Middletown transcript., 1876-06-17
Select Storp.
GOOD INTENTIONS.


into the breakfast room.
"Certainly, George answered bis
wife, slipping her coffee.
"And Immediately, please. I have
no doubt the poor man needs the money.
You know his wife has been i'll SO long.
"Oh, yes; I had forgotten about
that. I will send over some wine at
the same time. I intended to last
week"
"Yes, do. Wine is no doubt a
rarity there, and it will do the poor
woman good replied George, closing
the door and hurrying off.
Ten days after, when George Dale
came in to dinner, he said:
II saw Grey few moments ago.
Poor fellow! he looks miserable. Is
there any odd job in the house he can
do? I want to help him whenever we
can. Can't you make up parcel Of
provisions and send it over with little
more wine? At the same time tell
John to ask him to come here. I will
look about, and find something he can
do
Nellie Dale uttered an exclamation,
which caused her husband to ask anxi-
ously: "What is it? "What ails you,
Nellie ?
T. "Oh. George, I forgot all about
sending that money, and the vine
Please don't look SO angry. am SO
sorry
II am not angry, Nellie; but very
sorry and truly mortified at this. What
must the poor man think of me? 1
professed to be so much interested in
him, and gave him my word be should
have the money that day. His family
may have really suffered during this
bitter cold weather. Where is the
money? I will go with it Immediately
myself
While Nellie was packing up some
delicacies to send to Mrs Grey, she
glanced up frequently at her husbands
stern face. Wishing to offer some
apology for failing to do as she was de-
sired. she said !: "Oh, George. that
day had so many things to attend to
so many callers. I am very sorry.
I intended fully to help Mrs. Grey's
family as much as could
"Well, we'll, Nellie, it can't be help
ed now. We must do the best we can
to make amends, that is all. Send over
the basket ty John. I must make
haste with the money
Mrs. Dale despatched the man SER
want soon after, laden with many COM
forts for the sick woman.
Half an hour after, George Dale re-
turned, looking very much troubled
Nellie almost feared to ask the cause.
At length she said /: "You look wor-
ried. George Did you find Mr.. Grey
needed the money very much?'
Her husband looked earnestly at her
an instant, and then simply answered !:
eyes
Nellie, wishing to draw his mind
from what she had failed to do, to the
amends she had tried to make, asked !:
Ibid Mrs. Grey seem pleased with the
things? I sent her a soft warm shawl
to wrap about her when she sits up
"Nellie, I am sorry to add to the
feelings Of regret that I know you truly
feel. Mrs. Grey will never sit up on
earth again
"Oh. is she SO gerry illY Nellie
asked, with sharp tinge Of self
rsproach.
"She is dead
"Dead ! exclaimed Nellie. "Oh, if
I only Ind thought. I did intend to
do all you wished, and more. Perhaps
she might have died, anyhow. George
surely you do not think that my
neglect
"Killed her? Certainly not, child.
But. Nellie. we should both have felt
better about this if We had done what
we could to help them. It is very an
noying to have our hearts filled with
regrets. We will not talk any more
about it now Only try and remember
in the future that good Intentions pro-
fit no one.'
Nellie did very well for some time
after this, and her husband congratu-
lated himself upon the happy change.
They were people of abundant means,
and both liberal and charitably in
cliped.
Nellie, however, was very fashionable
and very gay; her time was taken up
always with the latest whims Of society,
of which she was a great belle, not
withstanding she was a wife and a
mother.
A few months after this, Nellie's
brother, who was a naval officer, re-
turned from a three years cruise
While sitting with his sister one day,
] he drew from hia nocket n faded silk