Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-09

ing that among my causes Of happiness
"Well, you may, can tell you. 1t
makes all the difference In the world In
the pleasure of having children"
"Does 1t 2" said Pamela again, but
gravely this time. "rhen l have one
more thing to be thankful for than l
knew"
81 should think, II you ore in the habit
of naming over all your causes of thank-
fullness, you would never get throrg gh,"
Mrs. George went on, with some sort of
an edge to her voice.
81 never do get through, )" said Pamela.
"George did one good thing for you,
didn't hel"
"When %
George had been fool enough to tell
his wife.
"My brother has done more than one
good thing for me since we have been in
the world together" said Pamela, lightly.
"But ! did not know that a letter was
one of them. What letter 70
'It can't do any possible harm for you
to know now," said Mrs. Bradshaw,
doubtfully-"now that everything has
turned out Just right, and you all are as
happy as you can be-"
al shouldn't think II would do any
HARM" sail Pamela. "What letter are
you talking aboutl'
"7ns letter But don't you tell told
you"
as It Georges secret % said Palmela.
~ advise you not to tell your husbands
secrets"
'Ite rather yours, think"
81 have no secrets in letters" said Pa
mela, laughing. 81 never wrote letter
rin my life that wouldn't be willing all
tho world should see-'f it was the
worlds business"
"But this is Georges letter, and don't
think you would be just willing that all
the world should see IT,"
"George's letter to whom ~
"Mr. Russell" said Mrs. Bradshaw,
dropping her voice.
It struck Pamela instantly that George
had asking to borrow money. She had
not been aware that he was In any trou-
bic Of that sort and she bent inquiring
eyes upon her visitor.
eyes. Oh you need not look grave
about ii. This was long ago, you know
It's all past"
"Waat is past q" inquired Palema,
much bewildered.
"Oh the letter, and the need for It,
and all that sort of thing. It can't be
any harm for you to know about 1t now.
It's just something to laugh over, that's
ALL"
"H hat is something to laugh over 20
"Why, the letter and all about II. Did
you never hear about that letter 7"
81 do not know what you are talking
of, aud you seem very slow to enllghten
me. Has George been in difficulty 2"
"George in difficulty. No, it's yoWp
'I never was in difficulty in my life"
: said Mrs Russell.
ooh yes, you were-once, a great
while ago SO long you have almost for
gotten about 1t. The year before you
were married. Don't you remember ~
'Remember what 70 said Mrs. Russell,
, with opening eyes of wonder.
L ''Being in diflicultyl Oh not for
! money, you know, for something more
precious and more hard TO come by"
"Maria, do not know what you are
d talking about"
"well, that was the time my husband
! wrote your husband letter. 1t worked
wonders"
There drew gradually a cloud over the
others face as the lady spoke-mounting
n slowly, as one sees heavy storin-clOud
in the northwest rising over the tops OF
4 the mountains, and charged like that
with lurid colOrs, telling OF the violence
4 of elements at work within it. But Pa
mela turRed her face away from the visi.
tor, answering her carelessly, that no
4 doubt Mr.. Russell eoHld tell her all about
the matter In question and thea pre-
q vented her eilectnslly fiom herself going
+ on any further with Ii. Mrs. George was
!. Obliged to take her departure without
having bad any "fuu'' at All over her uls'
"a closures.
Mrs. Russell was found in bed whom heI
r. husband returned from the concert. The
next morning was Sunday. She was bet
Il ter she said but she would not go dowI
st stairs till diuner time. Frank must go tl
ID church without her. But she sent a mes
10 sage 10 sally Russell to come and sea her
r before church LINE.
}, Sally found her sister-in.law in q
le wrapper and an easy chair, looking pale
re and, she thought, in some incxplcabl'
way not well but Mrs. Russell was s5at
l. ed with her back to the light and there wal
70 not time for observations. If the ligh
le on Pamea's face had been sufficient t.
y, show II, her visitor would have seen thai
e. it took an added degree of paleness il
er the very act of putting her first question
I'd Before putting II, however, the time was
allowed to run on in sundry nothings
d. until Pamela heard the house-doOr clos
IS NIOH nNl II iEbdtNs AANA 1Ah Hf'AANf
d. "Maria Bradshaw was here last night
lie talking at random about things that hap
ed pened before | was married, Sally. De
to you know anything that do not know
er and that | ought TO have known =
p sally said aiterward that she felt like
W. person struck by thuuderbOlt. Sh
er could not speak word. No answer wa
u made.
lie 30 you know" Mrs. Russell went on
nd lower -"do you know-did you eve
% hear of letleri'
py "Of what letter 2" Sally managed L
re- ask.
20, "written to Frank by my brother
sd Did he write such enc p
fe. "What do you mean by such a one ~
"Asking him to marry me-"
fe. "No, no My dear sister, no! You
Ter brother never asked him that"
las What did he ask him ~
ri. "I do not think he asked him an.
las thing"
aw "What did he write then ~
Sally was silent.
nor "There was letter 20
Sc. "Yes," she said, slowly. "There wi
rst letter."
"To what effect 70
lie. Again Sally hesitaied.
"You have seen IL :"
MI "Yes."
Get it for me-"
He 81 cannot" said Sally. 81 do not lno
he where il is, If it is anywhere. / do II
believe il is in existence. oh ! Panel
ind what doesit signify now 1t is of no 50
aid of consequences"
'en 81 want to know what was in it. YC
read it. Tell me-"
do sit is so long ago." pleaded Sally.
"Tell me what you can remember"
re sit was a very handsome letter, l
hen member dear Pamela. II is so long az
why rake itup 1t is a thing of the pa;
ven And you know you have had Franz
ali whole heart for 50 long-you are sure
hat that"
81 hadn't il then 2"
the The tone was short and sharp. Sal
rpe. hesitated.
6nd 'Did he love me before that 2"
81 think, perhaps, not" sally al
Pa. wered, very unwilling but helpless. NJ
1in- Russell was silent few minutes.
ny. "How long before my marriage was 1t
,on. "What -
ms "That letter."
OF 81 do not remember exactly"
the "Was it"-Mrs. Russell leaned 4
ward a little and spoke low-''was 1t
ella fore he began 10 visit me, after a 10
the time when he did not come at all Z"
side 81 think, perhaps, 1t was. IL was
the good while before you were married.
and "Then he did not love me before
,ck were married :" Mrs. Russell SAID, al
mai another pause and with evident effort.
TO "Dear Pamela, there must be neg