Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-01
,he would hase observed that her husband

worn. He was strangely absent-minded,
he came up to her after dinner several
times, and sat silent and moody if she
addressed him he answered at random,
and she made no further attempts at con-
yersation.
She was lying on her couch one even
ing, when Mr.. Durand' entered the room.
She did not look up; she hardly spoke, for
she had felt unusually i'll all that day, and
her head was still throbbing painfully.
Her husband approached her and stood by
her side.
Maria" he said, II should like to talk
with you little il you are able to hear
it,"
Something in his voice startled her; she
looked up, and FOR the first time noticed
how haggered and changed he had grown.
"What is it ?" she cried, starting up.
How fearfully pale You look. The chill
dren ?''
"Are perfectly we'll" he replied.
Has anything happened to you. Rob-
ert ?''
Maria he said, hardly needing her
words, II am ruined-bankrupt''
He buried his face in his hands, and his
whole frame shook with emotion. In an
instant his -,7ife's arms were around his
neck. kisses on his brow, and her voice
whispering words of comfort.
"But Maria, feeble as you are, what is
to become of you could bear it myself.
but to think OF you and the children-it
almost humans me-"
"Is all lost ?" she asked.
II fear so. My honor, thank God, will
remain untarnished, but nothing, will be
left after the payment of my debts"
And how did it happen Pr
Her husband briefly told her of his mis-
fortunes, which were mainly owing to
losses at sea, for he was largely en- gagged
in navigation; he rehearsed his struggles,
told of his sleepless nights and anxious
days, and Maria listened with moistened
eyes and parted lips.
my own dear husband" she said at
last, kissing him fondy. land what are
your plans for the future ~
II have none as yet. have been over
whelmned in the present trouble. The
future looks dark indeed. When think
of you, in i'll health, requiring every com,
fort, and yet feel that shall be unable to
supply your wants.
He stopped, for his voice was choaked
with emotion.
''Do not speak so sadly, Robert The
future to me does not look dark You
made your own fortune-you can do it
again and as for me. if have lived in
luxury for many years. l do not forget
once was poor country lassie and lived
very happily without the many appliances
of wealth that yoC have bestowed upon
me. Dear Robert, let us submit with
good grace to our present troubles"
Mr.. Durand shook his head sadly You
speak lightly, Maria, of giving up luxu-
ries, forgetting that they have grown to
be necessaries to you. Ifyou were strong
and well. it would be different; even then
itwould be hard to exchange this home
for one suited to our income, rather lack
OF income; and instead of having SER
wants ready to do your bidding. TO wait
not only on yourself but also others.
ut Is very pleasant to be waited on,
admit" said Mrs. Durand, "but can do
without it; and have not forgotten how
to sweep and make beds, and bake. Try
me, and see that am as good cook as
our French artistic. We shall be happy
yet, Robert. Riches are comfortable. but
poverty shall not make US miserable
Cheered in spite Of himself by his wife's
spirit, Mr.. Durand began to talk of the flu
ture, and the evening which began SO
gloomily ended quite pleasantly.
Robert Durand felt already like new
man. his wife's sympathy lightened the
load which had well.nigh crushed him,
and he set about the settlement of his bus
mess with fresh courage.
From the wreck of his fallen fortune he
came out with large stock of self-respect
for no man could charge him with dis
honorable conduct--and very small stock
of capital with which to begin the world
anew.
Mrs. Durand meantime was not idle
1t was her part to see to the domestic az
fairs, and though head and limbs ached,
yet she never complained. But. to her
surprise, her sleepless nights vanished
what opiates had failed to do, the magic
fatigue accomplished; and when at last
the family were settled in small but
comfortable house, though she was very
tired, she felt that she was really better
than she had been for long time.
AS months passed. her appetite, which
had been capricious and variable, became
natural and healthy; dyspepsia slowly
yielded its hold upon her. Her thin fea.
lures became rounded. her figure gained
plumpness, and at last a faint color tinged
her cheeks In one short year the invalid
Mrs. Durand, was transformed into 4
fresh-looking matron.
With her health, her spirits returned
and her children astonished her one day
by telling her that "they loved her grea,
deal better than they used to, because she
was SO nice" Which adjective, when sht
pressed for its Interpretation. was further
explained to mean that "she didn't tell
them to keep still all the time, and she
baked them nice cakes, and she told them
nice stories, and she looked a great dea
prettier.
This latter compliment Mr.. Durand
who had been listener to the CONVERSE
ton, emphatically pronounced to be true
enough.
..And she is as good as she is pretty
little folks" he added, passing his arms
around her waist.
Mrs. Durand looked up with smile.
''We were not so miserable, after all
she said, slyly. Her husbands reply was
closer embrace.
Years had passed. and Mr.. Durand was
again q rich man. once more his wife was
mistress OF fine estabishment-once