A Reconstructed Marriage

may appear, they bring with them a sense of fatality not to be put away. When the great dramatist would make Othello murder Desdemona, he did not choose as a

as brought to the fine point of a single word. "Yes" or "No," which was it to be? Would she accept for herself and her child the wretched life she had unknowingly chosen? Or, would she abandon it, and seek some happier environment? And after half-an-hour's intense thought and feeling, she stood erect, and, clasping her hands, uttered an emphatic "Yes!" Even at that hour, her messenger

beyond their power in a few weeks at the most. She resolved to make no more efforts to obtain justice, no more efforts to win a man whom neither love nor entreaties could prevent acting after his kind. She would now permit him to lay up gri

ttle David with their breakfast; then the three parted forever. David cried bitt

t a finger to it. Yoursel' and Master David will be getting your breakfast ten minutes earlier, for I a

to fret about a

e that has no turning. You are

hink

dn't let on

by look,

b, but be sparing o' calls-there is both

kno

he dark, for her foster-son had not had time to tell her of his journey to Yorkshire. But uncertainty did not dash McNab, she had one of those blessed dis

r he wouldn't move without her word. I dare say that is just what has happened." She satisfied h

t had been opened by Mrs. Campbell through mistake. It was from Theodora's publisher, and purported to contain a check for seventy pounds and fifteen shillings for royalties due her. But the check was not in the letter. Her heart bea

oney, Robert? I want to buy David

e the

, Robert. I ne

ine. I give it to you, because I choose to g

no money, even if I myself have earned the money. One telling of such

o claim them,

so free to y

se to make

l do withou

please

some event of which Theodora was ignorant. Jepson watched her plate and saw that she was attended to, and Isabel showed her disapproval of her mother's and brother's behavior by a sullen silence. For she was slow-minded, and could think of no way to expre

ery welcom

to do with the opening of your letter. I would no m

re my friend. I am very lonely since Chri

am very lonely

rt, and she looked forward to a future, that in its freedom, beauty, and usefulness would atone for the present, and the past years of her married lif

ell watched her coming and going, and made plenty of sarcastic remarks about both the lady and her dress, her carriage and her horses and servants. Isabel was scarcely conscious of them. Since the loss of her siste

hing social, political, or religious she thought would interest him." And this request had opened up a pleasant prospect of collecting and arranging all the news she could glean from people, or from newspapers, and then writing the result to Sir Thomas. It was a wild, a

was busy with his slate and pencil in the music room, and she locked the door of that room also. Then she sat down

his absolute power. I counsel you to leave him before conditions are worse, and some tragedy results. Take David Campbell's advice as to the locality where you may dwell in peace and safety. I approve what he has proposed to us so entirely, that whenever you are ready to move, your mother and I will go with you, though it should be to the ends of the earth. Think a moment, and you will understand that you must go with us, and not with your brother-in-law. I shall write to the Chairman of Conference to-day and resign my pastorate, and you know a Methodist preacher and his wife can move almost at a day's notice

herefore without comfort. Submission to evils God ordains is the height of energy and nobility; submission to the mistakes we ourselves make

wrong road, leave it; a wron

is necessary, do not waste time with drugs a

riage is the most pathetic of all mistakes. If, however, you have made an unhappy marriage, why should you give permanency to wrong

em for authority to burn witches, and buy and sell slaves, and collect tithes, etc. We are come unto Bethlehem, and ar

r, no man can put asunder. Poverty, sorrow, care, shame, helplessness only draw the bond tighter. They

ought of all these things; think now of wh

them. Day by day he is learning to be more and more cruel. But when he ha

know the wor

ave thrown

antly in all malice, cruelty, and sin. Be

harrows the field; but after this preparation, you can sow the seeds of your future happiness. Now all seed sowing is a mystery, whether in the heart, or in the field, but sow in love and in faith, and the harvest will truly better all your expectations. Think well over your movements, but do not think till you cannot act. Begin at once to prepare for what must be d

oving

nd Mary

him that should redeem the whole unhappy past. She saw it, because from her long trial she had brought a three-edged spirit, tempered and polished by the fires of many afflictions; and an Inner Woman perfect-no member wanting, none sick or disabled, an Inner Woman full-grown

odora's rooms, until it was time for her to dress for dinner. Indeed, it appeared as if the girl had been ordered to wait until her presence would be the most annoying. And in a few days, the question of breakfast

ray back to

ell's and Master

to the breakfast tab

is mouthful? You hae said perempt

can eat anywhere-or no

is beyond eating wi' serving-men and lasses. I will just tak' the

take the tray t

rder you will gie F

old one, McNab; I

r God Almighty, why would you be fearing the like o' m

iled fish? Robert grumbled over his plates, and Mrs. Campbell was equally cross, and still more explanatory of her temper. About the middle of the meal, McNab entered the room i

ng, McNab, so earl

y me my wage, and I'll be awa'

ot going t

t what I am

nse

-wi' the hard heart o' her-willna let me gie either the bairn, or his mother a mouthfu'; so I am going back to the Hielands whar folks hae hearts-and Jepson is going lik

nd take Jepson and the two girls there. I will come in a few minutes." He was obeyed without a word, for he spoke with th

m he turned to his mother and asked: "

n not possibly do without McNab and Jepson.

you meddle

iness to wait on y

se busine

's, at

t will be to wait on them. If you do not, I will ta

the house. There is no pleasuring either of them. I have sent two girls to her, and

she wanted; and she spoke Gaelic better than English. See that a proper girl is hired to-day. It is an outrageous thing, to set

g away with every hour. Besides this consideration, a great event in life takes all importance out of small events, and she was so occupied with the total change approaching her, that the trifle of Mrs. Campbel

ppear so indifferent to my just anger, but she has to thole it anyway, and I

or every one was practically ready for the change, though the end of April wa

other had been complaining bitterly of David's restlessness at night. She said he must be removed to the upper floor. She was astonished that a boy of his age should wa

dawn, and you know, Robert, how alarmingly subject to this terrible disease he is. How could he be left to a tired girl's care? She would not have heard that first hoarse cry last ni

. She was quivering with fear and feeling, when Robert unexpectedly returned home. He said the mail had brought him bad news. He had been informed that Sykes and Company of Sheffield-who were heavily indebted to him-had failed, and

she doubted whether she could carry out her intentions-but her child, her child! They wanted even now to separate them in their home, in a few weeks they might take him entirely away from her. His old enemy Croup would find him alone in the dark and some dreadful night strangle him. He would be punished for faults he did not even understand, flogged, deprived of food and companionship, tormented by cruel boys old

dened her face and her attitude. In spite of himself it flattered him. He was astonished at her devotion, but it comforted him. His mother had been angry when she heard of Sykes and Company's failure. She had reminded him of her advice to have nothing

you, Robert. They will take David from me, or I shall have a fight to keep him. It hurts me so, d

er and mother. You could stay ten or twelve days. When I am ready to come home, I will

bert! What a joy that will be to Dav

Now I must go. I have

in the n

arms, and Robert could not resist the silent appeal. Thank God, O thank God, he stooped and kissed him, and felt the little arms around his neck in a way that amazed him

treaty in them-would he not kiss and embrace her also? Oh, if he knew it was the last time! If he only knew it! The thought was full of

, Robert-delaying and del

e her parents for twelve days or more. I will me

nkful to have the house to ours

ughout all his life days did he forget that last glimpse of the beautiful woman who that morning watched him out of her sight. When he was quite gone she turned into the house with that sense of completeness so essential even to the sorrowful. She had seen the last of her husband. The bitterness of the separat

. He heard Theodora's tidings with a calm pleasure. "We are ready," he said. "Your father and mother have be

were you n

e as likely to go near Monteith Row as to go to Ashantee. Your parents are known

. When sha

e have a good boat sailing at no

bout your

ll go and secure the four best staterooms possible. I shall take them in

to be as cheerful and brave as she ought to be. On reaching home, she found that David's cot had been carried to the maid's room, but she made no complaint. The fact swept a

d made and embroidered with her own hands for her marriage outfit. Two dresses were all that remained of the gowns bought at this date. These she took with her. In her hand she would carry a Gladstone bag with toilet necessities, and plenty of clean whit

nzie's cutting and fitting no doubt. It cost five guineas to ma

he bought it h

essed up in broadcloth and linen waists! A

e is a bea

ee myself where hi

em to Mr. Campbell, if she did not return with him. When Friday morning came, she rose early, dressed herself and David, and was ready for the train that left just about the time the Campbell breakfast was served. In this way, she hoped to

an, ma'am," w

! I thou

gone?" sa

good ridda

or wished her a pleasant time. I intended to

ourself. That is al

ld Mrs. Campbel

ock train, I s

rter to call a cab, and put her trunk upon it, and then without fear or hurry, she drove to a certain store, where David Campbell was waiting. He went with her at once to the pier of the Anc

Olip

it could not be. Her servants wil

s

Tontine Inn. Have your food served in your room, and

o. It is the

will see your father and mother to-morrow," he said. "They are as happy as two little children over the journey.

in which no mistakes are ever made. The Inner Woman had control, and she had quite resigned herself to i

will go to

tain

t have room for you th

tine. There is a room

away with the Beloved One, slowly dying, know something beyond the lines of science

affairs, and long after Davie was asleep, she sat pondering the past and the future. At first she was dazed and half-unbelieving of the great event that had taken place in her life. In the darkn

he weary and heavy-laden; for God has royal compassions for the broken in heart. Theodora awoke in the morning full of hope, and in one of her most cheerful moods. The road no longer frightened her, the

th me, hastenin

Esdras

There was a crowd of incomers and outgoers, and David was glad of it, for Theodora with her child reached their stateroom without no

clearly established the safety of her appearance; and after that assurance, she was constantly on deck with the rest of the party. All the way across the Atlantic they had a blue sky, a blue sea, sunshine, and good company; and one morning