The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-10-16

but her fingers would not move so swift
ly had she then heard the lecture deliver
ed by the chief of colerie of charitable
ladies, who demanded money when she
had not one dollar of her own, and who
triumphantly mentioned the sum given
by her husband-an amount far exceed
ing that she had asked for when she want
ed new clothes tor the children; and it
was such tax on her strength and eye
sight to be continually repairing-and
those disagreeable women. She felt her
heart steeling involuntarily against all
sorts of charitable institutions, and then
she prayed to be forgiven and sorrowed
to think how, after all her struggles, she
remained so purely human. Then other
thoughts came-ot unpaid bills laid away
in her bureau drawer-bills which had
come to the house during her husbands
absence, and which she could not avoid
seeing, and for which he had declared he
had no money-they must wait, as he
and other men were compelled to do.
She thought of the little household of
which she, in other days, had been men,
Der, of the thrift which was the presid-
ing genius of that home, clearing up all
expenses Of the day, yet leaving some
thing for charities and teaching that debt
was the prime minister Of the devil.
Alas, what could she do now in the strong
current in which she was drifting?
The sleeper turned and the brown eyes
were able to rest upon his face "a hand
some face, Of a style that will win the
hearts of women until the death OF Time.
And yet it was not a strong face. Even
the woman who watched it and loved it
knew it gave proof of lack of will, force
and resolute self-rellance. She had learn
ed the lesson, bitter to every proud and
loving wife, that she was much the strong
CT Of the two, and yet he, the weaker,
stood the pilot at the helm, and by him
her bark must be guided to its port of
veal or woe.
"Aunt Agnes will come tomorrow.
had almost forgotten to tell you," he said,
as he prepared to leave the house.
A thrill OF pleasure passed through the
listeners heart. Aunt Agnes was a well
come visitor. She had good effect up
on Marjorie, a restful influence, something
akin, as nearly as the human can be akin,
to the "Peace be still, i" which once sound
co vocally above the troubled waters.
Aunt Agnes came, and Marjorie partially
forgot her discomfort in the sweet pres
ence that she loved so we'll. But the
time soon came tor the visitors return.
Aunt Agnes could not be induced to
make long visits, it mattered not where
she went, and she frequently quoted as a
favorite maxim that "short visits make
long friends"
On the last morning of her Aunt's stay,
as Marjorie entered her own chamber,
which adjoined little room her husband
called his study-it having been fitted
up with table, few easy chairs, some
books and pictures-she soon heard her
husband and aunt conversing in the study
Her first impulse was to withdraw, but
before that could be accomplished she
learned that her husband was indebted to
his aunt for large sum of money; that
he had not made her any payments for a
long time, and that, in consequence OF
this deficit, she was compelled to give up
the lovely home where she had been
happy with her husband for so many
years and change to a style Of living
more consistent with her now impecunious
condition, and, what grieved the kind
heart most of all, abandon her plans fol
the continued assistance of those long de.
pendent upon her.
With a clear view of the ground, as il
| it had all been uncovered to her, Mar
jorie went quietly down from her room
Her husband had been squandering ir
imprudent business ventures moneys be-
longing to his aunt and others, and, wha
seemed to her yet worse, bought witt
what belonged to others reputation fo1
liberality and large-heartedness, while
the rightful possessors were suffering IL
their need Of it.
She would not he quiet any longer
and before the day was spent she broache(
the subject to him, but, unfortunatel,
without that subtlety which might hav'
given her smell show of success; tina
wisdom which Nathan manifested whel
he talked to David of the tone eve lamb.
She went with the bluntness of straight
forward woman right to the subject il
which she was interested. She asket
why so much had been kept from he1
and the man answered with an impa
tience he did not try to conceal.
"Are you on the brink of ruin, Edward
Is their danger OF an immediate failure?'
"What question! No; if I can weathe
the storm little longer it will be al
right with me-"
She knew the fatal tendency to pu
aside all evil days. and to try and sal
smoothly upon unruff1ed waters. sh
remembered the story Of the ostricl
hiding its head in the sand and fancyiny
it would in that way escape the threat
ened danger.
"Not SO, my husband the longer 20,
delay the more irretrievable will be tn
evil. You forget that the interests o
others will be imperlled. 1t you were
stop now, could you not insure ease ant
comfort to Aunt Agnes and large pei
centage to your other creditors2'
"Yes." -
"Ihen 20 1t, pray you, my husband
Commit not the fatal error that ha
brought ruin to SO many homes; remem
Der what is due those who have commit
ted their interests to your keeping. Civ
up house, Misunderstanding, an
keep your condition a secret no longe,
release it before it bursts with it's ow
strength the barriers with which 20
have encompassed it, and then we vii
begin life anew with empty pockets, ye
with clear consciences, and all will Ye
be well.'
"You talk like woman, Marjorie, an
as if had been guilty Of some ges
crime. I am on the eve Of a ventnr
that will bring me great success. 70
cannot expect to understand such thing
for they are beyond your ken. What d
you know Of business rules and LAVISH
II know the law which is not write
upon statute books Of men-the highe
law which cannot be violated without II
urring its full and its just penalty" sh,
, answered, sadly.
, There was great wonder and gres
flutter of excitement over the failure {
: Edward Dale-a failure bringing disma