The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-01-18

drawing-room, whose windows opened
on the porch. His foot steps made
no sound on the carpeted floor, and
he had reached the window. when
som ething like a sob arrested his
steps.
"May, l must speak % said voice
he recognized as belonging to his
guest. "Do you think 1 have been
three weeks under this roof without
discovering your secret ? You are not
happy. Your laughter, your gaiety,
is forced. What is wrong Do you
fear to conide in me ~
Wrong p she answered with tears
in her voice. ''All is wrong. Will.
What am l to my husband but a
spoiled and petted child? Look at
him Do you fail to see the change
these Lass few weeks have wrought
in him ? Yet, each time that | have
striven to gain his confidence, he has
shut me out IRON it and his heart.
He has sent me away from him as he
would send a child to her dolls. He
showers gifts upon me, and fancics
thus he buys my happiness. Am I,
indeed, so little woman that thus
he satisfies nv woman's hunger, my
woman's heart ? And 1 love him so
madly, Will. that to know / have no
part in his real life is killing me
Always he has been my ideal, my
hero! Do you think / could have
sympathized in your trouble, Will, if
l had had none of my own Often
often have 1 wished that all this
splendor in which 1 live might be
wiped away, and that Dick and l
shared a cottage, that | might prove
to him l was not a child, with new
toys ever needed to comfort me-
Arnold waited to hear no more.
The scales had fallen from his eyes.
Conscience stricken, he crept back to
his library, where only two words
burst from his lips. They were at
once thanksgiving and a prayer.
''Thank God !" he murmured and
now the morrow maGtered naught to
him
A few moments later, he stepped
out on tue porch.
"Mav." he said, "will Lieuten ant
Crosby pardon us if 1 ask you to
stroll down to the lake with me l
have something of Importance to say
to you
Instantly she rose, and slipped her
hand within his arm.
MY darling he began--and then
the history of all these weeks was
poured out before her. ''To morrow
may see me a ruined man, little W .fe, -
he concluded; ''but l have no fear
of the future now, May, for 1 realize
the word wife holds a hitherto un-
bnowndefnition. 1t means helpmeet
and comforter"
The tears fell freely now from the
azure eyes, but they were tears of
happiness. and her heart sang for
very joy.
"And has my money gone, Dick p
she asked, at last, when all was clear
to her.
"No, dear Of course not. That is
sacred fund, and must have no risk
in it's investment"
Yet tomorrow it will pay this
debt" she said, and the man started
at the clear decision and determine
ton in her tone.
1--WE will sink or swim together.
Dick--you and I. Dick, d;,rling,'
she added, persuasively, "you owe
me some reparation let this be your
penance." "And so she gained her way
Then, after all. May, Crosby
could not have won you from me in
equal fight?" he asked, as they drew
nea- the house. do you know, dar
ling. my confession is not complete
until 1 acknowledge the jealousy he
has caused me %
"Will ?" She laughed merrily now
and the laugh was nowise forced
.'He has been in love almost since he
was in petticoats, with my dearest
friend, and l have been the confident
Of both. Her parents have opposed,
it because lie is in the army; but
think they are being gradually con-
verted to the cause"
And so the last cloud vanished
from the blue sky, and the conner
cial atmosphere cleared simultan-
eously.
Mays fortune saved the day, and
Dick Arnold came out stronger and
better for the Enthusiastically Night
II mo INmIIED