The Marriage of Esther

, but without being asked he took upon himself the invalid's work and made himself invaluable in the store. He was a clever fellow, able to turn his hand to anything; and before

however hard he might have been working during the day, when evening came he always exerted his talents to please. Once or twice he had volunteered to sit with Murkard, but Ellison could not be brought to permit it. He was afraid to leave them alone together, lest by any chance Murkard should let slip something which it would be inadvisable the other should know

"He will never find it out otherwise. You must tell him!" A

elf, but what had Murkard to tell him that could cause him so much pain. Then he would ascribe it to some detail of his past, but it was

will never find out otherwise. Oh, coward

was of little or no use. Only on one occasion could

the sick man had completed his customary s

iend by the wrist. His eyes were still strang

r her sake, don't you hear, you fool, you dolt, you ninny? Can't you understand Queen's English when you hear it?" He dropped his voice to a whisper. "The man must be saved for the

question with almost

nd? Tell me, and let me h

he counterpane with

llyon, ribbed with chains of fire and hung about with chains o

wings as of a

impotent to

r earth-born str

to pull my brains round from the back of my head, so to speak. And that's very painful,"-a pause,-"painful for you, dear love, but total extinction for me. I must

e once, I lov

this wor

ternal flam

s, crash, a

hbert, you fool, why didn't you

about what,

on the pillows

nst me, but I give you my word--Bah, what's my word worth? I tell you I am not a thief. Guilty, or not guilty? If I plead not guil

could hear Merton singing. The song he had chosen was, "Come, l

wly. "Now, where the devi

nd get some sleep. That'll do

hut, and then went quietly back to his own house. Merton had stopped singing, and was now holding a skein of wool for Esther to

said, as he seated himself in a chai

ur patient

ut he's been v

of his hands to d

ll enough to go? In my opinion it's hardly safe for

her was unaware of the position in which the two men stood to each other. He was about to re

nence to intrude on your affairs. I was

ur feelings, but you see the trouble is that you don't know all about us.

, then, for speaki

ost good-night and in his turn departed. Ellison lit his pipe at the lamp, and went into the veranda, preparatory to crossing to the hut, where he had been sleeping of

u had gone to

se is so hot. I thought I woul

not very well to-ni

am quite well, thank you. A littl

d her waist. She start

e matter?" he a

it was," she answered

. I must have the doctor over to see you to

the morning. I think I

n you a headache. I think he thu

r downcast demeanour. She did not answer. Then suddenly, and without any apparent reason, she turned

n me, dearest. Try and tell me what is the matter with you." He led her to a chair, placed her in it, and se

with me to-night. Don't be angry with me, I beseech you. You do

ous to-night. I can't

I don't know myself. I only know that I am more miser

ch a long way apart. I thought we were to be everyt

me with that now, just because I

would go to her room. He caught her by the wrist

urting me!

y cruel to me to-nig

cusation against me? But there, I won't quarrel w

, Esther? You know that is not true

again, and fell b

ng right to-night. I can't even think, my bra

r hair and kissed h

my fault. I wanted to sympathise with you, and I did it i

Suddenly she raised it an

ame. But before God to-night I swear that-that-that--No, I can't sa

you are saying? Don't you thi

id she mean by her last speech? What was to be the upshot of all these vague allusions? What was it she had intended to say, and then thought better of? He racked his brains for a solution of the problem, but without success

they lighted on the other that told a tale of gratitude and of devotion that was plainer than anything words could have uttered. On the third morning of his convalescence he was sitting in his usual spot just below the headland, looking across the blue straits dotted here and there with the sails of luggers, and at the white roofs of the township, when he heard steps approaching. The pedestrian, whoever he might be, was evidentl

God! Is this a horrible dream? I

ale, but he managed to laugh

y to see me. May I sit down? Well, what a funny thing this is, to be sure. To think that we should

e you been in

ve seen you a good many tim

t know you now. And what devil'

and manners. Your friends here are very

know who

th Manor, near Exeter, Cou

n on the sands with

nd so your name's Murkard? Silas too, if I'm not mistaken. What a rum beggar you ar

d-blooded a devil as whe

ou rather confusing things? Wasn't it t

My name is

u to believe that I have never ceased to regret that terrible business. You must remember you put me

ave saved me. As it was, I had to take th

. I happened to stumble quite by accident on the baggage a

not discuss the subject further. But one thing must

stay here for a month or so longer; and then-

here at once-in

ssible. Not to be tho

must go. We can

e it will have to be you. I'm sorry, but it can't be helped.

ll Ellison all

l. On the other hand, what if I tell him all I know about you?

f possible, even

lackguard as you are, be

uld. You see, I have a game to play here, and, by Jove! come what may, I intend to pl

llison at once,

rself a hap'orth of good. Besides, you will in all probability be puttin

t him suspec

r deed. As far as I am co

t there, I forget;

r just now to be trifled with. As I say, he knows nothing, and he shall know nothing if you do as I wish. Why not go away for a holiday? you need a change. Come back in a month; I sh

e? I must know that before I decide. Do you think I'm goi

u don't interfere I shall make my fortune; if you do I shall take steps to rid myself of you, as I have said. Can't you see you haven't a card in your hand worth playing. If you're a sensible man you'll

certain that you are

ithout honour you wouldn't accept it as evidence.

across to Murkard. It was from a well-known firm of London pearl merchants, and notified the fact, to whom i

cument, "this looks genuine enough. But I don't

, and consider it well, for it's the last I'll make. If you don't decide to-night, I must t

you my decisi

cigarette. No? Don't you smoke? A pity! Well,

oliteness, and resumed his walk a

built up for himself, shattered at one blow. His past had risen and struck him in the face. What was to be done now? Could he trust this man whom he had alw

nk from view, Murkard made up his mind and rose to his feet. Merton was coming back along the beach. He signalled to hi

ng over what you sa

bowed an

th what

to tell me, in the event of my declining to leave

en, I will. I'm not going to let you know how I beca

words. Answer

: Who is your friend? He calls hims

way. This was wh

hould

uis of St. Burden. When he told his wife that he was he lied to

old his wife he was? At le

l I know. Perhaps I learned

ossession of this secret was

ing Ellison who you are, I tell her

haven't you seen that that woman worships the very ground he treads on, that she believes every word that falls from

ld be you who had driven me to it. If you go away it will be to my interest not to tell her. I wi

I wi

he

once. You need

see reason. And look here, my--Oh, very well, if you would rather not, I won't say it. I shall be at home

trouble yourse

business is accomplis

you. I decline to be

ude, for you will not h

g. He was expecting that night an important visitor in the shape of a globe-trotting pearl dealer, to whom he had written regarding the black pearl, and he had, therefore, small concern for Murkard's doings. The mail boat had arrived that afternoon, and a

Merton was lying in the hammock in the veranda, smoking and reading an ancient English newspaper. He got up as the men approached, and Ellison introduced him to the stranger. They then entered the house together. After a little refreshment a

Ellison unlocked the safe, and to

, as he watched him undo the box containing his treasure. "A black pea

plied Ellison. "Things have been very bad here, I can

treasure he sought. With obvious care and pride he took it out, and placed it on a sheet of white note-paper upon the counter. It

value. The light was failing inside the building, but Ellison watched him with an eager face. So much depended on the sale of this pearl. Suddenly the dealer coughed in a peculiar manner, took off, dusted, and put on his glasses again. His mouth went down at on

ble to contain himself any longer

ng. Then he spoke; his tone made

l or as a

wel, of

you will, I hope, forgive a little natural irritation on my part, but I cannot hel

ood God, man! what a

only say that I marvel at your impudence in trying to palm off an imitation on us-a good

"An imitation!" he, cried. "You tell me that that pearl i

smiled in

back to the settlement. My b

racious! can it be possi

temples stood out like whipcord. The dealer glanced at him

your face I incline to the latter belief. That pearl-at least that imitation-is remarkably clever. If the gem you found was anything like it in

ealer walked back to his boat alone. He

f, "if he's the guilty party he

e back upon his soul to roost. And every day the time was coming closer. He was--But there, he could not think of it now. He must try and pull himself together, or his reason would go as well. He had no thought of time, no thought of anything but his loss. He began

ring what on earth had become of you. Dinner has been on the table this half hour. W

ton. And I'm in

thing was up when you didn't make your appea

p. Having done so, he looked at Ellison.

o looked hipped inde

with the whiskey bottle and a glass. Having g

me all about it. Who knows but what

lison told h

ess-a very bad business. Somebody has evidently found out about the pearl, got a duplic

f the Cinghalese over

eal one, and substituted this in place of it.

ourse he does not count. Why,

it. Well, we must dismiss Murkard from our minds; he is like C?sar's wife,

ly

ho has

y that he should have on

skein. Has anyone been away from t

a s

out Murkard, and se

not

mean? I saw him he

ownship at sundown, just

n whi

h I've only known you a short time, tha

do. You need

ot. You'll hate me for it, but as things are now I c

e you dr

l see. How long hav

t. You needn't bring Murkard into the business at

only ask you how lo

three

when you kn

he was in very much the

eat-beach

u put it lik

othing of h

the sort of man t

ok here, Ellison, I'm go

you kn

is enough that

'll never make me think him guilty,

You owe it to yourself, and, pardon my say

ife out of the qu

urself. In the first place, Murkard is not his name-what it is, does not matter. I'm an old friend of his family

id he

ing to a lady in whose house he was staying. She was reluctantly compelled to prosecute, and he received a sentence of

, or are you

balance, I should resent that question. I

myself by a great deal to-nig

preyed upon his mind, and he may have taken it out of the safe while off his head. That is the charitable conclusion to come to. At any rate, his disappearance to-day is a point against him, you must admit that. If I were you I would certainly not believe him guilty till I had proved it, but just as certa

Honestl

d go across and see if you can find him. You'll know the tru

. I'll go at once. But may I be forg

o work to pull himself across to the settlement. It was quite dark, but the lights from the houses guided him, and before he had made up his mind where first to look for Murkard

t another, but with no greater result. Murkard was not to be found. At last, on the sea-front again, he chanced upon a pearler who had met him heading round the hill-side. This was a clue, and throwing new energy into his walk he set off after him. It was the same road they had followed together the evening of the famous fight, and it looke

you want

s the matter with you? What on earth made you leave us as y

him and placed his ha

cannot deceive me. There is something behind it all

th feverish

with my wife. But, my gracious, s

m by the arm and lo

t you go on? Why do

t. I despise myself enough as it is

ted to you that I am the guilty party. Good! Now tell me with what

lack P

orous thief! I see it all now. Oh, Ellison! you have been trapped-cruelly, heartlessly

you mean? What fresh vill

as that man told

es

reall

England, and received five years' penal servitude. Forgive

know everything. I ought to have warned you months ago, but I thought you would never find it out. For pity's sa

noise as if he were choking. Murkar

. Why I made you take that step I cannot tell you-you must only guess, at any rate! That money I placed to your credit in the bank, and day by day, knowing your secret, I have watched and loved you for your repentance and for the brave way you slaved to repay it. Then this man came and somehow learned your secret. He ordered me to leave the station, or he would tell your wife that you had-had lied to her

d. It is not necessary to say I believe what you have told me, Murkard; but f

ive me, C

st be the other way about,

anything to forgive. Now

m off the place. Tha

t. Possibly we may find out what he has done with the pearl. Then we shall cat

he once

was on his evidence that I was condemned

give my oath you

y all the same to save what a worthless woman miscalled her

tation. I cannot breathe freely

not let my presence be known

Let us b

the jetty. In less than a quarter of an hour they were ba