The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-02-07

"fou are a little bit too early, Mrs.
Blythe" he said, smiling, yet rcgretfully,
"a little too early. | haven't received my
collections for the day. Shall | send you
up the money p
The woman sighed, aud looked very
much disappointed.
"l'm very sorrow, Mrs Blythe the
shoemaker did not manifest the slightest
impotence, for he understood the case per
iectly-"but we find it very hard some
times to get in our bills. I've had An.
drew running round all the morning aud
he hasn't collected single dollar so far
1t is strange how little rich men think of
their obligations to poor mechanics who
live nearly all the while from hand to
mouth. If ! could always get in my small
bills, | would be very comfortable. As it
is, am always in trouble about money.
Mrs. Blythe stood very still, and an.
swered not a word twas hardly possible
for her to leave her husband again, more
over she promised to bring him wine.
Il am very sorry, Mrs. Blythe" re-
piled the shoemaker, "but what is cant be
helped"
True, true. | learned that long ago"
said the woman, with a slfdespairing sigh.
THE lessons of poverty sink deeply enough
into my memory
II will send you up the money in the
course Of au hour or two. | will not trou =
bic you to call down again, as your hus.
band is so i'll"
Still Mrs. Blythe fingered How could
she return to her sick, exhausted husband,
without the wine that was to send thro'
all the courses Of his blood quick eniug
spirit She had felt as if this wine was to
be to him the very elixir oflile; and since
it had been mentioned by the doctor, she
had seen that her husbands thought was
resting upon it, to the exclusion Of every
thing else. To go home without il, there
fore, was a serious thing, and might in.
VolVo evil consequences; Tor his condition
was one OF extreme prostration, and the
slightest cause might destroy the even
balance of life just attained, and throw a
preponderance on the wrong side.
Slowly at length she moved toward the
door.
"You will send up the money, right
soon, she said, turning partly around aud
looking back at the troubled shoemaker.
THE moment receive it. Andrew is
going out with some bills Immediately.
The door opened noiselessly; with noise.
less steps dropping figure went out, aud
noiselcssly the door was shut again. The
only sense that took record Of the circum-
stance was that of sight.
MIR. Redwood, the merchant, who thought
this shoemaker's bill Of so little conse.
quence that he could not take the trouble
to write check in order to cancel it, left
the store about two hours after the visit of
Andrew, aud started home to his late din
ner. On his way he passed wine store
and dropped in to order case of choice
Amontilado, the favor of which he had
tried and approved.
"Send il home within an hour. wish
bottle for dinner" said Mr.. Redwood, as
he took out his pocket-book to pay for the
wine.
1T shall be done," was the ready an.
swer.
As the merchant replaced his pocket.
book, aud was buttoning his coat over his
breast, poorly .dressed, worn aud feeble
looking woman came into the store, and
walked back with an air of timid irresolu-
ton, to where the two men-the wine
dealer aud lis customer--werc standing.
"Well, what's wanted? ?" said the wine
dealer, in short, imperative voice.
"My husband is very low, and the doe.
tor has ordered him some wine"
The woman's sad, pleading tone made
it very apparent to the dealer that she had
come to beg aud not to buy.
ais he, indeed" The voice Of the
dealer was half insulting.
81 failed to get money for my work, and
| cannot 20 home without the wine. Oh,
sir, If you will trust me for bottle, | will
certainly come and pay you. The money
is earned, and is promised this afternoon p
The wine dealer laughed sneeringly as
he made answer :.
at won't do, my good woman. The
trick is too stale"
"But, sis--"
The urgency Of the case made Mrs.
Blythe importunate.
"There there That will dol Go,
now |" aud the wine merchant waved his
hand toward the door, impatiently. Mrs.
Blythe turned and went away, not speak
ing another word The eyes of Mr.. Red.
wood were on her pale, thin face, and he
saw there an expression that haunted him
as we are sometimes haunted by face ia
a picture, for many days afterward.
"a common dodge Y said the wine mer-
chant, in a vulgar way, as the woman pass
ed into the street. "lf | had given her
the bottle Of wine, she would have been
drunk as beast 10 half nm hour"
Mr.. Redwood, 10 whose memory that
parting look Of Mrs. Blythe had daguereo.
typed ITSELF thought differently; but he
gave no utteranee to his thoughts.
THAT woman's story was true one,
be said to himself as hc passed on his way
homeward. 81 wish | had asked her res
idenee;' and he looked carefully oil around
him, up and down the street with Kind
Of vague hope Of seeing her. But too long
away from her exhausted husband, she