Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-06-21
DOUBTFUL FRIENDSHIP.
BY BERTHA BERTON.


Walter Ellery, sitting In the stiffness
of his counting room, bowed his head
upon his hands, in nerveless discourage
ment.
A yourg merchant In the city of
Il, he had been in business two
years when one oft1ose paDics occurred
which are apt to make oW ners Of money
uneasy, and Walter Ellery had been
working upon borrowed capital His
business had been prosperous, and In
another year ha thought he could free
himself from the dreadful incumbrance
OF debt; but the panic came. and a credi
Tor, in nervous fear, demanded the IN.
mediate payment of q thousand dollar
rote, and his Inability TO meet the sud =
den demand bad thrown him into a
state of In tense excitement.
But not word regarding his finan-
o!ei trouble had he told his young wife.
She was the loved OBJECT for which he
lived and toiled, and to shield her from
care he would endure any amount of
trouble.
Petted and INDUCED by her parents,
the only objection, when Walter Ellery
had tued for her hand, had been their
doubt of his ability to provide for her
the Injuries to which she had been &C
customed.
1t had prompted him to the mort
strenuous exertiona; but now, should be
prove unable to weather the storm, all
must go, and Leila Elery would be the
wife Of poor man.
That thought, to the sensitive young
merchant, wss more torturinR than the
prospective loss OF his property; but he
was reused from his unplta asa II reveIie
by a slap on his shoulder,E nd he looked
up to see the familiar face of Ned
Westlske. college ohum, " Lom he had
not met since his marriage.
"Why, old fellow, what has come
over you?" he exclsimed, as he seated
himsolfin d great office chAtr,and gazed
| auxiously at Walters haR2ard face.
An Intellectual attempt TO evade Ned'i
direct question was Of no avail, for hill
friend was a keen physioguOmist
and he saw evident signs of trouble
With the priv ilege of az old friend, h
qUi2zsd 80 closely that at last tn
| young merchant explained his perplex
/ log situation.
SIS that alp" and Ned Westlsk
leaned back composedly, with look o
| evident relief on his Handsome face.
"Al?" retorted Walter in a harsl
tone, "is 1t not enoughP"
well" answered Ned philosophi
| cally, "iG hit be worse. could con
jure up q thousand possibilities. A
quarrel with your frau, for instance
aud a wish that you were again enjoy
Ing life of single bltssedness, lik'
my self" ard Ned Westlake tried b
lick Oh though he was at the SUNNI
Of earthly bliss.
"Wait till you have seen my wife!'
Walter E.iery exclaimed. "5he IL al
angel, bless her, and could not liy
without her."
Ned was sileDoed, though not quit
convinced; but when he accom- panie'
his friend home he did not wonder a
his enthusiasm, for Leila Eliery wa
! indeed beautiful woman-beautiful II
| form and feature; beautiful in grac
| and Refinement; bat considering he
| hu.baud's financial embarrassment
N ed passed me n tai verdict Of extrav
| ngaUce in dress.
The Ellerys lived In good style-si
/ elegantly furnished cottage, well
spread liable, servants TO minister 4
| their wants; and TO Ned Westlake
WAS plainly apparent that they yer
!
He telt sorry for his friend, and It wa
in his power TO help him, for he had
! com Portable fortune, 80, in a friendl
I gsv, be offered aid, and Walter Ellery
with gircere thauktulness, accepted tb
timely assistance.
But Leila must know nothing of t.
,1aueaction; business details wonld onl,
Eurry and porpiex her, but Neo, al
Though y bachelor, ard experiences
i ~ such matters, thought 1t would hav
beer pJuch wiser II Walter bad mad
lis wife contidabte regarding hi
bnsiDess Her heart was right, aud /
abe saw the necessity for economiziDP
she uiRht Ietrenoh vast amount IL
their expenses.
Al evening or two after Ned West
lakes arrival they were sitting in tn
uarlor, when Leila, in her impulsiv
way. exclaimed:
"Oh, Walter, am going ont shor
| ping to- morrow, and l want it'll
money"
A siisht cloud fitted across the youn
hur d d face, though he asked pleas
autl,:
How much, my deaI2"
"On, fifty dolais," came the answer
In u tone that showed how little I'll
kne Of the relstive value of money.
! Fifty doilArsl'
Walter Ellery repeated the word
mechanically, then paused for want @
suitabe reply, for 1t Set med an ute
impotsibiltty TO supply the need.
Can l have ir?' the asked, as 81
raised a pair of lovely hazel eyes ooaz
ingly to her husbands face.
II am afraid not" he said 9ravely
as she looked the surprise she ~oul
not express before her husbands guess
II was going out with Mrs. MARI
ham," Leila Ellery explained. "W
have found such elegant silk, go CHEAP
100. I'VE shall always regret 1t, sh
Gays, If We do not avail Ourselves
the ruinous price at which 1t is sell
ing. ,"
EDO you need new silk?" Waltz
questioned.
"Of course dol" she exclaimed, wit
a chi dish pout OF the ruby lips.
at is six months since / have ha
one, and am getting dread fully out {
style, and really shabby" and sh
looked as though the need OF q net
SILK was settled vt once and forever.
Il will sec what | can do In tb
morning." Walter replied, and the
they flushed the evening with music
for Leila Ellery was fine pianist, an
her husband and his guest Joined thef
heavy voices with hers in some oil
Scotch and English ballads.
The next morning Walter told b
wife that he should be- obliged 10 boz
row the desired amount, ard he had
hope that such Information would caus
her to reliuquisb her shopping exped
ton but instead she exclaimed wit
one OF her y eetest tmiles:
,Wnat q darling Won arr for / don