The Marriage of Esther

t period had caused him a very considerable amount of anxiety, and had, in a measure, necessarily detracted from his domestic peace. The pearling season had not turned out as well as

o go to her for sympathy and advice, both of which she was quite competent to give. She was, by long experience, a past mistress of all the details of the business, and her shrewd common sense and womanly penetration enabled her to grasp things and advise on them long b

y close its doors. But in what direction could they look for such assistance? The banks were already dropping hints as to long-standing overdrafts, and, seeing the losses they were daily sustaining, it would be impossible to expect any mercy from them. On all sides companies were abandoning stations, or transferring their business elsewhere. It was a time of serious financial danger, and night and day Ellison worried himself to know how it was all to end. It was not for himself he cared; it was

going out to the veranda for his cust

r a little while," he said. "I wan

him into the hut,

nd his desk, and taking a letter from a pigeon-hole above him, "things hav

xiety is almost killing me. What we ar

expected. To cap it all, here's a letter from the bank over the way. It came before dinner, but you looked so

ad

k, and, clearing his throat in an effor

thin an absurdly short space of time, the bank would be compelled to realise upon its security,

pon his hands, and groa

thousand pounds," he sigh

st do at once. And why not

we discussed the question over and over agai

But I've been thinking on a diff

t play with me! I believe I'd kill you i

ied man, and you are likely soon to be more than that. Must you th

e. Have I thought of myself at

ke a big sacrifice for her sake? Are you prepared to make a sacrifice that will humble your pride to the ve

ld I would not do to save her. Surely you kn

to tracing circles on the blotting-pad in front of him. "In the first place, do you

uddenly pale. He shifte

ember. What

a walk. I strolled down to Alligator Poi

el

ple talking across the strait. I saw you leave the township, and I watched you sail towards

heard, you cursed, eavesdropp

r the circumstances I will forgive y

tched story I told

ce-that moment-I hav

n it, while Ellison rose from his seat and went over to the door. His hand trembled so that he could hardly control its movements. Murka

is your object in tellin

t to save you.

damn me, body and soul. But you shan't! by God, yo

Ellison, can't you see how great my love for you is? Haven't I shown it to you times out of number? Do

ce for a minute. Then he went

erything seems to be coming to a climax with me? But for her sake, and that of the child that is coming, I would willingly be dead. And y

nd sat staring before him with a face dra

e both for you," sa

pe as a drowning man wou

bottom of my heart. What are you thinking of? What can I

f St. Burden. I heard you say so-there is no getting away from that. Believe

him that the beating of his heart must s

el

im that you have settled down out here to a steady, honest, respectable life,

ev

as he would, Ellison could no

ray wh

bsolutely and implicitly I refuse, and

you. You cannot

f. I refuse to do what you

wards the door as if he would settle the question by leaving the hut. Murkar

ould kill her if she thought you had lied to her. She would never honour or trust you again. But you haven't. It is only your

impossible! Don't y

ot one murder enough for you, for I tell you plainly if she has to leave this place, and you and she are thrown penniless upon the world, as you certainly will be within the next tw

do it; you d

that it is your duty to save your w

mean that? On your word of honour-m

ost to yourself it is your d

you have just said, 'A

l reme

r talking like this. The duke wil

he will pay ev

you kn

cheme in my brain t

tell me wh

not now; you must

ish. I will sin-for, remember, it is a sin-to save the woman I love. And remember also, that wh

I will not only take the blame, but I will stand

nd I have fallen. God help me! After t

lis

ried I swore that nothing should ever tempt me to do so again. I have kept my word until t

t words. Then he sat down with the air of a man

am I t

the Government Resident, who knows me well enough by this time, tell him your s

ill r

in my honour. Have you any

make it as certain of success as you can.

ay. Ellison, is there anyth

ng me. But I suppose that hardly

this only for your sake. As I promised you just now, so I promise again, whatever blame is to be taken for this I will take, whate

me to write

e everyth

ant me any mo

llison, you are not goin

I dared I would tell you everything, but I am

n gloomy thoughts. On and on he walked, regardless of pace or destination. His whole being was consumed with horror at what he was doing. What did it mean? What would it mean? What had induced him to do it? Was it blind Fate, or what reason could be assigned to it? No! It was none of these things-it was to save his wife! Bitterly he upbraided himself for the first folly that had occasioned it, but it was too late now, too late, too late! If he went to his wife and confessed all, confessed that he had lied to her, that he was not the man he pretended to be, that he was only a common swindler

f edge, the grave of the mysterious Unknown himself. What had led him in that direction on the one night of all others he would most have desired to avoid it? It seemed to him that the dead man's ghost was moving about the place taunting him with his sin, and pointing to a similar abandoned end in the inglorious future. Down on the shore below him he could hear th

the room she r

she said, "how

nd went for a walk to try and think my difficulties out. I

here. Mr. Murkard said you had said good-night to him nearly two hours b

, soft as it was, seemed to tear his very heart-strings. He could hardly bea

ng us on every side. If things don't change so

me what may, let us put our trust in him. He has not dese

r, my own dear wife, I wonder if you

ll believe in your honesty and

ould answer she had left the room. He went out to the veranda and le

ur honesty and goodness