The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-06-14
A TRUE WIFE.
What She Did to Tide Her Hus-
band Over Hard Times.


band Over Hard Times.
1t was at the close of a day in mid
summer Chester Hilton was putting
on his hat preparatory to leaving the
Office, when his employer asked him to
step to the desk for few moments. 81
am very sorry, Chester" said the senior
partner of the firm of Gardner, Whitbeck
& 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.
months past. Nevertheless, at heart he
felt depressed and anxious. 1t was just
the 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 boon 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 a nicllle
looked as large to him as silver dollar.
II was later than usual when he
got home, and, as he drew near the gate,
4 black-eyed baby, with face illumi.
mated by sight of papa" toddled ont
to meet him. In her hasts she would
have fallen upon the broken plank over
which she picked her way had not her
father reached out his arms just in time
to save her. lie 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
been watching for you for ever and ever
so long"
''The cars were crowded, and it was
so hot that | walked home"
1T 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
him), 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
poor stick if loft 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. He was thinking
whether it was best to tell her of his
dismissal. A number of times the
words came to his lips, but he as often
checked them. No, he could not.
The 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 ut |
the same hour in the morning and re-
turned tho same time in the evening. |
His wife supposed he was still at his old |
place, for ho had not yet made up his
mind to tell her. Surely he would find |
another place, and then 1t was time |
enough to let her know he had left Gard
ner. Whitbeck & Co. Ono morning, q
after his dismissal, Mrs. Hill
ton had occasion to go down town, and
she stepped into the Office to see 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
.ng"
mot been imp she exclaimed.
"You know, of course, that Chester is
not in my employ now," said the gem
-leman. "lIe has not beon with us this
A vague an ticipation of somo-
thing wrong filled the wife's heart, but
she was reassured by hearing the senior
partner say: 'NNe esteem your husband
very highly and wero sorry to dispenNo
with his services but VIC were obliged
10 do 50 on account OF the dullness of the
season."
"My husband has not told me-" she
'eplied 81 respect his motive-he was
lfraid IT would trouble me. If he comes
n, please do not say a word about my
having becn here"
Certainly not" replied Mr.. Gardner,
" the young wife went out of the Office,
\ nickel had become as largo MS a dol
ar in her eyes, for she in turn walked
lome. In spite of the large sun UNI
,rclla and tho thin lawn dress, sho was
'ery warn, ald the perspiration stood
IL large disoS on her face. "roor
;oldio,' she saii to herself, as tao tears