WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 145

 

Not idly were those hours spent. What she had at
first proposed to do, she now began to execute. With-
out saying any thing to her husband, she had pro-
cured, from a friend who kept a fancy-store, and
who took in from the ladies a great deal of work,
some fine sewing; and with this she was busily oc-
cupied until his return, which did not take place on
the first night until near eleven o’clock.

There was a slight drawback in the pleasure both
felt in meeting at this late hour—the drawback of
weariness. Yet their hearts were tranquil and ele-
vated in the consciousness that they were denying
self for the good of another—and that one most ten-
derly beloved. Again the way had become plain
before them; and if strength only were given to
bear their increased burdens, they would move on
with even lighter footsteps than before.

And now, after having lingered thus long with
the humble clerk, let us turn to the rich merchant ;
for Jasper has become a man of extensive posses-
sions. Wealth flowed in upon him with extraordi-
nary rapidity—not in the regular course of trade,
overreaching and unscrupulous as he was in dealing,
but through what are called fortunate speculations.
How he made his first hundred thousand dollars—
the basis of his present very large fortune—was not
clearly understood, though sundry vague rumours
on the subject were afloat, none of them, however,
very near the truth, except in the admission that a
fraud on somebody had been committed. But let
us introduce Mr. Jasper.

On the night that Claire entered upon his duties
as clerk in the auction store, and about the same

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