The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-05-29

come over Wilton. He seems absorbed
in money-making.
Zone year ago your husband asked
me to keep a secret from you. Believ-
ing he was increasing your happiness
by SO doing, L consented, but am con-
vinced now that the deceitis wrone. He
has assumed burden that is too heavy
for him to heat, and you are not hap
pier than you were year ago."
" Happier ~ cried Miriam, impuls-
lively. "I am wretched p wretched in
losing my husbands society and conf
dence."
"You shall not complain of that
again. I 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 in
vested failed, and everything was lost.
This house, and the money Wilton had
paid to secure his business position,
were all that was left of your fathers
wealth. Convinced that luxury, society,
and extravaganza were necessary for
your happiness, Wilton implored me to
keep the fact q secret from you and
braced himself for tussle with fortune,
resolved to regain by his own exertions
what was swept away by the failure be-
fore you could discover the loss. But,
Miriam, he is overtasking his strength !;
and you are becoming a butt for severe
censure on your extravaganza. My Sc
cret has burdened 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 it's full
need of gratitude to the love that
would have shielded her from the know
ledge of poverty and pain; and yet she
could scarcely forgive the want of conf
dence 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.
"Thc house is mine?" she asked.
"Certainly. But it needs large in
come to sustain such an establishment. "
"Tell me what style of house does
Wilton's income warrant? [ mean the
income he had two years ago."
ga smaller house, DEAR carriage;
no housekeeper; two servants, but GER
tainly no footman in livery; no con-
servatory-"
"Stop, stop understand you. You
will see, father, if 1 am made unhappy
by your kind frankness. Wilton is in
the library absorbed in business. Will
you wait here while speak to him?"
81 will come again soon," he said
kindly. "Good night, Miriam. Heaven
grant have judged your heart rightly" "
But Miriam did not seek her husband
at once. 1t seemed a mockery to go to
him with diamonds flashing from her
rich dress; so she sought her own room,
aPa aSsgsd pg9g hegse fiq baHy hy fGHpcs and %
and then kneeling down prayed with
earnest fervor before she left the apart
ment.
"Wilton!"
The harassed weary man looked up.
"Wilton, you should have trusted
me. Give me your heart, your conf,
dence, my dear husband"
He bowed his head upon her out.
stretched hands.
"Can you bear it, Miriam?"
81 can. bear anything if you are be
side me,-if you love and trust me
What l cannot bear is to believe that my
husband loves money better than his
wife!
"No, no!'
81 understand that now. But there
must be confidence between us, Wilton
[ must be your true wife, bearing you
sorrows and your reverses."
"Nly own brave darling!''
He was standing beside her now, an(
for the first time in that long wear,
year the old bright look was on hi
weary face and the old clear ring was il
his voice. His arm was around her anC
she leaned upon his breast.
"Forgive me-" he said earnestly, TO
doubling yotr courage,-never you
love, Miriam"
She laughed, a merry, bright laugh
and as she playfully closed his desk sh
drew him to seat beside her an,
sketched a burlesque picture of thei
future home, with Mrs. Seymour fryin
onions, i'll a crimson dress, while NJ,
Seymour MIXED the COW in the garden
1t is four years since Mr.. Paine
broke his promise. A happier home,
more thrifty housekeeper or proude
husband cannot be found than in til
pretty house of the Seymours, wher
love, confidence and happiness will nc
yield the first place to money.