Year: 1878




the secret consciousness that she could, if
she wanted to, dress ain silk attire, and
sller hae to spare" hadn't lived in plain
way all these years for nothing. People
about me began TO realize that although
Brown lived in small house, he was man
OF no inconsiderable means. Black had
managed to convey this intelligence to them,
and found no fault with this friendliness
on his part. Old White never thought of
such thing as taking the seat beside me
now on our way down in the train IL was
generally filed by more popular parties, and
! began TO take quite an interest in the So
cial and political points of discussion.
All this cost me considerable in the way
of time and money. My games of cribbage
were few and far between, and put my
name TO all the subscriptions they chose to
get up but didn't mind the money, and
had long since determined that the less Ro-
sale saw Of young White the better. The
color grew little less vivid in her rounded
cheeks, and the light less mischevous and
joyous in her eyes but Sarah said-I
thought this was really more suitable name
for my wife's years and dignity-that her
beauty was growing more and more refined
every day. 1t had even lately attracted the
attention of Mr.. Percival Green, the junior
member of Blacks firm, and Green was one
of those live active business fellows who
was sure to make his mark in the world. 1
told my wife to spare no expense for Rosa
lies advancement and happiness, but was
sorry to see lack of spirit upon her part,
and quiet denial to partake Of these new
pleasures of popularity.


One thing was certain-radical measures
must be taken to put gulf between her and
Bob White that could not readily be bridged.
My new house on the Boulevard began TO
take noble dimensions, and had already cost
me mint of money. Its marble halls were
spacious enough to chill me to the bone, and
there was quite a melancholy expanse of
mud and masonry in its vicinity.
1t rather surprised me when l. put our snug
little place in the hands of the agent that my
wife was so willing to part with the furniture
too. | thought few of the familiar old
time-servers might be used to advantage
somewhere in the new house, and l confess
to feeling of keen disappointment when
she decided that everything must go. ave
| don't want to set up secondhand junk-shop
on the Boulevard, said Sarah and | was
| ashamed to foster these old-fashioned senti-
ments till one morning found Rosalie cry
| ing over my old armchair in the sitting
room. 1t was bungling old trap covered
with queer pattern of chintz, where the
tail of each bird-of-paradise had gradually
faded with many washing. But the bulgy
back seemed to have fitted itself to my weary
| spine, and the well-worn arms of the chair
were always cordially held out to me.
"I'm glad you've got tear or two to spare
Rosy" | said, /" at parting with old friends
| I'll never get another so lenient with my
rickety bones"


"I'll never part with it, father" said
Rosalie. And | didn't care to tell her of
her mothers decree.


| In the mean time, however, | had broken
the intelligence to poor Bob, as kindly as |
could, that it would be better to cease his
visits at the house. | think, as well as |
remember, that l did put the blame upon
my wife. was glad to see that he took my
communication in a manly, practical way,
and bore up under it wonderfully. 1t troub-
| led me that Rosalie seemed to take the mat
ter so much more to heart. Young Green's
turnout was seen quite frequently at our
| door that winter, and | was tired OF my
wife's apologies about the house and its ap-
purtenances. No sooner had it become
known that my little place was in the market
than offers began to pour in from different
quarters. All these offers were referred to
the agent, who told me one morning as he
was passing that the house had been rented
| and the furniture sold some time since to a
young married couple.


Here's another pair in search of a nuptial
nest" said, as Ipropped up an ingeniousy
carved bit of cigar box on the maple-tree
beneath my window. felt little blue as
| went in to breakfast, and had scarcely
broken my egg when the bell rang, and
found Black at the door. His face was
ashy pale, and his hand trembled upon his
gold-headed cane.


"No more bad news ?" stammered out,
| s.. Df hal ,aI -
very disastrousy of late.


"I'm a ruined man" said Black, sinking


into chair by the parlor door.


Big beads of terror started to my own


forehead.


Screen has disappeared, the scoundrel,"


said Black, "and of course | shall be ac-
cused of completely with the defaulter."


Naturally" said, dryly, for l was too


wretched myself to have any sympathy to


spare


This is a confidential visit Brown" con-


tinued Black. 81 shall have to fall back


upon what little money remains to my wife,


and I've come around here at her suggestion,


to hire this little place of yours for the COM


ing year"


us ; and there stood Sally, as red as the


feathers in the duster she held in her hand


"Yes, Mrs Brown" said Black, "we've


always been fond of this little place, and l


really believe we shall be as happy here in


our adversely as you will be in your fine new


house."


"Perdition seize my fine new house, and


every one that has led me into this muddle |"


| cried, beside myself with fright and


vexation. "You know well that | shan't


have the money now to so on with it. 1t


will be all can do to keep from bankruptcy


myself"


;" God forbid that should refuse to aid
my husband in this extremity" said Sally,


with great nobility of accent and manner,
"We'll make the sacrifice ourselves, Joe;
wen keep our little place; wen go on in
the old way, dear. Wen stay here our
: selves, Joe"


"Pm obliged to you for your considera-
ton, madam | replied; but when the
horse is gone, it's too late to shut the stable
door. The house is let, and the furniture is
sold |"


"My furniture sold" shrielzed Sally.
2 "Oh oh ~! oh my furniture, my dear old fur
! niture, taken from me Why, they can't
do it they shan't It's mine. 1t amt


yours. They can't take my things for your
; debts"


"Just wait" said |, will you, till you're
a called upon to pay my debts 2 You gave

house TO be rented yourself. The agent told


me this morning that young married couple
: had taken them. Wen have to go TO town
and take furnished fiat"
"A furnished hatl" echoed my wife,


sinking into chair, and covering her face
; with her apron" furnished fiat !" And
I although | can safely swear she had time
J and again held this way of living to be do
nestle felicity, there was an unspeakable
, misery in her view of it now. al wish |


was dead |" she said "I'd rather go to my
grave than to furnished tiat-just in the
/ lovely spring-time, when the Brahmas are
( beginning to set and the strawberry bed is
I one mass of bloom. Oh, my poor child -
o she cried, to Rosalie who had run in and
u thrown herself at her mothers knee, Your
g Mr.. Green has turned out 20 be nasty de
y faulter. A young married couple have
d robbed us of house and home, aud your
Q father has the cruelty to talk to me of a fur
% nished fat"


"He isn't my Mr., Green" Rosalie broke
l. in, "nor ever was, and the married couple
Q won't rob you of anything but-but IA
u bad, undutiful daughter You shall stay
y here, mother dear, and-and Bo-Bob and


will go to the city and take the furnished fla" "
o " Am to understand said |, advancing