Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-06-21

ttmptingly displayed.
At one counter was spread out q
superb assortment Of silks, and sim
gle glance toward the two ladies who
were 80 critically examining the rich
goods, showed that IL was Mrs. Ellery
and her friend, and when genteel
young salesman came to wait upon
him, Ned Westlake m ade trivial ex-
euse of waiting for friend, and gave
bis attention the while TO Mrs. Mark.
ham.
He was quite near enough to hear the
lady's ecstatic remarks, as she held up
contrasting shades, and let them ripple
over her plump hands.
ooh, this Is perfectly lovely, dear
LeliGn she exclaimed, as lustr0us
piece OF dark, tuTquois blue silk was
laid upon the counter. 1--WE viii have
this, I thiuk," ard she looked up ct
Mrs Ellery.
"The prioe?" Leila Ellery inquired,
somewhat nervously, for she must pur-
chase according to her mean.
1.-TWO dollars, only, per yard, and a
ruinous price for an imported silk, but
we wish to close out the lot, in season
for our summer goods" and the pro-
prietor of the establishment could not
have been more consequential than the
young salesman, as he added: You
will live to regret 1t, ladies, II you do
not secure this bargain"
Exactly nv opinisp," Mrs. Mark
ham echoed, land you may may cut
twenty yards for me. have not the
money with me, but send 1t, U. o. ID a,
to No No. 70 Clifton street.
"And your"
She locked at Mrs Ellery.
1T shall pay now, though I did not
intend TO go 30 high.
"Never mind, save H. elsewhere. "
And 60 twenty yards of the same goods
were measured for Mrs. EIlery, and she
fingered rather neIvousiy the money
which her husband had given her that
morning. Size would not take the
trim innings for her dress, 70 o crisp tel
dollar bill was banded hack, ana Mrs.
Markham's twinkling little gray eyee
fastened greedily upon it.
"My dear" she said coaxinRly, 81
! you are not going to use the remainder
this morning, would you mind lending
1t TO me for week? You see, Mark.
ham VIII growl at my bill, auu must
have few dollars fer incidentals," and
she laughed merrily. "Of course, he
will get over it when he finds that the
thing is settled, but have to humor
his eccentricities; men are peculiar;
but You are fortunate in having hus.
band go indulgent that he does net con
slider it necessary to question your
bills"
| For an instant Leila Eilery hesitated.
| She had set her heart on love Of a bon.
net that she had seen the day before vi
Mad anne LeNoir's emporium, and ten
dollars was the price Of the dainty bill
of fuss and feathers; but she could moi
refuse a favor to her friend, and
choking down little Sigh, she passed
tthe bill to Mrs. Markham; aud an ele
CANT little gold and pearl portemonnait
received IL Instantly.
The business of the morning wal
finished surely for Mrs. Eilery with thu
loanir 3 of that bill, and they left th'
store.
She had not seen Ned Westlake, tu
she felt uncom Portable, even as thu
possessor of the coveted blue silk.
The bonDet must be dispensed with
the dress could not be made without
scme essentials In the way Of lininei
and trimmings, for she could not ven
ture to ask for mere money at present
and 30 far as happiness was concerned
her shopping that morning had no
proved success.
/ ibid you find a silk TO your mind
my dear?" Mr.. Ellery asked at dinner
And she gave an Affirmative answer
but less ecstaticaliy than he expected
with his knowledg e Of her love for beau
ltiful and costly things.
That afternoon a borrowed $40 bill
paid for that same love of a bonne
which Mrs. E!lery had 30 much de.
sired; but it Was bought by Mrs. Mark
ham, fQr the adorpment of her OWL
head, and with smile of triumph, lait
away to wear with her new silk.
A week passed; Mrs. Markham haf
not called to repay the borrowed money
Indeed, there were Severe o mailer sum-
previously borrowed, which she baf
81 emipRly quite forgotten; and Mrs
Ellery could rot summon the requisite
courage to ask her for them, although
she much wanted TO purchase finishing
for her tuTquois silk.
One day at dinner, Walter casual,
remarked that Herbert Markham hat
failed.
"a complete failure, too" he wen
on, land they say that his wife ha
borrowed money of all her friends an,
larqusintAnces. | sm glad, dear, tba
sbe has not favored you with sucl
friendship" and he locked across tn
table at his wife.
Ste did not reply, but the roses in he
cheeks took on deeper crimson, and
moment afterwArd she made trivia
excuse for leaving the table.
Leila is go sympathetic" Waite
Explained, "and Mrs. Markham Ia
taken her to ride quite often, though
confess never liked the woman"
Then Ned, whose righteous indignG'
ton WAS more stirred than his sym
Thy, related to Walter the little scen
which he had Witnessed in the store
and the young husband understood how
his random words had taken erect; bu
when he found Leila flushed and tear
full In their own room, she told him 81
that Mrs. Markham had been In tn
habit of borrowing often CT her, smal
sums, usually, hut seldom repayinI
them with anything but promises; AM
though sympathiziDg with the misfor
tune OF her friend, she was relieved 4
think that the truth was at last know
10 her husband.
Then Walter told her Low near tn
brink of ruin he had just been, and sh
Ishuddered as she thought that nncon
sciously she had been crowding him to
watd the verge; but with eyes openet
fully to sense OF her part extravaganza
she resolved henceforth to be 10 her hus
band help, instead of hlnderance.
1t was a resolution which she carries
out, and In the years that followed
Walter Ellery learned to appreciate tn
womaDly intuition and quick percer
ton which rendered his wife An invalu