
your kind frankness. Wilton is in the
library, absorbed in business. Will you
wait here while l speak to him ?"
al will come again." he said kindly.
"Good night, Miriam. Heaven grant |
Judged your heart rightly"
But Miriam did not seek her husband
at once. 1t seemed mockery to go to
him with diamonds flashing from her rich
dress so she sought her own room, and
putting aside her evening toilette, dressed
herself plainly, but carefully, and then
kneeling down, prayed with earnest fervor
before she left the apartment.
"Wilton I"
The harrassed weary man looked up.
wilton, you should have trusted me
Give me your heart, your confidence, my
husband |"
He bowed his head upon her outstretch-
ed hands,
"Can you bear it, Miriam?"
81 can bear anything if you are beside
me-if you love, and trust me. What |
cannot bear is to believe my husband loves
money better than his wife |"
"No, nor
II understand that now. But there
must be confidence between us. Wilton !;
l must be your true wife, bearing your
sorrows and your reverses."
"My own brave darlingI"
He was stap1ing beside her now and
for the first time in that long, weary year,
the old bright look was on his handsome
face, and the old clear ring in his voice.
His arm was around her, and she leaned
upon his breast.
Forgive me-" he said, earnestly, ''for
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