The Marriage of Esther

his daughter became Cuthbert Ellison's wife. It had been the dead man's wish that there should be no delay in the marriage. He was anxious to have his daughter's safety assured within as short

ir own boats to receive the congratulations of Mrs. Fenwi

ked into her eyes. There was only pure happiness and unutterable trust w

roudly escorted by Mrs. Fenwick, Murk

ratulate you. We are alone now, and from t

ve been a good fri

tween us. It is more than that. But th

y o

ot be offen

it is in your power to

rt Ellison, you think you know the wom

. He wondered

wards her, beware of what you say! Remember, though you may mean nothing by what you say, she will never forget one single word. You have only to look into her eyes to see what she thinks of you now. She believes in you heart and soul, she worships the very ground you walk on; it remains with you to say whether she shall

lked quickly away in the direction of his own

tning flashed across the sky. Husband and wife sat side by side. The man was reviewing in his mind the events of the day, and wondering at the strange conversation he had had with Murkard that evening. In spite of his supreme happiness a vague feeling of sadness was u

you thinking,

e had stung him, an

thinking of you and of a

altogether, I fear. Cuthbert, do

! Would a man ever regret havin

nderness upon the name,-"do you think you will ever have cause to wish you had never

stiny. I was born into the world to marry you, and no

illy. I want to

talking s

ect on this night, of all others, but I cannot let it rest. I will never speak

almost escaped him. He knew what was coming, an

o

ou would not, if you could help it, let me guess it, but my woman's instinct would warn me-and then what should I do? I should be chained to you, and you would be chained to me. I shou

of his hand. He drew her to

mercy's sake, that I ever had a past; let us live only for my present and the future. Let me be to you the husband I would wish to be; let me work, toil, knowing no weariness in what is done f

ry with me for s

that story. God must help me to atone for it. I shall never b

ou not told me, there would always have been a barrier between us. Now I kno

Like the look of trust upon her face when he had helped her from the boat, it was almost a reproa

ment to keep body and soul together? That man is now your husband. Linked to you not for to-day or to-morrow, next week or next month, but for all time, for all eternity. Your husband-part of your own self: surely that should be su

ife, I must help you to make yours; that is what it means. If we d

my love for you, but afraid of the slowness

othing but your love for me, that is all. Let us leave the subject. S

an awful flash seemed to tear the very heavens asunder. In that brief instant Ellison made out the figure of a man standing in the open before them, not mor

alarm. "Cuthbert, call him in! H

e stood before them exactly where they had first seen it. But this time his i

d, as the thunder rolled away. To her Murkar

oodness, he doesn't oft

have never been able to make myse

man. But he is as good as gold! A queer fish, perhaps

ill never

therwise. But don't worry yourself about Murkar

I, my lord

wife-part

lovingly aga

at sounds! I wonder if any othe

time to show them the same mysterious figure emerging from the group of palms an

he means by it. Don't be afra

e pouring down. Presently he was running back. For a mom

hat did

eep! I never knew he was

white as a sheet. Something is troubl

tle frightened at the risk he had run. He might have

nto the night, he hardly noticed it. He was saying to himself over and over again a sentence he had heard Murkard mutter in his sleep. It was an old

r sin will f