The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-03-10
HENRY woODFoRD's WIFE.
A Chance Bit Of Gossip That
Changed Her Life.

''Wcll, tell me about Henry Wood
ford. How did that match turn out?"
Badly enough, thus far. He is the
same delightful, good-natured fellow,
always ready to do kind thing. But
that woman will be the ruin of him"
bow? What is the troubled"
"The trouble is, she fancics herself
an invalid; lies around, does nothing
but read-has every foolish whim graf
i6ed; and, in fact, don't see how he
stands it."
did she have any property%
Not cent It was an out-and-out
love match. She has expensive tastes,
and is indolent and extravagant Why,
his carriage hire is a big item of itself
She couldn't possibly walk block, you
know"
Perhaps she is really sufferer"
sNonsensel She had that fall, you
remember, at the skating rink. At
first her spine was thought to be seri-
ously injured Woodford paid out sew
erai hundred dollars to have her cured,
and the doctors discharged her well,
drag around. . load on his hands, ever
since. 1t is thought that he is much
crippled financially; know positively
that ne has lately mortgnged his inter-
est in the firm If he can't manage to
make or save five Thousand dollars by
the end of this year it is all over with
him; and he will never do it at his pres
cpt rate of living"
s'Why doesn't he tell her? Has she
no sense of feeling at all?''
None, except for herself; and he is
to his very last cent"
81 thought he looked little bit
down as he passed us this morning."
YVES, he is beginning to realize that
he has gone too far; and, poor fellow,
1t is tugging at him hard"
Did she hear Alright? Was it of her,
Eleanor Woodford, that they were
talking? Swiftly she sped ont of the
dark, heavily curtained back parlor of
the stylish clearinghouse, and into
her room, a gorgeous alcove apartment
on the first floor. She could not mount
the stairs on account of her weak
spine. Weak spine? She forgot all
about it as she paced the floor, angry
tears gushing from her large, brown
eyes 1t was shameful--it was wicked
Ito be SO abusedl She had never in
her whole pctted life been found fault
with. As to money, what did she know
about it? Her father, before his failure
and death, had always gratifed her.
ference. Yet these were friends of his.
Her bitter sobs ceased, and her wound
ed vanity gradually lost itself in better
thoughts. Did all the world think of her
with scathing criticisms like those of
the two chance callers, who thus killed
the time while waiting for some one to
come down to them? She began to
feel glad that she had overheard it.
The merest accident had sent her into
the back parlor. Was it true? What
could she do? Her dear, kind husband
in trouble and she the cause! Oh, she
must help him, somehow! Long she sat
buried in thought, and when the we'll
known step sounded at the door, her
face was radiant with new resolve.
He came to her large casy-chair with
q step somewhat weary, but his kiss
was as usual IAN right, Nellie. Had
good day? Why, You Iook-let me
see-how do you look?" he said, cheer
lily.
II look as if loved my big boy very
much, don't II" she responded. mer-
rily.
His answer was another kiss, and as
he turned towards his dressing closet
her heart ached with unspoken tender
ness.
Her dinner was brought up. She
was not considered strong enough to
ira charge was made.
Later, when he opened the evening
paper, she sat and watched him.
Surely those lines of care were new
now that he was not smiling fondly on
her. Oh, foolish wife! Rising gently,
her long, handsome tea gown trailing
behind her, she stood beside him, one
slender white hand upon his shoulder
Then, playfully putting by the paper,
She sat down upon his knees.
swell, dear, what now? Another
new gown he asked, with his old,
sweet smile.
She pressed her lips slowly upon the
broad white brow, another pang Mt
her heart Then she spoke:
mot this time. Harry, dear, let's go
to Mrs Wickham's to board"
Mrs Wickham'sl' he echoed; ''why,
you wouldn't stay in her dull little
place a week" But even as he spoke
there flashed through his mind, in rapid
calculations: Twenty dollars a week
there; forty here; eighty dollars
month saved; nearly q thousand dol
lars year"
Don't you like it here?" were his
next words as he glanced around the
luxurious suite.
Yes" she said. except that there
are too many people. 1t is SO noisy"
very well, then, we will try it--any-
thing to please my darling;" and he
wrapped his arms around her as he
would have lulled restless child.
The move was made, and Eleanor
found that she was not so much IA
tigued as she had often felt after
days lounging with novel. Her hus-
band thought it only new within; but,
rs it was not an expensive one, he could
not complain. When he wanted to
take her driving. shes playfu told
him she was learning to walk-hprses