The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1893-06-10
sake" she M

sake" she 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.
rs Mr.. Desmond at home now2"
he a%nxiously inquired.
He is not" replied Victoria.
you are his wife, are you notT
Il am"
! Il come from B Bros, he con-
tinued, naming one of the largest
banking houses in the city. Quite
a sum of money has been deposited
in our London house to your hus-
bands credit, and we would like to
have him call at the office. This is
our address," handing 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 too late-too late now"
she passionately cried.
Snatching the letter from the man
tel she broke the seal and read as
follows:
Through my banker | send you Ell, 600. More
will follow should it 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 INDUCING your
passion for gambling. But l have the feelings
of a father and have not lost sight of you. !
have heard of your energy and self denial, your
honesty and pride. Work is no disgrace, not
even the kind that you do. l hope you will
profit by your experience now you see that
others must bear the consequence of your reck-
lessness and extravaganza. Your wife and
child have had to suffer keenly for your folly.
TOO late" sobbed Victoria; this
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 S..
600 at his disposal if he but knew it.
The contrast with their abject pov.
erty made the sum seem greater.
Once more a visitors summons in.
terrupted Victoria's thoughts. She
opened the door mechanically, but
~retreated when she saw before hel
the man who had left that mysterious
letter for Robert a few days before.
us Bob in" he inquired.
: IN - oneuroroJ Uia+orio ttIo hos
gone away. What do you want9"
| How is his hand?"
1T is better, l think"
| ooh, well, then he's all ready fol
work again, isn't he2 We are shor
: of help just now, and the boss told mt
l to come around and ask how he was.
Grasping the man by the arm, sh'
t said excitedly: "Who is the boss
What is he? Who sent you?"
why, the boss of the sweepin|
gangl Bob and me works in tn
t street cleaning department. Didn'
ye know thatI'
t Come in and sit down." Victori
|, continued eagerly. "Tell me how a
y this happened to my husband"
well" said the man, seating him
p self, I'VE got one of them new far
Il gled sweepin machines which
+ drawded by horses. Last night II c
the horses stumbled, became frigh'
ened and jumped in among the me
T. who sweep and shovel the kit. You
d husband seized the bride, and tn
Il lo~,a li+ hin, h11t hn didn't lot or
2. He's a plucky dog, he is. Then other
ID came up to help manage the brute
4. The overseer won't send out ths
IT horse any more. Of curse Desmon
gets his allowance for sickness b.
II cause he was hurt while at worl
81 Our superintendent promises that b
st shall have an Office job. He mu'
have a heap of schoolin, for he write
le mighty fine. l guess they'll let hi
&c boss the job some day. We boys won
w mind his good luck. We all likes Bo1
he He's a good fellow, only too prou
le for lis. Well, Unjust go now. Goo
by, num-"
e. Victoria offered her hand to tt
If man in perfect silence and escorte
lg him to the door. Then she turned
ne the crib. She felt impelled to pre-
IN the child to her heart, but the stra:
he had been too great. Her limbs failt
ne to support her, and she fell fainti1
m upon the floor.
of When Victoria recovered cOnsclOu
ic- ness, she found herself in Robert
Is arms.
on Can you forgive me for doubtil
at yous" said Victoria, looking up in
rs his face, for being so wanting
faith as to suppose you We're a-a'-
or Not another word" he cried, Iii
he ing his baby on his lap and drawn
Ell his wife closer in a fervent embraC
ost Home and Country.
*
elf