Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-22
ONE OF THE MANY.

TWO months old.
He was fine fellow, was Jim-well set
up and good to look at; chivalrous, up
right and honest as the day but though
he came of good old stock-of which he
was the Iast-he was only clerk in
London architects office, with miserable
salary of el00 year, which, of course, he
might lose with his situation any day. i
will be clear, | hope, to the meanest I'M
Outstanding that under these circumstance.
he had the smallest right to think of mat
rimony. So when be had the audacity tc
propose for Marjory Linton-niece anG
ward of the pompous and wealthy old
Joseph Linton, Of Manchester-that gen.
tleman gave him short shrift, and
promptly showed him the door. And
when, month later, pretty, independent
Marjory ran away with this same hand.
some impecunious Jim Carol, her irate
uncle-to use his own xpression-"w washed
his hands of her and closed his doors
against her and her husband forever" AT
this terrible sentence Marjory did not
trouble herself very much nor did her hus-
band suffer it to affect his peace of mind
He was too happy to care whether all the
rich old men in Europe closed their doors
against him-or otherwise.
They lived in a tiny house in red
bricked, pointed-gabled terrace at Gambler
well and they had enough to do to pay
the rent, and to make ends meet generally,
especially after the baby came; but they
loved each other passionately, and that
made things easier. Marjory was the most
sunny-hearteda and hopeful of little women
and she was quite sure that some day
Dornton & Cox, awakening to a sense of
Jim's abilities, would take him into part
nership and make his fortune.
But, alas for Marjory's dreams, on the
particular evening on which this story
opens Carol was vending his way home
ward dejectedly enough; for Dornton &
Cox, having had heavy losses lately, were
reducing their staff of clerks, and among
those dismissed to-day was James Carol.
Jim felt stunned and bewildered; for stu
atoms were not as plentiful as blackberries
in London in 1884, any more than they
are now.
Mrs Carol, as she flew to the door to meet
her husband. 81 thought you were never
coming. l had to put baby to bed, at last"
"Had you, dear?" he answered absently,
as he followed her into the small but cosy
sitting-room.
He looked depressed and out of sorts,
Marjory thought. Perhaps he had one of
his bad headaches. But, like wise little
wife, she asked no questions only poured
out his tea and gave him his slippers. He
did not eat anything, she noticed but sent
up his cup to be filled again and again,
draining it each time feyerishly,
He was silent, too.
Is anything the matter, my dear ?" his
wife said at last, in anxious tones.
Yes, Marjory," he answered, with an
effort. Then, after pause, he told her.
For moment her sunny face was
clouded; this was a contingency which
they had never contemplated Then she
said bravely:
"Never mind, Jim. 1t will not be DIFF
ficult for you to get another situation.
see scores of advertisements in the papers
every day"
But Carol was not so sanguine. He was
of more gloomy temperament than Mar
jory, and would not be cheered, not even
when baby woke up and smiled and cooed
in his face, as was her wont.
You see, Jim," said Marlory cheerily,
"we have still good part left of your last
salary. 1t is not quarter-day yet for a
good while; and we can economic in
little things. We might let Ann go"
(Ann was the small maid-of-all-work),
she is really getting very careless; she
broke three plates yesterday. If | have a
oh 70 +
easily manage the work myself Baby is
so good, and requires so little attention"
Jim put his arm round her as she knelt
beside him.
Dear little woman" he said, 81
couldn't let you do that. Not yet, at
least"
They studied the paper diligently day
after day. Carol answered innumerable
advertisements, both by post and person
ally, but in vain; though he spent an
alarming sum in postage stamps, he re-
turned night after night. weary, heartsick
and footsore.
The days went on; quarter-day drew
near, and passed and Carols little store
of money melted away. For the baby had
been i'll; and several tradesmen's bills,
small but imperative, had had to be paid.
The weather was oppressively hot and
enervating, and Marjory's little face began
to look pinched and worn; for the baby
was pevish and fretful, requiring constant
nursing and attention; and the servant
had been dismissed some time ago.
Another week passed. Jim felt almost
desperate, for he could obtain no employ
ment; and to make matters worse the
baby fell i'll again. 1t seemed kind OF
wasting, nameless illness. She cried and
walled night and day, and grew almost
hourly more shadowy-looking. The doctor
whom Carol at last called in shook his
head, asked a few questions, advised change
of air, and ordered the young mother to
take "plenty of nourishing food' With
a view to furthering the latter object
change of air being out of the question
Jim pawned his watch and chain. Poor
fellow, he felt shamefaced and embarrassed
enough as he took the ticket, and buttoned
his coat over his now chainless walsicoat
But the money so obtained kept them
going for some little time; and Carroll
meanwhile, did not for a day relax his
efforts to obtain employment. He searched
with anxious diligence in each evenings
paper the column devoted to vacant stu
ATOMS. ana answered. NdI1OuS duNSEtiSt-
ments which seemed singularly suitable.
But those who have studied that column
not for amusement or curiosity, but for dear
life-know that of these advertisements
only too many are simply swindles, and
that the comparative few which are bona
fide are speedily secured by those who
have either the influence or the expert
enee which Jim Carol had not He set
off every morning for the city, neglected
no opportunity, left no stone unturned, but
in vain.
He used to " dine IN town. he told his
wife, but in reality nothing passed his lips
from the time he went out in the morning
until he returned, unsuccessful, hopeless
and exhausted, in the evening. Mariory
never guessed this, and she herself did
without absolute necessaries, silently and
and with uncomplaining cheerfulness. 1t
was a terrible time for them both; perhaps
it was hardest on jim, for he had not Mar
iorv's elastic hopeful nature. her happy,
almost childiike faith and trust that
things would be better by and by. He
felt, too, that he had brought her to this
life of poverty and priyation. which he
seemed so powerless TO avert; and as he
thought of the fGture-grim and black
and uncheered by any CLEAN of hope-bis
heart sickened and died within him.