Passaic City record., 1893-01-07


murmured.
Another knock at the door startled
her. She opened it to find standing
there the same man who had asked for
her husband a few hours before.
| "Is Mr.. Desmond at home nowa" he
anxiously inquired.
ssHe is not" replied Victoria.
"You are his wife, are you nots"
sI am"
az came from B. Brothers." he con-
tinued, naming one of the largest bank
ing houses in the city. "Quite sum
of money has been deposited in our
London house to your husbands credit,
and we would like to have him call at
the Office. This is our address" hand
ing her a card. "Please request your
husband to come during banking hours,
and as soon as possible.
The stranger bowed and retired.
Victoria hardly knew whether she was
awaking or dreaming. The Earl must
have sent money. she thought; but it
was stoo late-too late, now" she pas
sionately cried.
Snatching the letter from the mantel
she broke the seal and read as follows:
| Through my banker send you thou
| sand pounds. More will follow should 1t be
| impossible for you to make suitable business
| connections with the first installment.
| thought you unworthy of trust after you
had brought misfortune and disgrace upon
wife and child by indulging your passion
| for gambling. But have the feelings of q
father and have not lost sight of you.
have heard of your energy and self-denial,
your honesty and pride. Work is no dis.
grace not even the kind that you do. /
hope you will profit by your experience,
now you see that others must bear the con-
sequence of your recklessneSs and extrava-
pance. Your wife and child have had to
suffer keenly for your folly.
aToo late," sobbed Victoria; ssthis
help is of no use now." Then the thought
came to her, "Robert will now have
means to escape" He had not yet been
home. Perhaps he had left the city and
was wandering about, lonely, hungry,
cold, without shelter or money, and yet
with five thousand dollars at his dis
posal if he but knew it. The contrast
with their abject poverty made the sum
seem greater.
rupted Victoria's thoughts. She opened
the door mechanically, but retreated
when she saw before her the man who
had left that mysterious letter for Robert
few days before.
ssIs Bob ina" he inquired.
ssNc," answered Victoria, The has
gone away. What do you wanta"
'sHow is his hand9"
ssIt is better, think"
sob, we'll, then he's all ready for
work again, isn't hea We are short of
help just now, and the boss told me to
come around and ask how he was"
Grasping the man by the arm, she
said excitely, almost fiercely, "Who is
the boss2 What is hea Who sent you"
"Why, the boss of the sweeping
gang! Bob and me works in the street.
cleaning department. Didn't ye know
that2"
ssCome in aad sit down." Victoria
continued eagerly. sTell me how all
this happened to my husband"
SWELL" said the man, seating him
self, 1--WE got one of them new-fangled
sweepin' machines which is drawded by
horses. Last night one Of the horses
stumbled, became frightened and jumped
in among the men who sweep and shovel
the kit. Your husband seized the bride,
and the horse bit him, but he didn't let
go. He's plucky dog, he is. Then
others came up to help manage the
brute. The overseer won't send out that
horse any more. Of course Desmond
gets his allowance for sickness, because
he was hurt while at work. Our Super
intendent promises that he shall have an
office job. He must have a heap of
schoolin, for he writes mighty fine. /
guess they'll let him boss the job some
day. We boys won't mind his good
luck. We all likes Bob; he's good
fellow, only too proud for US. Well, !
must go now. Good-by, num-"
Victoria offered her hand to the man
| in perfect silence, and escorted him to
the door; then she turned to the crib.
She felt impelled to press the child to
her heart. But the strain had been too
great. Her limbs failed to support her,
and she fell fain.ing upon the floor.
| When Victoria recovered conscious
ness she found herself in Roberts arms.
Instinctively he drew her closer to him
as the thought flashed through his mind
that this distress was probably due to
the contents of his fathers letter.
Between her sobs the wife confessed
all her fears, anxieties and wretched
suspicious. Robert in turn explained
his reluctance to inform her of his occu-
patton, hoping it would be but tempo
rary and that work more suited to his
birth and education would soon offer;
but day after day passed and no chance
for better position presented itself.
His clothes grew shabby and his entire
appearance was becoming repulsive.
Sand yet to tell you," Robert said, ''that
I was street. cleaner would have humili-
ated and distressed me even more than
did the menial occupation itself. This
suffering has taught me many things,
and value it now that see my way to
make suitable business connections.
| Although father has forgiven me and Is