The Two Wives; Or, Lost and Won

s thus familiarly accosted by a man named Ellis, who came

What in the name of wonder are

tion?" inquired Wilkinson, as he took the ha

the unhesitating reply of Ellis,

have the benefi

no secrets from an old frien

good at g

id Ellis in a half whisper, as he

returned

ocket. To-night, d'ye see, I came home with the first volume of Prescott's new work on Mexico-a perfect romance of a book, and wanted to read it aloud to Cara. But no, she had something

ls that ever were written; and I wish you'd throw such miserable trash into the fire, and read books from which to get some intelligence and strength o

ights and

o fight an

e better part of valour,

on, who knew something of the

help myself. Cara has such a queer

her peculiarities by this

ur wife is an angel. Ah, John! you're a lucky dog. If I had such a

ess so many good qualities as Mrs. Ellis; and it is your du

o apply the discourse, and not

he made a motion to pass on, adding, as he did so, "I'm out much later

one of his arms with both

the man of all others I want to see-been thinking about

but not now," r

" persisted the other, c

ilkinson, ceasing his effort to release

ra," was

and your love will settle all differences. And besides, Harry, you shouldn't talk about

-offended tone of voice. "But you're a particular friend. You know Cara's peculiar tem

e wh

gas lamp in the next square, that stoo

extricate himself from the firm grasp of his frie

along with me to Parker's. Over a couple of brand

none of the effects of his wine-drinking at Elbridge's remained, he would have resisted to the end this solicitation, at the hour and under the c

ber her sick and grieving child. For nearly five minutes, he had stood talking with his friend, and the sound of their voices might easily have been heard in his dwelling, if one had been listening intently there. And one was listening with every sense strung to the acutest perception. Just as Wilkinson moved away, a

called, in half

of her husband, whose form she well

went back to the door she had left. There she stood gazing after her husband, until she saw him enter the tavern mentioned as being kept by a man named

room, and she stepped quickly to the crib, and bent over to look into its face. The cheeks of the child were flushed with fever to a bright crimson, and she was moving her head from

Wilkinson, placing her hand under the child's

id not see

ill you have

hat her words reach

that which already rested on th

Wilkinson slightl

me incoherent words, and a continued moan

er face and the character of her breathing. Then she laid a hand upon her chee

he murmured. Then she add

don't like this constant rolling of he

ook the ch

me water

not appear to reach the

ad of Ella with one hand, applied, with the other, the water to her lips. About a tabl

ild!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilkinson, a

e the crib, she hurried out into the passage, and, pausing at the b

Anna!

oned had fallen into her first sound sleep

more called M

ned upon the oppressive silence. She now hurried back to her sick c

that the balls were turned up unnaturally; with her crimsoned cheeks, and with the nervous m

l danger-or, rather, what unusual signs such as those now apparent in Ella really indicated. Bu

so strange and unnatural a state, b

r, and glancing upward, with tearful eyes, "why are you away from me

ntil, startled by a sharp, unnatural cry from the lips of Ell