Smyrna times., 1874-01-28
j, Yes. l should have spoiled my dress.

1t was always with little effore that Ran |
dali could get his wife to talk, and she seemed
peculiarly silent to night, and absent as well as
silent.
Her eyes were brighter, too, than common
her face little flushed. He was too generous,
too unsel6sh man to begrudge her even hap
piness in which he had no part; but some
thing in her abstraction filled him with unea-
siness. The uneasiness was not decreased when
reaching home little before the usual hour
the following afternoon, he met Stephen Hall
burton just leaving the house, nor when he
found Georgy with the same frightened eyes
and frightened color as the night before.
! That was the beginning OF John Randalrs
trouble.
1t was not so much common jealousy-a
mans instinct of revolt at another mans ad
nration of his handsome wife, as it was a fear
desperate death-lifs fear that Georgy needed
somewhat he could not give her to make her
happy. He could never give her luxuries. He
could never say such things as he fancled Ste
phen Halliburton must be able TO say to wo-
men. But he loved her 50 Oh, heavens he
loved her sol How could he endure that any
thing should come between them?
81 won't wrong her and tease her with sus
picion," he said to himself, in the depth of the
night "Pll keep on steady. Perhaps she II
see it right by and by
Poor fellow, he did not realize how his deter
mination implied the dreary thought that her
heart was turned from him. He raised himself
on his arms to look on her as she slept; and all
through what followed he retained the pure,
calm face, as it pressed the pillow, whitened by
the moonlight that glinted the frost on the
window panes and flooded the room.
She seemed colder to him after this, and he
kept silent.
He knew that she met Halliburton at her
aunt's; he knew that when she went to the sea-
side the ensuing summer for week visit to
Mrs. Paul Appleton there he was also. He
knew that she seemed to be living life apart
from him and once-that was when the iron
entered his soul-when he went to her desk, a
present he had made her during their engage
ment, for sheet of note paper and found it
locked, and asked her carelessy 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 fighting his way
against it as best he could" hoping, with q
5 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 careful-as careful as Georgy
herself that there should be no outward and
visible sign of misunderstanding or coldnes,
( between them. No suspicion had come to any
that the second year of marriage life had been
, less happy than the first Nor had he ever
/ omitted to give her any little indulgence within
his power. He had prepared surprise for
{ her on the coming anniversary of their wed
u ding, during the year.
l. The anniversary fell upon Sunday and SC
their little commemoration of the day mus
Y come the preceding evening. No allusiOn had
r been made to any celebration by either o
q them ; but John felt sure, some way, that she
could not let the time pass without some sign
For his own part, he had half resolved to at
Il tempt some explanation of their estrangement
h Any thing, he thought, would be better thai
v this chilling reserve. With his mind divdet
II between the anticipation of relief and jealou
e dread, he went to the counting house tha
re Saturday night to receive his money. Th
\. cashier looked up with a certain embarrass
d ment at his approach.
4. "Ah, Mr.. Randall-the accumulation 20
" have left in my hands? To be sure And b
Ip the way, Mr.. Halliburton spoke to me to mer
tion to you that there were to be some change
(; made and-and-but there he is himssf, sir.
In John Randall turned, with feeling akin t
~ desperation, to meet his employer 1t hs
id gone through him like thunderbolt, as tn
to cashier spoke, that he was to be displaced
lis Stephen Halliburton simply said, as ohm face
ce him, " u not detain you now, MIR. Randall
ss | shall call this evening to let you know of th
It changes | feel obliged to maker"
L
With the money in bis nerveless hands, job
pe Randall walked homeward like man dazet
ms He was to lose his place. For what reason
)w found it impossible to conjecture. But to lo
it was to lose reputation, cOurage-everthinl
tie He had never imagined such a possibility
of that. The money that he carrisd-he shou
of not dare to make present of it to Geort
ployment. 1t might be needed for their ba
ia every day needs before he got to work agai
I A chill like death struck in his soul
Georgy evidently had not overlooked the r
sat currsnce of their wedding day. The CO
ag rooms of the cottage all wore little air of f.
al tivity. Some slender vases held the gleanin
of the flower observation-disclosures bloc
red, white, and purple-verbenas, and scar
us geraniums.
ing She came to the door that night TO me
him-one Of her company" dresses on, sor
rho knots of velvet fastening her collar, and sser
OF ing 10 give glow and brightness 10 her VIII
skin. He took her hand-she raised her fat
ed. and with wild heart bound he kissed it, as
had not for year before. She was conf
,st back 10 him again That was the thought th
thrilled him. Her infatuation-if such ID b
10 besn-was al an end She was his once mo
len And then close upon his new happiness, cal
the dreary recollection Of his lost situate
ted He thrust the money in his pocket. By.ar
be by he would tell her all.
"You won't mind waiting supper for
'gy, hour, will you, John?" she asked, as she
Ehy himin. II am going 30 give you somethi
cir, nice-by.and by-and--I think Mr.. Halib
axe ton will be in"
one John Randall's blood frozs once more
was not for him then, that all these p
4 as parations we're made. Georgy had never sp
Valk en- Haliburton's name to him before.
dis could feel that she was embarrassed as
did so.
ohm 81 want you to dress, john" she ado
car coaxingy. :" have laid everything out
and you.
Iow- II seemed to him that he would have turf
ton. upon her, bat that he felt SO broken by
how thought Of losing his place, and resented
gayety, her Indifference her secrscies-all I
h hus- had made him so miserable through this |
tea year. But he had not the spirit.
He went to dress as she asked him. w
= he returned to the parlor Stephen Halibul
N to and his wife sat upon the sofa side by side.
FL II A.. e.