Woman's Trials; Or, Tales and Sketches from the Life around Us

, she felt the extremity of her circumstances more than at any time before. To bear longer the extra weight of poor, deserted Mrs. Marion and her two children was felt to be impossible.

proach the subject. A word or two only had she said,

t have added my weight to the heavy ones you have had to bear. Daily have I lived in hope that my husband wou

go?" asked Mr

a poor aunt, with scarcely the ability to support herself. Bu

ugh food for herself and children was sent to her room. Deeply did Mrs. Darlington and her daughters suffer on account of the step they were compelled to take, but stern necessity left them no alternative. During the day, Mrs. Marion went out again for an hour or two, and when she came back

in a tone of deep regret, as she closed the door upon the

appy, owing to this circumstance, that

said Edith to her mother, about two weeks afterwards. There

here i

Bloc

ha

e Alms

di

when she left here, it was to take up her

expression to her feelings, when a domestic came in and said that

a quick voice, the moment Mrs. Darlington

oom, I believe.

? Go up, Edith,

flew up stairs. In a few moments she returned, saying that her sister was not th

her!" exclaim

eagerly asked both mother and sister,

n. There was a trunk on behind, and they were driving towards the wharf. It

that neither of them had for a time the power of utterance. Then both, as by a common impulse, arose and went up to the chamber where Miriam slept. Almost the firs

ere was no light ahead. Mr. Burton, who has great wealth, offered me his hand. Only on condition of a handsome settlement upon you would I accept of it. Forgive me that I have acted without consultation. I deemed it best. In a little while, I will be back to throw myself into your arms, a

RIA

her son, who had not been home since he went out at breakfast-tim

I want te

and his eyes unsteady. It was plain,

and then, before Edith had seen the contents

fter running his eyes over it hurriedl

or, and Henry clasped his hands

What do you know o

est character, and a gambler into

t his forehead, and glanced wildly from h

one. "You knew him, and did not make the first effort to protect your young, confiding, devoted sister! He

deprecation in his voice, "do not speak so, or I will go beside myself! But whe

ton, on their way, as he supposed, to the steamboat

as he glanced at the time, sank into a ch

s too