The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-10-31

PAID on the lst of February. If he did
not keep his word everything would be
seized and sold.
The furniture was poor enough, to be
sure, but it had been theirs ever since
their marriage. For more than twenty
years he had eaten his supper at the end
Of the long table, and to see Dora's arm
chair carried off would break his wife's
heart--that chair, about which seemed to
iinger still something of their child, and
at which neither father nor mother could
look without tears. The poor actor did
not know where to look for aid and before
his eyes he saw Dora's look of tender en-
treaty. She had never told him what it
i was she wished him to renounce, but he
! had guessed all the same, and the thought
that he had not fulfilled his daughters dy-
ing wishes did not tighten his heart.
George Speed, that same night, sat in
| his cheerful library, but he was far from
cheerful himself. His head was buried in
his hands, and he thought of Sylvia, who
was at that moment sleeping quietly on
the floor above. For a long time he had
begged of her not to receive the tenor,
| Benedict; but Sylvia would not yield,
and that very day had told him that she
should certainly invite the man to a ball
she was about to give.
ais he your admirer2" cried George,
looking straight into her eyes.
She did not deny it, nor did she say he
was. She did not even turn away. She
merely, in her cool, passionless tone in
formed him that no human being had the
right to control or influence her acts; that
she was free; that she meant to remain
so, and would submit to no interference
| from either her husband or himself. They
| had spent an hour in this way.
| And it was for this woman that he had
sacrificed everything; it was for her that
| he had thrown aside his wife's love. He
was filed with shame and humiliation
He rose from his chair, and walked about
the ROOM His eyes happened to fall upon
an almanac. and he saw the day Of the
month. Good heavensl Was there not a
large sum of money to be paid in few
days, and he had allowed all recollections
of business matters to be swallowed up in
his own ignoble personal affairs. But now
he saw all the impending disaster. He
had not penny. For six months he had
lost at cards regularly; enormous sums
had gone that way; he literally had moth
ing left except the factory, and at this
thought the unhappy man uttered deep
groan.
"George, / am here what is the mat
teri" and his wife stood before him. 1t
had been her habit for some time to wait
up for his return from his club, where she
supposed his evenings were passed; but
this night she had gone to her child. She
heard her husband come in, and heard
him walking 10 and fro in the room, and
his groan had summoned her to his side.
What remorse tore his heart as he saw
her, and felt her gentle arms as she ten
derby drew his head to her bosom! For
tnnately he could not speak, or he would
have told her all.
"You have been playing cards, have
you mott And you have had heavy
losses Z"
He made a sign in the affirmative, and
when he had regained his self-control,
told her he had a large sum of money to
pay in few days,and did not know where
to procure penny.
She uttered not one word of reproach.
She was one of those few women who can
face a misfortune without a word Of re-
elimination. Possibly at the bottom OF
her heart she was almost grateful for the
disaster that had brought him nearer to
her. She reflected n moment, and then,
with great effort, she said
"Do not despair; / will go to Oaklands,
and ask my grandfather for the requisite
amount"
He himself, would never have dared to
make the suggestion; the thought even
would not have occurred to him. She was
SO proud, and her grandfather so hard. 1t
was an enormous sacrifice that she was
making, and strong proof of her love
that she offered He felt strengthened
and encouraged by her words and by her
tenderness.
.Annier he cried, show good you are!"