168 TRUE RICHES; OR,

 

the merchant, and return to Edward Claire and his
true-minded, loving-hearted wife.

For a week or two after the former entered upon
his new duties as assistant clerk in a night-auction,
he experienced no serious inconvenience from his
more prolonged labours, although it did not escape
the watchful eyes of his wife that his complexion
was losing its freshness, and that his appetite was
far from being so good as before. After this, he
began to suffer oppressive weariness, that made the
evening’s toil a daily increasing burden. Then
succeeded a feverish state, accompanied by pains in
the head, back, and through the breast. Edith
remonstrated, even with tears; but still Claire
went nightly to his task, though each successive
evening found him with less and less ability for its
performance.

At last, he came home from the store of Mr.
Melleville, at the usual tea-time, feeling so unwell
that he was forced to lie down. He had no appe-
tite for supper, and merely sipped part of a cup of
tea brought to him by his wife as he still reclined
upon the bed.

“Don’t get up,” said Edith, seeing her hus-
band, after he had lain for some time, about to
rise.

‘‘T can’t lie here any longer; it’s nearly seven
o'clock now.”

‘You're not going out to-night !”

“Q yes; I must be at the store. There is no
one to take my place, and the sales will begin by
the time I can get there.”’

‘“¢ But you are too sick to go out, Edward.”