The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-09-27

h0arsely. Are you III earneSt:"
ayes, in terrible, terrible earnest,
as to-morrow's proceedings will show.
| have not a dollar in the world which
| can honestly call my own. Foryour
sake regret it. You worship wealth
and position. you told me once; have
never forgotten it. God knows | pity
YOU"
"What are we to do?" she asked,
brokenly, for, try as she might, the
tears would not be repressed.
II do not know" he answered,
vaguely. "The tidings reached me
but few hours ago, and since then |
have thought Of nothing but how |
should tell you without breaking your
heart. am not too old to work for
you, Margery; but how will you en-
dure our mistortunes? You will doubt
less reproach me for not having pro-
vided against this contingency when
we were married, but / did not know
then that you sold yourself to me. 7
thought that you loved me q little,
Notwithstanding the disparity of years
between u.s."
He ceased speaking and abruptly left
the room. For moment Margery's
heart sottened toward him, but the
next she rose up, and, sweeping her
eyes over the magnificent apartment,
said bitterly:
mo, no, | cannot live without
them."
She ascended to her chamber, where
her maid was waiting her coming.
She wearily submitted herself to her
skillful hands, and having substituted
a morning wrapper for the party robes,
she dismissed her sleepy attendant and
sank into an easy chair which stood
before the fire She folded her white
jeweled hands in her lap and thought
over the events of the past few years.
''What a vain, protitless life | have
livedw she murmured regretfully.
''Who has been benefited by it? Not
even myself. And with the abundant
means have wasted how much good
| might have done. Have |, indeed,
been happier than was when sat in
my little chamber, the only ornaments
possessed white rose for my hair
and my old mothers old-fashioned
wedding-ring for my tinger?" And
with her mothers memory came back
a tenderness, softness to the heart of
Margery Leslie which had not visited
it for years. ut is not too late to re-
trieve myself and will," she added,
resolutely, II cannot recall the past,
but / can at least prove to my husband
that | am not dead to all sense ofhonor
and shame"
Margery descended to the breakfast
room a different person. The elements
OF true womanhood had so long slum-
bered in her breast that only the rudest
shock could have aroused them, With
the awakening came the conviction of
her unworthiness and determination
to regain esteem she had lost. Colonel
Leslie was not present at the table,
and to the servant who summoned him
he said:
Excuse me to your mistress and
bring me cup coffee. wish moth
ing else"
Il will carry it to him myself" said
Margery, when she received the mes
sage. and in few moments more she
entered the library where he was sitt-
ing.
"Can | assist you?" she said, softly,
as she deposited the unique silver
breakfast service at his side.
He hail not noticed her presence be-
fore lie glanced hastily in her face
and the tears stood in his eyes.
~ do not know whether You can or
not" he replied, almost wildly. ''My |
brain is in a whirl. These papers,"
pointing to the heaps upon his either |
hand, represent all possessed.
have been here all night, Margery, and |
my conviction, aftera thorough inves-
tigation,i is that we are almost beggars."
"You must rest now, at any rate"
she said, gently: ''and when you have
drank your coffee we will talk our
over"
Whilst he partook Of his breakfast
she busted herself in arranging the
disordercd apartment. Sheturned off
the Gas, which still burned brilliantly,
and throwing aside the heavy curtains, I
the sunlight into the room,
Not until that did she observe the
change that had taken place in her
husbands appearance. He was worn
and haggard, and his whole frame
as with an ague. Margery
vat down near him, and, leaning her
arm upon the table looked into his
face.
You are too easily discouraged,
Colonel Leslie" she exclaimed with
emotion.
II comprehend eur situation much
more clearly than you do, he replied,
yloomily.
"Of the business details, | am, of
,ourse, ignorant, = she answered; shut
hey donot alter nor affect the fact |
which 50 intimately concerns ISL" =