The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-09-27
CHESTER HILTON'S WIFE.

It was the close of day in midsum-
mer Chester Hilton was putting on
his hat, preparatory to leaving the
office, when his employer asked him
to step to the desk for few moments
q am very sorry, Chester" said the
senior partner of the firm of Gardner.
Whitbeck u 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 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,
W iCiC IChJo WCIO luOICId Uc, DIb UHdU
night nickel looked as large to him as
silver dollar. 1t was later than usual
when he got home, and, as he drew
near the gate, black-eyed baby, with
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 tonight,
Goldie?" she asked. "Daisy and have
been watching for you forever and ever
SO long"
'"Ihe 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 says this is
such sickly season for babies, and
Goldie, | saw the little white hearse
pass the house twice to-day"
''You wouldn't leave me alone, dar-
ling" he said. "You know | am such
poor stick if left to myself But per-
haps it will be best for you to CO.
would only have to buy two new
dresses and some extra things for baby.
Board is not very high there, Mrs. Hun
ter tells me. If it were not for baby
and the sickly season, | would not think
of going. You know, dear Goldie, we
couldn't live without baby" As the
mother spoke, she Rugged the 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 we'll as usual,
Goldie," she said. "You are unusually
quiet. Does your head ache?" As she
spoke she placed her soft hand upon
his forehead and passed it lightly back
and forth. I'm see if have magnetic
power enough to drive it away" she
said laughingly.
you are a 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"
alt will be quite expensive to have us
go to Fernside, will it notP" she asked.
"Rather expensive" he replied, "but
I'll inquire about it tomorrow.
The month soon passed, and Chester
Hilton was out of business. No situa-