The true northerner., 1878-01-11

ed with class of young men far above
him in fortune and social position, and
he only tso readily joined them in dissi-
pations far beyond his means.
"My father paid his debts several
times, but, finally, pressed and driven
by hundred liabilities, Gerald obtained
money by using certain name as he
never ought to have done. The matter
was settled hastily 10y Gerald's marriage
with Miss Caroline Waite. But the
events leading directly to this consum-
nation Abagail and / knew nothing OF
for years; the first news we had OF the
! ill.starred union was it's announcement
in the Harbury Herald.
.It shocked the whole village; it
nearly killed Abagail; she pever left
her room for year; and, when she was
able to come down to the rectory again,
Gerald and his wife had bought fire
place about three miles from here, and
were living as if they owned the county.
People who live grandly, keep house
ful of company, and plenty Of horses,
are always popular, and for couple OF
years my father was very proud OF the
marriage he had made.
81 went often TO see Caroline, for, i'll
spite of her high temper and herreckiess
extravaganza, there was something very
attractive about her. Abagail liked me
to GO; nothing pleased her more than
little details about their house and com
pany; her love had no root of bitterness
in it; she lopged for nothing more than
for Gerald's happiness.
cat the end of two years we had a
frightful blow; Caroline became raving-
ly insane, and did not recover her reason
until after the birth OF son. But Il
fear was over all that we did not dare TO
whisper, and it sooD began to have terri
bic confirmation. Her conduct, always
extravagant, became utterly reckless ;
her paroxysms grew longer and fiercer ;
neither her property, her husband, nor
her children, were safe from the cunning,
cruel spirit that possessed her and Ger
aid was compelled to place her in an asy-
lum.
"Then he went away from Harbury,
and Tor three years nobody heard word
from him. One Sunday afternoon, as ]
came from church, up yonder haz ell
walk tall, thin, miserable-looking OBJ
ject called my name in whisper it
was my brother Gerald a broken man
in every respect, he had come home to
die; his father would not know him, he
had como TO me.
"Ralph and / gave him all that love
and care could give, but there was moth
ing LETT to save. After day or two's
rest, he was able TO talk a little, and !
asked him where he had been.
Over all the world, he said, seek
ing rest, and finling none
"' And your children, are they still
with their grandmother? l asked.
Yes, he answered, but one is dead,
and the others are miserably cared for ;
sometimes petted, sometimes beaten
Oh, Mary If anything could be done
for them
Caroline p
IS Is hopelessly insane; it runs in her
mothers family, breaking out generally
every second generation. III my little
girls could only have some one TO care
for them wisely and kindly they might
escape
q" VIII you trust them to me 2 I
asked.
be was very grateful, and l prom
ised that afternoon to have the proper
legal documents made out, giving me the
guardianship of the children. But in
the interval Abagail came. She had
heard Of Gerald's return, and had come
TO help me in the last kindness we could
pay him. Her life for the next few
months was lost in that of the dying
man. ] heard her voice at all hours
reading blessed, comforting words to
him. She seemed never to know fatigue.
L. ta...
Both Ralph and got to love the quiet.
sunny room where poor Gerald waited
for death. And when death came at last
he came rs friend; Gerald died IN Aba
gails arms. with the sound OF holy, low
ing words in his ears. He WINS only 33
years old; that one false, cruel step,
| taken ten years before, had forced hun
with frghtful rapidity into the grave.
Alas alas for those who must die in
order to learn how they ought to have
| lived
Even while ne was dying distant
relative OF AbagaiPs left her hand
some fortune, and this immediately sug-
gested TO her plan she has carried out
with beautiful results. She begged
Gerald to give her his two children.
promising to devote her whole life to
controlling and subduing the fatal faint
they had inherited. After that Gerald
was quite happy; he knew that, as far as
it was possible to do 80, the wrong he
had done would be righted.
''The task has been no light one. The
children were both passionate and mel
ancholy; but patient love and wisdom
watched them constantly, up to beau
titul and accomplished womanhood.
| Abagail has made them understand
clearly that there is frightful wrong
in perpetuaiing disease, and that life
spent in doing good to others is COM
pSnsation for all our own life misses"
"The difference between Gerald and
Abagail was this" said the rector, who
had entered as his wife was finishing her
story, "G srald sold his life for ESQ, ,OOO,
and Abagail gave hers. Now, one can
never sell life, one must give it: for what
price for mans life will st the last con-
tent him."
Extraordinary Coincidence.
Perhaps the most rarno rho hIa oo;ro;