Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-08-20

SWer, ana MISS Harte was his affianc
ed wife.
Escorting the ladies to their home,
a magnificent country seat, Mr.. Ran
dali would not have been human had
he not congratulated himself upon
the future ownership of the wealth
so lavishly represented all around him.
He said nothing about the future
position of Miss Maxwell, good-na-
turedly willing that she should still
find a home with her aunt; but he
sometimes thought he would give her
a hint about assuming SO much the
air of mistress of the house.
The wedding was magnificent, the
honey moon spent in travelling upon
a wedding gift of check from Mr..
Randallss uncfe and one morning, in
cosy confidence the subject of going
home arose.
"Where have you taken rooms,
dear?" Mrs. Randall asked; "or shall
you go to housekeeping"
"Rooms," cried the bridegroom /;
"shall you not return to your own
house ?"
"My own house? / have no house,
Joe," for suddenly the truth flashed
upon her "did you think | had mon
ey? thought every one knew that |
was Maude's pensioner. Oh" and
her face grew very pale, "what a fool
l have been | thought you loved
me-"
"You were no fool thinking that,
was the quick reply, as her husband
put his arm around her; 81 do love
you. / did think the position revers-
ed ,and that Maude depended on you
but never doubt my love. If it was
not very ardent when | proposed to
you, it grows stronger every day we
spend together"
''But yet you thought me wealthy"
GA humiliating fact which can
not deny;" and then in a sudden
burst of confidence, Mr.. Randall
told his wife the whole truth, dwell
ing somewhat longer upon his bust
ness attempts and perpleXities, than
on the hope he had entertained of a
future life of luxurious idleness.
When he had finished, his wife
spoke:
"You may not like to hear my fa-
theirs opinion of me, Joe, though he
meant it to be a complimentary one.
He always said | should have been
a man, for | had true business head.
For ten years before he died he was
paralyzed, and | was the actual head
of his business, the weaving of car
pets in W. He left me n COM
potency which was stolen from me
by a dishonest trustee; and | should
have taken up some occupation to
gain my own livelihood, had not
Maude been left an orphan, and i'm
plored me to live with her.
"It was scarcely life of depend
ence, for she needed me, and her
lavish gifts of clothing and jewelry
| accepted in place of the salary any
one else in my place must have been
paid. | was housekeeper and chape-
ron, and we were very happy; but l
never dreamed that / was supposed !
TO own her wealth.
Snow listen to my proposition
The factory my father controlled is
closed, but | am an old friend of the
owner, who carried on the business |
for short time after my father died, |
and found his ignorance of the de-
tails swept away all his profits. l
will introduce you to him, and the
sale of my diamonds will give us suf-
icient capital for a modest start. You
will be nominally master, as my fa-
her was, until you conquer all the
ntricacies of the business, gain our
I'D customers and can carry on the
whole without assistance. Until then
ct me direct and teach you as help
ID my father. When you are rich
here Mrs. Randall's eyes
grew dim with tender feeling-''you
IAN buy me some more diamonds"
1t was not matter for hasty de-
,ision. Mr.. Randall, remembering
lis failures, was doubtful of his own
Ibility, but his wife had her way land
,efore their welded life was six
months old Mr.. Randall was engaged
n his new business.
Spurred on by an honest shame
hat woman had a better business
ead than his own, he did what he
ever did before, threw his whole
oul into his business, and was amaz-
d himself to find how rapidly he
earned to guide it.
Every day filed his heart with deep
+ love for the noble woman who was
o true and faithful a helpmate to
i'm; who with all the knowledge he
acked, never let one clerk or employe
uess her real position. At home in
he evening she showed him the re-
ult of her days correspondence or t
bookkeeping, and gave him clear in
tructions for the next days work. !
earning quickly, he had sufficient
ense to let her control the whole bus
less, until she herself, after two
ears of faithful work, said: "You
an do without me now, dear. re- !,
gn." !,
They had lived very economically !,
those two years, Mrs. Randall !:
overning the small house and one