Wife in Name Only

estern sky. There had been a golden flush with the sunset which changed into crimson, then into purple, and finally into dull gray tints that were forerunners

wail in the autumn wind as though the trees and flowers were mourning over th

give people an impression that he had a large practice. But Dr. Letsom had ceased to be particular in the matter of appearances. He was to all intents and purposes a disappointed man. Years before, when his eyes wer

inhabitants were divided into three distinct classes--the poor, who gained a scanty livelihood by working in the fields, the shop-keepers, and the gentry, the latter class consisting principally of old maids and widows, ladies of unblemished gentility and limited means. Among the latter Dr. Letsom was not popular. He had an unpleasant fashion of calling everything by its right name

d; now those ideas were gradually leaving him--life had become a stern hand-to-hand fight with hard necessity. The poor seemed to be grow

a hundred different things, and the doctor had none to give her. The curtains were worn and shabby, the carpets full of holes, the furniture, though clean and well preserved, was totally insufficient. In vain the doctor assured her he had not the means; after the fashion of weak-minded women, she grumbled incessantly. On this night he felt ov

. In youth he had loved a bright, pretty girl, who had looked forward to becoming his wife; but he had never married, because he had not had the means, and the pretty girl died a disappointed woman. Now, as he watched the stars, he fancied them shining on her

-nearly eleven? Stephen Letsom stood still and watched. He saw a traveling carriage, with two horses, driven rapidly up to the door of the principal hotel--the Castle Arms--and there stand for some few min

t Mrs. Galbraith had retired for the evening, went to answer it. There indeed, in the starlight, were the handsome traveling carriage, the pair of gray horse

ck, impatient

e doctor--D

wrapped in a traveling cloak--a man whose face and manner indicated at once that he bel

tor," he repl

taken ill, and I have been to the hotel, where they tell me they have not a

t I can," retu

eed knocked at

, saw a lady, young and beautiful, who stretched

ll," she moa

much from her pallid f

he strange gentleman, who bent down and whispered

e matter stands; my wife must stop here. The hotel is full of visitors--people who

rrogated the doctor

d the stran

married--I have no

ervants, surely?" was

d she is not

-get the best nurses, the best help possible. Do not study expense.

p you," sai

under the stars. Riches would come too late, aft

to rouse his housekeeper, who, curious and intereste

embling, was helped down from the parlo

ked, raising her large blue

lied, promptly; "you mu

and last night I dre

house?" asked the traveler

t him to the Castle arms with such an order as made Mrs. Galbraith open her eyes in wonder. Than, without seeming to notice the

I ought not to have asked you to undertak

issed

," she said, then adding, in a wh

thought it rig

d; "but you must be quiet. You must hav

had hastily prepared for her, and, when she was installed therein, the doctor returned t

e?" he cri

or shook

you at once that she will not be able to leave Castledene for

he traveler, and Stephen Letsom sa

but she requires and must

safest plan will be to make a friend of you, to confide in you, and then we

d sat down to listen to as stran

ying in Italy. I came of age only last year, and at the same time I fell in love. Now I am not in any way dependent on my father--the title and estate are entailed--but I love him. In these degenerate days it seems perhaps strange to hea

ps his thoughts reverted to the grave in the star

ised her beautiful face to mine, poor child, and tried to smile while she talked of going out into the world and of working hard for her daily bread; and, as I listened, my love seemed to grow stronger and deeper. I caught her in my arms, and swore that nothing should part us--that, come what would, she must be my wife. She was very unwilling--not that she did not love me, but because she was afraid of making my father angry; that was her great objection. She knew my love for him and his affection for me. She would not come between us. It was in vain that I prayed her to do as I wished. After a time she consented to a compromise--to marry me without my father's knowledge. It was a folly, I own; now I see clearly its imprudence--then I imagined it the safest and surest way. I persuaded her, as I had persuaded myself, that, when my father once knew that we were married, he would forgive us, and all would go well. We were married eleven mouths since, and I have been so happy since then that it has seemed to me but a single day. My beautiful young wife was frightened at the bold step we had taken, but I soothed her. I did not take her

h lie in the hands of One above us; bu

d Charlewood "at least Lady Charlewood cannot.

reply. "By noon to-morrow all

test shadow of danger lies over her. If all be well, I can start the day after to-morrow; and,

able to tell him that the heir of

arlewoo

ay. I know perfectly well what these little country towns are--everything is a source of gossip and sensation. If it were known that such an incident as this had happened to me, the papers would be filled with it; and it might fall out that my father, the e

e right," agr

rse, the best help it is possible to get. Remember that I am a rich man, and that I would

d honorable one. He had never deliberately done anything wicked--on the contrary he had tried always to do what was best; yet, as he stood there, a strang

he autumn air. The dew lay thick and heavy on the ground. Inside the house was the strange hush that dangerous sickness always brings with it. The doctor had in haste summoned t

d--is not so well as I had hoped she would be. Dr. Evans is consider

ewood's face was a revelation to Dr. Letsom; he lai

am taking only ordinary precautions. I do not say she is in danger

he grave-faced group around the sick woman's bed. He, too, had looked with compassion on the bea

g to die?"

se Furney knew, and she turned away lest the sick woman

oice, abrupt and clear, broke t

is Hubert? I

vans to Dr. Letsom, "but do no

Charlewood stood by the

nds, "Hubert, my husband, I am so frightened. T

down to

to be what you always have been, the dearest, sweetest wif

her husband on the seashore, and that the waves were coming in so fast that they threatened to

ll be drowned--see how

was coming in. The agony of unrest was on him. He thought how useless was money, after all; here he was with thousands at his command, yet he cou

a sound that stirred the very depths of his heart--that brought a crimson flush to his face and tears to his eyes. It was the faint cry of a lit

beautiful little girl--but your wife is in

sorrow and desolation was startled by the cry