The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-11-18
brother has promised to see that I am
Comfortably nrovided forn


comfortably provided for"
Mr.. Bondurant regarded his wife for
q few moments in bewildered amaze
ment. He was carefully holding the
$40 bill which he had accepted from
her, but without knowing why she had
handed it back to him. He now dropped
the bill on the table, and clasping his
hands, as he was in the habit of doing
sometimes when trying to get clear
view of some question that bothered
him, he looked at his wife for few mo-
ments in a solemn and earnest way, and
then said:
eff our dear child had lived suppose
you would not have left me-"
"No, presume not; she, no doubt,
would have kept us together. I would
not have taken her from you, and I
know you would not have gone to live
with me at my fathers house. I have
no thought, Alfred, of really leaving you,
but shall be true to my marriage VOWS,
and shall be ready to return to you as
soon as you are able to provide for me.
But for the present we must part. My
brother tells me that the claim you are
prosecuting will end in nothing, and
that you are not worth dollar to-day
and it is not likely you ever will be"
"And if that is SO, it would seem that
you are leaving me with the expectation
of returning no more"
"That must depend, Mr.. Bondurant,
said the wife, steeling herself to cold
and firm look, "on the possible contin'
gency of your being able, at some future
time, to provide for me in comfortable
way, which, l am sorry to say, does not
now appear very probable"
Then good-by foreverp said the
husband, rising and withdrawing from
the room, without taking any further
notice of his wife; nor did he even loob
back.
The marriage, as legal relation, re-
NAMED undisturbed. The husband an6
wife, when meeting occasionally on the
street or elsewhere, bestowed upor
each other bow of civil recognition
but without exchanging a word.
In this way eight years had passed
At the. end of five years Mrs. Bon
durant's family, including that devoted
brother, had been both unable and un
willing to do anything more for her
and for the last three years she hac
been supporting herself by performing
the duties of secretary for an insuranc,
company. Why that situation had beer
given to her just at time when she
had no other means of support, and at
salary much larger than she had ex
pected to receive, was a mystery abou
which she had her own private suspi
cions.
1t was cold morning in mid-winter
and the sidewalks were covered witt
ice. Mrs. Bondurant, ON her way tt
her Office, had just passed the manly
form Of one whom she had never ceased
to admire--yes, love, for his image ha(
always remained in her heart. Ever,
photograph, piece of iewelry, or Other
memcnto that he had left with her hat
been looked at and handled again ant
| again, and some of these articles sh,
had often bathed with her tears.
On passing him this time she haC
received the usual look and bow, an(
nothing more. The poor woman coult
not, however, refrain from casting
look back for an instant to catch
glimpse of his receding form, and while
she was doing so the treacherous ice
as if intending some mischief, per
mitted her to fall suddenly and ct full
length.
care you hurt, my dear?" were th,
first words she heard, and her quick
spontaneous answer was:
"Not much, 1 hope, darling hus
band!" And as he lifted her into thu
carriage he had hailed and took sea
by her side, with his arm around her
she added, "How glad 1 am that you
were there to assist me-"
Yes, dear, that was slippery path,
he said softly.
(which hope may never pass owe
/ again " murmured the wife, earnestly
II gained that suit" said the hus
band, as the carriage was taking then
to his home, which could now be her
Also:
eyes, dear, I knew you gained it
and I was SO glad! I have saved NOR,
than half my salary the last three years
You know, and SO do l, that most O
that salary has come form you."
The long embrace and fond kis
which each received ana returned wa
mutual assurance that through thei
long separation their hearts had becom,
united more firmly than ever.
at was all my--all my fault" wa
what the repentant and now happy wifi
wanted and endeavored to say, but sh,
was stopped every time.
"No, no, my dearl" her husband woulC
answer, "These self-reproaches, coming
from you, are painful to me. The pas
has done its work in its own way, an,
now let us remember the lessons it ha
taught us, and forget the sorrow
through which those lessons have beel
learnedp