The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-25
CHESTER HILTGN'S WIFE.

1t W3S the close OF day in midSun-
mer. Chester Hilton was putting or
his hat, preparatory to leaving the
office, when his employer asked him
TO step to the desk for few moments.
Il am very sorry, Chester" said the
senior partner of the firm of Gardner.
Whitbeck q Co., ''to be obliged to tell
you that we can not afford TO keep YOU
after this month. As YOU are aware,
our business has fallen off TO such de-
gree that we are scarcely making our
running expenses"
Chester Hilton received this an
nouncement in a cool, collected man.
ner. He had been expecting a crash
for two months past. Nevertheless, at
heart he felt depressed and anxious.
1t was just the season of year when
business was at its lowest ebb Where
and when would he get another situa-
ton? He had nothing put by to live
on during the time he might be out of
employment. His salary had been only
sufficient to pay his family expenses.
The outlook was certainly dark one
He usually rode home in the horse cars,
as he lived at the outskirts of the city,
where rents were moderate, but that
night a nickel looked as large to him as
a silver dollar. 1t was later than usual
when he got home, and, as he drew
near the gate, a black-eyed baby, with
a face Illuminated by sight of papa"
toddled out to meet him. In her haste
she would have fallen upon the broken
plank over which she picked her way
had not her father reached out his arms
just in time to save her. He held her
tightly to his breast, and bending down,
kissed the baby face and whispered:
''Papa's little darling" A girlish fig
ure stood at the open gate, and as he
passed through lifted up her fresh,
young happy face to be kissed, too
''What made you so late toni ht,
Colder" she asked. "Daisy and l have
been watching for you fore and ever
so long"
The cars were crowded and it is so
hot that l walked home"
at has been terribly hot all day."
she replied. Baby has suffered so
much with the heat. Do YOU know,
'Goldie' (the pet name she ALWAYS called
him), if it were not for leaving YOU.
would think seriously of going to Fern.
side Springs. Mrs. Hunter saws this is
such sickly season for babies, and
GOldie, | saw the little white hearse
pass the house twice today
''YOu wouldn't leave me alone. dar-
ling" he said. lyon know | am such
poor stick if left to myself. But per-
maps it will be best for you to go"
would only have to buy two new
-lrnCSnS ord ammo oxfro loI H.
Board is not very high there, Mrs. Hun
ter tells me. II it were not for baby
&nd the sickly season, would not think
CT going. You know, dear Goldie, we
couldn't live without baby IS the
TAother spoke, she Rugged Inc little,
white-robed child tightly up to her
bosom. 81 am so afraid of losing her."
she said.
After the baby had gone to sleep, the
father and mother went out on the
porch and sat down in the cool evening
air 1t was dusk, and the husband put
his arm around his wife and drew
her so close TO his side that she rested
her head upon his shoulders. He was
thinking whether it was best to tell her
OF his dismissal. A number of times the
words came to his lips, but he as often
checked them. No, he could not tell
her
You don't feel as well as usual.
Goldie, she said. ''You are unusually
q1iet. Does your head ache?" As she
spoke she placed her soft hand upon
his forehead and passed 10 lightly back
AID forth. iii see if have magnetic
power enough to drive it away" she
said laughingly.
You are good little wife. darling"
said her husband, taking her girliSh
face in his hands and lifting it up where
he could kiss it. "A good little wife
at viii be quite expensive to have us
60 to fernSide, will it not?" she asked.
Rather expensive" he replied, but
III inquire about il tomorrow
The month soon passed. and Chester
Hilton was out of business. No situa-
ton had been found, and the outlook
seemed darker than ever. So many
business houses had reduced their forces.
But every day he went off at the same
hour in the morning and returned the
same time in the evening. His wife
supposed he was still at his old place.
for he had nosyet made up his mind to
tell her. Surely he would find another
place, and then it was time enough to
let her know he had left Gardner, Whit
beck & Co.svs-y,-5 -,5
One morning. fortnight after his
dismissal, Mrs. Hilton had occasion to
go down town, and she stepped into
the Office a see her husband. AS she