Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-09-04

You 10 suuere uytntcS tnGt can Snie.C
you from. Your aunt
Dora made an indignant gesture thai
her husband could not comprehend.
Before they could say more, a ser
!, want appeared. with a message fol
Mr.. Walton.
1t was long after midnight when he
returned from his counting room
His wife was asleep, aud he would moi
disturb her, but threw himself on q
lounge in his dressing room, to await
for daylight, form his then state OF
mind he looked on sleep as impossible
He was mistaken, however, for just
before morning he fell into slumber
that lasted for hours.
When he awoke, Dora had break
tasted and gone out, and again the
pressure of Business detained him
away from her until after bedtime. !.
In the day, he had dispatched her
note, in which he tried to be as cheer
full as he could, and again he alluded
to her aunt and year in Paris as a
place of refuge from the present cares
aud annoyanees of their position.
She had sent no answer, and again
seemed in deep slumber when he en-
tered her chamber.
Poor darlinsp1 he sighed, as he
bent over her lovely face. "Such
beauty should have nothing to dowith
the coarse. hard, real world. Would
to God | could have screened you from
ali its cares and sorrows"
A hot tear tell on her smooth brow.
aud she seemed to stir for a moment,
but presently she was still again, and
he moved silently away.
In the hurry and distraction of his
forced settlements, he had but little
time for other thought; and yet it
panied him bitterly to know that his
wife avoided him-for nearly three
days had now passed since they had
/ spoken together.
Wearily he turned homeward on the
afternoon of the third day.
by giving everything he possessed,
he would stand free from debt in the
world, and bear an honest name.
lie had at once resolved on this
course, and Immediately afterward re-
eeived an offer of position in the
house of an old merchant friend of
his father's-who warmly applauded
his resolution. This would be ter
rible change to Dora. and he would
make any sacrifice rather than have
her meet it. Paris would be an es-
cape, and painful as the separation
must prove, he would urge it with all
the strength of his unsel6sh nature.
He was weary and despondent, as he
entered the house, but he tried to clear
his brow to meet her cheerfully.
She was not there. A little note lay
on his dressing table, directed to him,
in his wife's writing, and filled with
vaugue alarm, be rang the bell for
her maid before opening it.
An elderly and trusty woman re
sponded. She was sort of house
keeper and general factotum of Dora's,
aud before Mr.. Walton could as a
question, she anticipated him.
Mrs. Walton explained to the ser
wants that business troubles would
render it necessaryto give Up the es-
tablishment at once, sir, shesaid $50
she paid aud dismissed them all, ex-
eept Minnie, the errand-girL whom
she took with her. | am left in charge
till after the sale, sir
Egbert looked bewildered. He
could not understand his wiie's pos
sessing such business abilities, and
after turning her note over and over
again in his hand, he opened it.
There was but one line.
DoRA.
Sherwood Roadl" he repeated as
the woman retired, That is the road
we drive out to the river. What can
Dora be doing in cottage No. 3 !! I" Y
He lost no time in endeavoring to
discover, and soon reached the desig-
mated locality. -Itwas row of pretty
though humble cottages, white in color
and surrounded by neatly cultivated
gardens. .,,. .F.s
No. was the centre one, and he
had scarcely stepped on the porch,
when the door few open, and there, in
a tiny box OF an entry, very unlike
their grand, tiled hall, stood Dora,
smiling as he had never seen her smile
before.
She was dressed very plainly, and
wore a white linen apron; but, with
all the aid of silks and iewelry she had
never seemed SO beautiful to him.
Come 10, dear, she cried, joyously
come in, and see our new home,
and don't say a word, or try to kiss me
till | tell you all about it
They were in neat parlor, opening
by folding doors into small dining
room, bcth apartments baing embel-
lished by bay-Windnws and plenty of
spring flowers. Everything was fresh,
pretty and simple-a very meagre, poor
place compared with the palace they
had left, and yet a home, 4 true, dear
home, in the very best sense of the
word-for there stood its mistress, with
open arms, seeking her husbands love,
in womanly fondness. as a devoted
wife.
Egbert instantly Gsobeyed her com.
mand by catching hei up in his arms
and pressing her fondly to his heart.
You must let me tell youI' she ex-
claimed, struggling and painting. Il
don't want to be loved until you feel
that | deserve it a little for being
ashamed of myself in the past-for
living an idle, self-indulgent life, with
out thought save for the qualification
Of my own folly and eaprices, and mere
ly regarding you as the minister to all
my selfish vanity. When, three days
ago, the story of your losses burst
upon me, they well nigh stunned inc,
in their sudden and painful force. Ifelt i
all had failed to be as true wife, and
unutterable hopelessness aud self
reproach mingled with the knowledge.
| was bowed to the earth, yet speech
less to confess my error.
Egbert, eager in his new-found joy,
stroye to interrupt her sell-Feproach-
es, but in vain.
You must know how bad I've been
how stupidity selfish and exaeting-
50 as to appreciate my new and better
self, she protested.
You were always g0od-always
lovely. darling" he cried, raptuously;
"but, somehow, you seem nearer to me
now than ever before
That is because you are at home,
and am going to be your house keep
er, said Dora laughing.
'Sce our pretty cottage, and just
think, it is all bought aud paid for By
that pin money ! never eonld get an
opportunity 10 spend, aud that besides
it, we have enough to keep house on
economically for year or two TO come.
you and | and Minnie eHfa
This is delightfuEthis is rest after
a storm, my darling wife% cried Eg-
bert, fondiy. 1T is worthNall that has