The Two Wives; Or, Lost and Won

e work she had just taken into her hands. There was a smile on her lip

shaded lamp burned upon the table. Mr. Wilkinson, who had been reading, was standing on the floor, h

eturned Mr. Wilkinson, a slight air of impatie

s feel so lonely when you are away. We only have our evenings to be together; and I canno

me, laid aside her sewing, and rising, approached and leaned her hands upon hi

know it's wrong to leave you alone here. But, I won't be gone more than half an hour. Indeed I won't. See, now;" and h

her husband saw that tears were in

ised Elbridge that I would call around and see him about a little matter of business, and

n emphasis in the words of Mrs. Wilkinson that

that, I should not thin

n the shoulder of her husband, and receded from him a step or two; at the

s if in earnest debate with himself; t

the room. He did not pause until he was in the street. Then a spirit of i

e Elbridge; and, in fact, partly promised that I would call upon him this evening. True

ttitude-then slowly returned. His hand was in his pocket, his dead-latch key between his fingers, and his foot upon

d back from the door, and with a rapid pace moved down the street. A walk of ten minutes brou

t him to return?" was

n hour; or not before ten

ll again during the evening, he descended the steps and walked away. He was moving in the direction

t, I did not think Elbridge would be out. Poor Mary! She looks at me with such sad eyes, sometimes, that it goes to my very heart. She cannot bear to have me out of her si

ined standing, and i

y onward. He was within a few doors of his own home, when his steps be

hought made him stop again. "He must ha

nt the crying of

e way, until he came nearly opposite his own ho

grieving cry of

urmured. "I wonder

abe in her arms, she walked to and fro in the effort to soothe it again to sleep. Had there been a doubt, it would have been quickly dispelled, for there came to his ears the soft tones of a voice he knew full well-came in t

petite and inclination on the other, were touched and softened by the incident, and he was about entering his hou

ice, as he extended his hand and grasped that of his friend. "I've

I should have made it a point to be at home. But no matter. All in g

is promise to his wife. "I told Mary, when I went out, that I wou

e bound. Tell her that you came home, in all obedience to her wishes, but

his arm within that of Wilkinson,

w this; and, if he had looked narrowly into his heart on the present occasion, he would hav

arrival at the house of Elbridge; and in the exhilaration of the one and the fum

n hour; and then a second bottle of wine was uncork

d when, at eleven o'clock, he passed forth from the house of his friend, it was only by an effort that he could walk steadily. The cool night air, as it breathed upon his heated

of Elbridge's wine; a little affects me. I wonder if Mary will notice it; I wouldn't have her to do so for the world. Poor child! it would frighten her to death. I rathe

happened to be passing at the moment, and moved along with a

ully. Oh, dear! this weakness on my part is terrible. Why was I so anxious to see Elbridge? there was no real engagement, and yet I told Mary there was. I would not

lashed over his mind. He was soberer by far

ood, nearly three hours before, in front of his house, debating with himself whether to enter or no. He heard too, in imagination, the