Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-01-21

& Sy6ktaA@g of intelligence and
~xlHa&f refinement.
~ - Two small rooms
comprised the mar
row domain to which
she gave the name of home. Their
cheerlessness was increased by the alb
sence of everything except the most
necessary furniture, and by the wailing
wind which found entrance at hum
bred crevices, sending Icy currents across
the wretched garnet. The young woman,
crouching close to the dying fire of
small stove, was lost in sad reflections
from which she reused herself at inter-
walls to glance at little crib wherein
lay an infant, all unconscious of its
mothers anxiety and distress, Her
husband, Robert Desmond, the second
son of an English nobleman, had fallen in
love with Victoria st. Clair, the pretty
and intelligent American governess of
his younger sister, and married her in
opposition to the wishes of his family.
The English aristocracy look with much
disfavor on mesaliances of this kind.
Soon after their marriage the regiment
in which he was a lieutenant WAS order
ed to India. The young man resigned
his commission, aud unframed as he was
IN any business or profession, found him
self at twenty-five thrown on the world
without a penny and with young wife
to support. His father, proud but gen.
ha1 tein nh &
fered bis son a S lm sufficient, if proper.
~ invested, to maintain him in comic
for life, saying that all further inter
course between them must CEASE.
This monev was accepted. The young
couple went to Paris, where he soon
plunged into the most luxurious life Of
that gay city. Though man of gener.
Gus impulses and loyal and affectionate
husband, Robert had an unfortunate
passion for gambling. His little cap
ital was soon lost at the card table. By
the sale of Victoria's jewels and some
money she had prudently saved, they
were able to accumulate little more than
enough TO pay their passage to New
York.
After weary weeks spent it futile ef-
forts to obtain work, the little family,
which had been increased by the birth
of daughter, drifted from moderately
comfortable lodgings to this cherries
tenement-house. Their little capital,
gradually diminishing, was now gone.
For several weeks it had been Roberts
To hn,
quarters at nightfsll, without telling his
wife where he went or at what hour he
would return, and reappear in the early
morning. He evaded her questions or
only answered in monosyllables.
Night after night she was kept awake
by anxious fears aud suspicious
If she could but know his destina-
ton, comprehend his work; but not
being able to fathom the mystery
her imagination pictured the near ap.
proach OF even greater mislortunes than
those to which she was already accus-
toned. 1t was plain that her husbands
work was laborious, for although h,
never referred to it, he came home
every morning completely exhausted,
He grew daily more taciturn, careworn
and morbid. Can it be wondered that
Victoria suffered all the torture aud an
guish that such condition of affairs
can bring to a sensitive woman2
The child, turning uness.ly in its lit.
tie crib, began to cry. Victoria took
tin cup from the stove and gave its con-
tents TO the baby. 1t was tie les. drop
of milk, the last moIseI of food she had
What grief wTung the mothers heart as
she tried to scothe and comfort the lit.
tie one, uncertain that she would be
able to procure sufficient food to keep it
alive.
Towards morning Robert returned
evidently very tired, and WAS surprised
10 find his wife still awake. Throwing
himself on the poor cot near the wall he
was soon fast asleep. For some mo.
ments Victoria Gazed at him through
her tears, mentally asking if this was
the man who had charmed her girlish
fancy and won her young heart with
promises of n bright future?
At length, from sheer exhaustion, she
sank on the dilapdated lounge near her
baby's crib and her weary eyes soon
closed. For three hours she slept
soundly. Awakening unrefreshed she
was conscious of a sickening feeling of
faintness, the cause of which she knew
too well, and then came the dull misery
Of remembering that there was no money
to buy provisions for breakfast.
1t had been Roberts custom to give
her little money every week which she
had accepted in silence, neither asking
for it nor questioning its source; but
the last supply bad been spent the day
before, and it was too soon to expect
another. She had tried to exc out their
scanty income by sewing for a clothing
manufacturer, but even this laborious
and wretchedly paid employment had
almost failed her, as it was a dull season
and the little work she had on hand
could not be finished for several days.
The clock in neighboring steeple
had Just struck nine, when in
answer to knock at the door /.
letter was handed her addressed
TO "Robert Desmond, Esq" 1t bore
the London postmark and the family
coat of arms recognizing the hand
writing of Roberts father, she placed
the letter on the table whe'e her husband
could find it when be awoke, then bus
led herself for time about the poor
apartment trying to make it seem tri-
file less eomfortless, before turning
again to her sewing.
After short interval she was again
summoned to the door, where she found
a man in soled clothes, with which his
dirty face aud unkenpt hair was in
keeping.
"Ooes Robert Desmond live herei'
he asked, abruptly
He does, replied Victoria.
swell, give him this and don't for,
get it, for its important, and the
rouga visitor quickly disappeared down
the ricketv stairs.
Nletorias curiosity was aroused