The Republican., 1890-06-14
A TRUE WIFE.
What She Did to Tide Her Hus-
band Over Hard Times.

1t was at the close of day in mid
summer. Chester Hilton was putting
on his hat, preparatory to leaving the
office. when his employer asked him to
stop to the desk for few moments. Il
am very sorry, Chester" said the senior
partner of the firm of Gardner, Whitbecll
& 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 degree that we are
scarcely making our running expenses
Chester Hilton received this an
nouncement in cool, collected manner
He had been expecting crash for two
months past. Nevertheless at heart he
felt depressed and anxious. 1t was just
tho season of year when business was at
its lowest ebb. Where and when would
he get another situation? He had moth
ing 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, where rents
were moderate, but that night nickle
looked as large to him as silver dollar.
1t was later than usual when he
got home, and, as he drew near the gate,
a black-eyed baby, with face illumi-
mated by sight of papa" toddled out
to meet him. In her haste she would
have fallen upon the broken plank over
xuhi inh ho ioly n1
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 lit
tie darling"
A girlish figure at the open gate, as
he passed through lifted up her fresh,
young, happy face to be kissed, too.
"What made you so late tonight,
Colder" she asked. Daisy and | have
beea watching for you for ever and ever
SO long"
''The cars were crowded, and it was
so hot that walked home"
ut 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
hip), if it were not for leaving you, |
would think seriously of going to Fern
side Springs. Mrs Hunter says this is
such a sickly season for babies, and
Goldie l saw q little white hearse pass
the house twice to-day"
"You wouldn't leave me alone, dar.
ling" he said. 'You know I'm such a
poor stick if left to myself. But per-
haps it will be best for you to 60"
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 shoulder. lie was thinking
whether it was best to tell her of his
dismissal. A number of times the
words came to his lips, but no as often
checked them. No, he could not.
Tho month soon passed, and Chester
Hilton was out of business. No situa-
tion had been found, and the outlook
seemed darker than ever So many
business houses had reduced their
forces But every day he went off at
the same hour in tho morning and re-
turned the same time in tho evening.
His wife supposed he was still at his old
place, for he had not yet made up his
mind to tell her Surely he would find
another place, and then it was time
enough to let her know he had left Gard
nor. Whitbeck & Co. Ono morning, a
fortnight after his dismissal, Mrs. Hill
ton had occasion to go down town, and
she stepped into the Office to sec her hus-
band AS she came into the door, Mr..
Gardner looked up from his ledger and
bade her good morning"
MY husband is out, l suppose" she
said, looking toward the empty desk in
the corner.
"Your husband?" replied Mr.. Gard
ner. ''He has not been in this morn
ing"
mot been imp she exclaimed.
lyon know, of course, that Chester is
not in my employ now," said the gen.
tlensn- ''IIe has not been with lis this
month" A vague an ticipation of somo.
thing wrong filled the wife's heart, but
che was reassured by hearing the senior
partner say: 1--WE esteem your husband
worry highly, and were sorry to dispense
with his services, but we were Obliged
asJuwzsz.S.nPts .s.,., j.