Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-11-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
A SILVER-lIMED CLOUD.
BY GRACE THORNTON.


sat with his head buried in his hands, and
an expression of abiect misery marking his
handsome face.
He had learned, within that hour, that
he was ruined man, and the conscious
ness had burst upon him with stunning
horror, for he was not alone TO suffer.
But three months before, he had led to
the altar the most beautiful and capricious
belle of the season. He had been congrat-
ulated and envied by all his acquaintances,
and after fashionable wedding tour,
| wherein her marvellous 'trouSseGu was dis
played to its best advantage, they had re-
turned to the snowy and splendid home he
had fitted up for her reception, and a round
| of gaieties had followed, in which she had
shone the queen, and he had been consid-
cred the luckiest of bridegrooms.
Their life had been so filled with display
and excitement heretofore that they really
had not had much time to grow acquainted
| with each other. They had scarcely ever
spent an evening alone altogether. The
hours he could spare from business had
been occupied in dressing for various en-
| tertainments, the chief enjoyment OF which
had been, to him, to hear his wife called the
handsomest woman present; and even that
delight had begun TO pale, and vaguelon
ing for something better than dazzle and
show had begun to assert itself within his
mind.
Dora had been an orphan, brought up by
fashionable aunt, with expensive tastes
and passion for gay society.
She had brought Egbert no fortune be
yond the trife saved from her snowy edu
cation, which her aunt said, would serve
t,x1t
that was no consideration to the rich and
generous young husband, whose prosper
GUS business speculations promised soon to
make him millionaire.
Now all was lost. A cloud, at first no
larger than mans hand, had spread into
hurricane of desolation and despair.
A whisper of suspension, on the part OF
great banking house with which he was
deeply concerned, had swelled into positive
assurance within the hour. His invest
ments were widely spread, and boldly VEN
tured there was no possibility of recall.
The crash could not be resisted-the blow
must and did fall.
"0nly for Dora, " he muttered to himself,
as he raised his CHASTITY white face from its
dropping position, and flung back his damp
hair. ~ could meet it like a man-only for
her"
He recalled her butterhy-life of gaiety
and splendor-her passion for excitement
and admiration and then shuddered 60
face the dreary reality before them.
''If she were a widow, she would marry
again. There are other fortunes that may
be hers, if you will make her Free" whisp-
cred the tempter, and Egbert's despairing
eyes glanced toward the pistol-case hidden
in his desk.
He sprang up and locked it quickly. He
would not entertain so base and cowardly a
thought.
at must be done, sooner or later" he
said, decidedly. ''She must know it, and it
is cruef to let it reach her through any
/ means but mine"
! He composed his face, and passed out
among his employees, looking but little
shaken, except in his loss OF color, and
they whispered among each other how well
: he bore it.
He walked toward home, and as he en-.
tered its elegant hall, his wife passed him,
: with q rich lace shall thrown over hel
shoulders.
/. "You are just in time to see perfect
gen." she cried, gaily. "Come back into
the parlor, where can display it to better
y advantage. See-is it not rarely beautifnli
: The Blanks imported it expressly to my or
der"
/. "Vain and frivolous" was his inward
! comment as he turned aside with a look o.
wretchedness, and thought "What shal
do How can I break such tidings to 81
DoluB-buSA u bBOlAOA ddAA4he
s 'a of fortune ?"
10 sYou are out of humor it seems," sht
!, said with gaze of cold surprise, for hi
Il manner had piqued her, and she was too &C
g. customed to adulation to brock neglec
d tamely
He did not answer at first, but flung him
self into q seat, and cast down his eye
. upon the rich carpet.
SIS this whim, or is it meant to annoy
me?" she asked proudly.
Her tone stung her harassed husband
he had meant to spare her to the utmost
- but her lofty indifference overcame his res
olution.
She swept past him with an offended all
but pausing at the door, she turned, an
looking full upon him, asked, once more
"Will you explain what caprice has seize
you, and why you play off severity an
gloom upon me-"
1t. "Yes, l will explainr' he exclaimed
springing to his feet, with white lips an
shaking form. "Since you demand t
N. know, let me tell you that it means ruin
:. utter entire, complete ruin l was nc
nr 1g man when married you, and to-day l al
es a beggar. Not one cent that / called m
nse own can be claimed by me any longer. Th
ife roof over our heads now belongs to strar
. gers, and we must go forth homeless an
,in ,dino pennless, to begin the world again."
1ia He spoke as he felt, in high, excite
key; his frame shook with the fervor of hi
st words.
: His wife stood gazing full in his eyes fC
a moment, like one rooted to the spot by
= powerful spell.
Her face lost all its color, and her eye
Su dilated widely, as if to take in a scene in
possible for belief
a. Is this true p" she uttered, and he
voice sounded low and husky.
"Too true-too true !" he returned, bur.
ing his face in his hands.
She sank into chair, and taking off IL
splendid shawl mechanically, carefully r
turned it to its original folds. Then 81
:. sat STILL looking steadily before her with
"o blank stare
Once or twice Egbert looked up expectan
zen ly and uneasily, but there was no chang
III her expression, and his eyes dropp'
en-. again.
2- AT length he rose, and going toward he
put his arm around her neck, and be
ITO over her in sad Affection to which she c
fered no response.
- 81 would to heaven the blow could ha
an fallen on me- alone ~ he murmured.
feel that l have wronge1 you bitterly
na subjeeting you to SO fearful a reverse b
-e' am youup vet Dora. and if YOUR aunt W