WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 49

 

“ A hundred dollars a year, Edith, taken from our
resent income, would deprive us of many comforts.”
“Think of how much we would gain in true in-
ward enjoyment, Edward, by such a change. Have
you grown happier since you entered the store of
Mr. Jasper ?”

The young man shook his head sadly, and mur-
mured, ‘ Alas! no.”

“ Can any thing compensate for the anguish of mind
we have both suffered in the last few hours, Edward ?”

There was a quick flushing of the face,as Edith
said this. .

“ Both suffered!” exclaimed Edward, witha look ~
of surprise.

“Ay, both, love. Can the heart of my husband
feel a jar of discord, and mine not thrill painfully ?
Can he be in temptation, without an overshadowing
of my spirit? Can he be in darkness, and I at the
same time in light? No, no; that were impossible.
You have been in great peril; I knew that some
evil threatened you, even beforeyyou ‘confessed it
‘with your lips. Oh, Edward, wevhave both tasted,
in the last. few hours, a bitterer ¢up than has yet®
been place our lips. May we not be ¢alled upon
to drink it to the very dregs !”’

“Amen!” fell solemnly from the lips of Edward
Claire, as a cold shudder crept along his nerv@s.
If there had been any wavering in his mind before
there was none now. He resolved to make restitu-
tion in the morning, and, as soon as opportunity
offered, to leave a place where he was so strongly
tempted to step aside from the path of integrity.
The virtue of his wife had saved him.

5