The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-15

monty, cit Is all my fault!
"Let me alonel"
They left mo at my own door. aud
going in, threw myself down on the
hoor in al agony Of remorse and self
abasement.
He came home at midnight; and, oh,
he had been drinking!
In the morning it was terrible-no one
can know what my husbands condition
was except those who have seen strong,
upright man writhing under the lash of
honest self-condemnation after having
yleldei to great temptation.
It was no time to speak of my peni-
tence. He was overwhelmed with his
own.
At length he told me that he had
gambled severa' times during the past
month.
"But, Lnlu, my darling wife, never
drank drop Of liquor till now.
'Last night Mr.. Allen told me that he
could not retain gambler in his en-
ploy:
ooh, Lulu, Leo Roy gambIer!'
And he bowed his head in al agony Of
shame.
I said very little.
What could 7 Gay, when felt that all
this was my doing2
took his hot head in my arms,
kissed him tenderly, while the tears fell
fast.
81 love you, my husband-I love you'll
The fault is all miner"
lie was i'll and worn out, and at
length left him sleeping.
Now it was time to do something to
prove my repentance
dressed myself plainly, took the box
containing the cloak In my arms and
went with it to Lees. the eminent COS
tuner. My courage did not fail when
l asked to SEQ the senior partner, and
was shown into his private Office.
"Mr. Lee,' began, 81 am Mrs. Leo
Roy.
ga few days ago my husband bought
| this cloak. for which he paid five nun
dred dollars.
II wore it once only, a little while
last night.
"Will You take it back at any prlce2"
The old gentleman looked at me, the Ii
said, very kindly, "Would you mind
telling me why you do not wish to setailr
| it?"
because my husband has nearly
ruined himself to purchase it, and he
would not have done SO had not insis-
ted upon it"
The tears were very hear now, but I
kept them back.
k"You are brave little woman," Mr..
Lee said.
'I doubt not that you will make
matters aii right.
"Under the circumstances we will
take back the cloak and give you five
hundred dollars, which is the price at
which we shall offer it again."
| thanked him, and with the money
safe II my purse, turned my steps TO-
wards Allen and Gray's where my hus-
band had been employed.
The clerks looked curiously Mt me as
asked to see Mr.. Allen alone.
! Twenty-four hours before I would
have thought it impossible to do what I
had gone there to do; but suffering had
made woman of me.
| L would never again be q spoiled
child.
opened the subic ct abruptly.
"My husband told me, MIR. Allen,
that you had discharged him because he
was a gambler"
Ny face flushed hotly nt the disgrace.
full word.
81 Am very sorry" he replied, courte-
ouslyS "but it is an invlolabIe rule with
lis never to retain an employe after we
know that he frequents such places, and,
unfortunately, we know this of your hns-
band"
"Bnt, Mr.. Allen" I said, 'rt is all my
fault.
"He has never denied me anything,
and when he refused me seaI-skin cloak
l taunted him with the fact that l could
have richer man.
II drove him nearly mad.
IL told him he might make the money
some way if he would--T never thought
of this.
II came here without knowledge his
to bog that you will take him back and
give MIN chance to regain what he has
lost through my vanity and wicked
ness."
MIR. Allen was vislbly moved and
finally said, "Well, Mrs. Ray, it is an
| uncommon case.
| "Your husband has been one OF our
most trusted employees, and we have re-
gretted his downfall greatly.
1T is better that he should not know
Just now OF your having been here.
"He may come to me voluntarily; if
he does, will reconsider what 1 told
him."
drewlmy veil downto hide the blind
ing tears that would come, and went
home.
Leo was up waiting FOR me.
He sat by the fire, and knelt down
beside him.
con, my husbandl" I cried, elf you
will forgive me for all that have made
you suffer, for oil the evil that have led
you into, and take mo to your heart
again, l will be good, true wife--a
helpmate, not u hindrance.
"But love me as you used to, or |
shall diel'
broke down and sobbed bitterly.
lie lifted me in his strong arms, and
his lips trembled as he said, ooh, my
dear little wife, I have always loved you,
What about the Disgrace / have
brought upou you?
"H you forgive mo, do you suppose
can ever forgive myself.2"
"Hushl" T replied.
your great weakness has been that